Box Score Nebraska-Kearney 76 #23 Wayne State 59

            Nebraska-Kearney dominated #23 Wayne State College 76-59 in non-conference women's basketball played Saturday afternoon at the Buckle Court/Health and Sports Center in Kearney, Nebraska.  Both teams are now 4-2 on the season.
            The Wildcats got off to a solid start, taking an 11-5 lead with 6:37 to play in the first quarter.  However, WSC leading scorer Paige Ballinger picked up two fouls and did not play the remainder of the first half as the host Lopers gained momentum at the end of the first quarter and never looked back.
            WSC held a 15-10 lead at the 3:56 mark of the first quarter following a pair of Ballinger free throws.  15 seconds later, UNK forced a second foul on Ballinger sending her to the bench for the remainder of the first half.
            UNK then scored 10 straight points and held the Wildcats without a basket for a span of 7:42 to turn a 15-10 deficit into a 20-16 lead.
            WSC senior guard Sadie Murren ended the lengthy scoring drought with a layup at the 6:59 mark of the second quarter to pull the Wildcats within two at 20-18. 
            The Wildcats trailed 28-25 following a pair of Maggie Schulte free throws with 3:06 to play before halftime, but UNK closed the half strong and took a 38-29 lead into halftime.
            UNK put the game out of reach early in the second half, starting the third quarter with a 13-4 run to take a 51-33 lead.  The Lopers pushed the lead to as many as 23 (68-45) in the second half before finishing with a 76-59 win over the Wildcats.
            Wayne State made 20 of 48 shots from the field for 41.7 percent, going 2 of 5 from the 3-point line and 17 of 25 (68%) at the charity stripe.
            Sophomore forward Maggie Schulte was the lone Wildcat in double figures with a game-high 21 points.  Wayne State's leading scorer Paige Ballinger was limited to just 12 minutes of playing time due to foul trouble and had eight points.
            Nebraska-Kearney was 29 of 71 shooting for 40.8 percent including 9 for 27 behind the 3-point line.  The Lopers sank 9 of 13 free throws.
            Laramey Becker and Kennedy Sander paced the Lopers in scoring with 18 points apiece followed by McKenzie Brown with 15. 
            The Lopers won the rebounding battle over WSC 41-36 thanks to 15 offensive caroms.  Kelsey Fitzgerald and Bri Starks each hauled in eight boards for UNK while Wayne State's top rebounder was Schulte with nine.
            WSC had 19 turnovers in the game to just nine by UNK, resulting in the Lopers holding a 22-5 advantage in points off turnovers.  UNK also had a 26-19 edge in bench points, 34-26 points in the paint and 13-2 in second chance points over the Wildcats.
            Wayne State returns to Northern Sun Conference play on Friday, hosting Concordia-St. Paul in a 6 p.m. game at Rice Auditorium.