UNK Women Win At NW Missouri State 48-46

Post Bailee Sobczak and point guard Jillian Aschoff scored in double figures and Nebraska Kearney held Northwest Missouri State to 28 percent shooting in a 48-46 win Saturday afternoon in Maryville.

This game was moved up to an 11 a.m. start due to the impending winter storm. UNK (10-3, 3-1) hands Northwest (7-7, 0-4) its sixth straight loss; the ‘Cats were ranked 18th nationally in November.

It was a grinder all afternoon with the Lopers up 27-17 at the break and leading for the first 34 minutes. However, Northwest never let the deficit get bigger than 10 points and moved ahead 40-39 after two free throws by veteran all-league selection Molly Hartnett. Guarded by graduate Meg Burns (Ankeny, Ia.), she had just four points on 1 of 7 shooting.

Sobczak (Rapid City, S.D.) converted a three-point play with just under two minutes remaining to give UNK the lead for good at 47-46. Down the stretch, Northwest missed two shots and two free throws with the Lopers having a turnover and Burns making one of two freebies. Graduate Caely Kesten could’ve given the ‘Cats the lead but her top of the key three with eight seconds left hit iron. She finished with a game-high 16 points on 4 of 8 triple shooting.

Sobczak went for 11 points thanks to 4 of 5 shooting and a 3 of 5 effort at the line. UNK was just 11 of 21 at the charity stripe but was plus eight on the glass and held Northwest to 16 of 57 shooting. That included 8 of 20 from downtown. Next, Aschoff (Lincoln Pius) had 10 points, eight rebounds and an assist with graduate post Kia Wilson (St. George, Kan.) at seven points and three boards on 3 of 6 shooting.

Besides Kesten, Northwest got 14 points and three boards from junior guard Lindsey Kelderman. The ‘Cats visit the Health & Sports Center on Jan. 18 with UNK now having a 17-9 series lead.

The Lopers head to nationally-ranked Fort Hays State on Tuesday. The Tigers (12-1) fell in the last seconds at Missouri Western today, 67-66.