UNK Women Erases 17-Point Hole, Stuns #11 UCM in Overtime

Photo Credit: UNK Athletics

Kearney, Neb. – Redshirt sophomore point guard Jillian Aschoff recorded her third double double and three others scored in double figures to help Nebraska Kearney rally from 17 down to shock 11th-ranked Central Missouri, 79-74, Saturday afternoon at the Health & Sports Center.

The Lopers (12-2, 6-2) beat the Jennies (10-3, 4-3) for a second straight time with the two meeting again next month in Warrensburg.

“We played hard and played tough in the second half and overtime. One of those performances where we fought and didn’t give in,” said UNK head coach Drew Johnson. “We traded baskets at the start of third quarter, called a couple of timeouts and just stayed with it.”

Behind All-American candidates Olivia Nelson (23 points, five assists) and Brooke Littrell (22 points, 12 rebounds, four assists), the Jennies led for 31 minutes and used a big third quarter to move ahead 51-34. However, UNK closed the quarter on a 7-2 run to get within striking distance and make UCM think about recent events. The Jens lost to Pittsburg State in overtime back in December after leading by 20 and then Fort Hays almost rallied from a 17-point hole on Thursday night. 

Down 12 with seven to go, the Lopers got a bucket from veteran forward Shiloh McCool (Pleasant Hill, Ia.) to make it a 64-63 with five seconds left. The Jens had misfired on a three just 25 seconds earlier. UCM went 1 for 2 at the line after McCool’s bucket and then UNK called timeout with only 1.6 seconds remaining. An entry pass from the sideline found veteran forward Kia Wilson (St. George, Ka.) underneath the bucket and she was fouled. The 75% free throw shooter calmly went to the line and sent the game into overtime.

“In the first half, my fault, I don’t think we played with enough pace. We slowed it down, they slowed it down and it was kind of a grind it out game. That’s more how they want to play,” said Johnson. “Our (faster) pace was what got us to overtime.”

The game was tied at 67, 69 and 71 before Littrell sunk a three with 2:02 remaining. A layup from junior reserve Samantha Moore (Mullen) and then a right corner three by Aschoff (Lincoln Pius) gave the Lopers the lead for good. The makes were sandwiched around a miss Jens layup with Aschoff’s game-winner coming with 1:03 left. UNK closed things out by going 3 for 4 at the line and getting three stops. One of those stops was a potential game tying three.

“We had some big-time rebounds, some big-time free throws when we needed them. Just proud of our performance and effort,” said Johnson. “Central Missouri is a really talented basketball team so to come a way with a win in that one is great.”

Overcoming the loss of starting guard Trinity Law (Bradon, S.D.) early on due to injury, and seeing junior wing Meg Burns (Ankeny, Ia.) sidelined for much of the first half due to foul trouble, UNK hung around thanks to its bench. Moore and Lincoln freshman Brinly Christensen had seven apiece, post Bailee Sobczak (Rapid City, S.D.) had four points and four boards, senior wing Lexi Moes (Smithville, Mo.) had a bucket and sophomore Macy Bryant (Fremont) had two boards and a steal.

“Sam played 36 minutes tonight and was tough as nails. She had six killer rebounds in the second half and defended very well,” said Johnson. “Some players started to step up and grow up.”

Aschoff got close to a triple double again (career-high 17 points, 10 rebounds, eight assists) as she logged a game-high 42 minutes. She went 6 of 9 from the field, 4 of 5 at the line with all her board work coming on the defensive end. Next, Burns had a game-high 19 points as she made 7 of 11 (3 of 3 threes) shots and didn’t commit a foul over the final 25 minutes. Finally, McCool (12) and Wilson (11) combined for 23 points and 12 boards.

“Meg was unbelievable … 19 points on 11 shots and got to the line. She took over in the fourth,” said Johnson. “We grew up as a team tonight. Jill tried to get it into transition just a little bit too much early which led to some turnovers. We had to settle in a bit and then she had seven assists in the second half.”

Nelson (9 of 18) and Littrell (7 of 15) combined to go 16 of 34 from the field. Fellow starters Lauren Frost and Graycen Holden had nine points apiece with Holden also having nine boards.

UNK heads to No. 22 Pitt State (11-2, 5-2) and Missouri Southern (9-4, 5-2) next weekend.