KEARNEY — A little home cooking got the UNK women’s basketball team going and kept the Lopers in contention for a home game in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Tournament.
The Lopers, playing at home for the first time in three weeks, used a big second half on both ends of the floor to post a huge 73-62 RMAC win over Colorado Mines.
UNK, now 12-12 overall and 10-6 in the RMAC, shot 50 percent from the field while scoring 50 points and committing just two of their season-low 11 turnovers after halftime.
Kalee Modlin scored 18 of her game high 20 points and freshman Amy Mathis scored 13 of her 19 in the second half. The Lopers were more aggressive on both ends of the floor, cranking up a trapping full court press to push the tempo.
“Our defense got our offense going,” UNK coach Carol Russell said. “We got a little more aggressive defensively and started to make some things happen defensively and that created some easier offensive opportunities.”
The Lopers also got their offensive opportunities by attacking the basket and getting to the free throw line. UNK was 26-of-30 from the free throw line while Mines finished 3-of-6.
UNK also forced the Orediggers’ top two post players to the bench when starter Ashley Gronewoller fouled out with 6:34 left and backup Angela Pearson followed a minute and a half later. Gronewoller led Mines with 15 points on 7-of-9 shooting.
“It wasn’t something we were trying to do, but it happened by our guards attacking the basket,” Russell said.
The solid 20 minutes helped erase the memory of a first half that left the Lopers shaking their heads.
UNK was never able to get it going from the field, needing more than three minutes to get its first points and hitting just three field goals over the final 13 minutes of the half.
The Lopers shot a paltry 24 percent from the field in the opening half and made just six field goals while committing nine turnovers. Mines closed the half on a 15-7 run to take an eight-point lead into the locker room.
“We really buckled down and got more determined. It really wasn’t about X’s and O’s as far as that goes; it was more about our mentality.”
UNK will need that mentality over the final three games of the regular season, all of which will be played at home. The Lopers need to win out to keep hope alive for being the host of a first round game in the RMAC Tournament.
“We’re only guaranteed three more home games and it’s up to us whether or not we want to play a home game in the RMAC Tournament,” Russell said.
