UNK WBB: Late FT's Help Tigers Nip the Lopers, 70-68
Kearney, Neb. – Sophomore reserve guard Brooke Loewe made two free throws with 22 seconds left and then 20th-ranked Fort Hays State got a defensive stop to get past Nebraska Kearney, 70-68, Saturday afternoon at the Health & Sports Center.
This was the 103rd all-time meeting between the Tigers (14-3, 8-3) and Lopers (12-5, 6-5). They’ll meet again on Mar. 1 (Friday).
The game featured nine ties, 18 lead changes and no lead bigger than eight points. UNK led for an even 22:00 but was down 67-65 after a three-point play by 6-3 post Olivia Hollenbeck. The Lincoln native sat out most of the first half due to foul trouble but was a factor after the break.
Point guard Jillian Aschoff (Lincoln Pius) promptly gave UNK the lead back with 1:09 left after she drained a right wing three. She finished the afternoon with a career-18 points and then was part of a defense that forced a turnover with 57 seconds to go.
The Lopers could’ve gone ahead by two possessions but a left wing three from sophomore reserve wing Macy Bryant (Fremont) didn’t drop with 26 seconds remaining and Loewe grabbed the rebound. She was fouled soon after and then gave her team the lead for good.
The Tigers had two fouls to give so UNK had the ball on the baseline with about 10 seconds left. Junior wing Samantha Moore (Mullen) created space on the right baseline, but her shot was partially blocked by Hollenbeck. A Tiger freebie with a second left completed the scoring.
“I thought we played well and battled. You would’ve loved to have those last couple of possessions go your way,” said UNK head coach Drew Johnson. “You get a big bucket to seal the game but that’s not the way it went. We got a great look (Moore’s shot) at the end.”
UNK was plus seven on the glass and out shot FHSU by nearly 10 percentage points, but the Tigers made two more threes, 12 more freebies and got 24 bench points.
“We talked a lot early in the season about how young we were. “Well, that reared its head a little bit today and weren’t able to close it,” said Johnson.
Four Tigers reached double digits including Hollenbeck (15), starting guard Sydney Golladay (12) junior reserve Megan Earney (10). For UNK, Aschoff reached her total by making 8 of 13 shots while also having five assists and four boards. Next, forward Shiloh McCool had her 25th career double double (15 points, 12 rebounds) with Moore at a career-best 16 points. She went 7 of 15 from the field.
UNK hosts Emporia State and Washburn next weekend at Buckle Court.
