Lopers Battle Past UCO

The Nebraska Kearney women's basketball team closed on a 13-0 run to rally past Central Oklahoma, 66-56, Monday afternoon in Edmond.

The Lopers (10-2, 4-2) go 2-0 on a five-day road trip and are now off until Jan. 4 when they host the Lincoln Blue Tigers (4-5, 1-3). Meanwhile, UCO (2-9, 1-4) hosts Fort Hays State tomorrow.

UNK made 10 of its first 16 shots, including a 4 of 6 effort from downtown, to lead 29-15 after the first quarter and 36-19 midway through the second. However, the 'Chos closed the half on a 7-2 run and then outscored the Lopers by 10 in the third.

Thanks to seven threes, 15 offensive rebounds and 23 Loper turnovers, UCO not only erased that 17-point hole but took a 56-53 lead with 5:36 to play. A triple from sophomore reserve Talia Pogi gave the 'Chos its first lead since making game's opening shot.

But only the Blue & Gold would score from then on. Redshirt freshman post Bailee Sobczak (Rapid City, S.D.) quickly responded to Pogi's three with a post bucket and then UNK had three chances to retake the lead but missed. The fourth time was the charm as point guard Jillian Aschoff (Lincoln Pius) sunk a jumper with 4:04 left to give the Lopers the lead for good.

While the Lopers missed another three shots and committed a turnover, they went 9 of 10 from the line over the final 1:09 to improve to 4-1 in true road games. After Pogi's trey, UCO went 0 of 8 from the field with three turnovers. One of those miscues was the result of an Aschoff steal with 40 seconds left and UNK up three.

Graduate forward Kia Wilson (St. George, Kan.) went 7 of 12 from the field and 3 of 3 at the line to score a career-high 17 and pace the Lopers. She also was one of four Lopers with at least six rebounds. Next, forward Shiloh McCool (Pleasant Hill, Ia.) had 11 rebounds and nine points with Aschoff at nine points, seven assists, four steals and 10 caroms. Finally, among the starters wing Meg Burns (Ankeny, Ia.) had 11 points and two of UNK's five threes. Off the bench, Mullen junior Samantha Moore had eight points and six rebounds.

UNK was plus 11 on the glass with UCO getting 38 bench points and 13 points off those 23 turnovers. Finally, the 'Chos were 7 of 30 (23%) from behind the arc and 15 of 43 (35%) inside.

Starter Reagan Fox (14 points, six rebounds, three steals) and reserve Karly Wadsworth (13 points, three triples) paced UCO.