By Con Marshall
The Chadron State College women’s basketball team forced the Nebraska-Kearney Lopers to go all out on their home court Saturday afternoon in order to hold off the Eagles 74-65.
Chadron State trailed by just 66-63 with five minutes left before the hosts scored eight of final 10 points to seal the verdict.
Now 6-0, the Lady Lopers had outscored their previous three foes 285 to 97 before the Eagles came calling.
A nearly two-to-one margin at the free throw line allowed Kearney to win the game. The Lopers were 25-35 at the line while the Eagles were 13-17. Both teams sank 24 field goals, but the Eagles hit four 3-pointers—one in each quarter–while the hosts made only one.
Kearney jumped out to a 10-2 lead and was ahead 20-9 at the end of the opening period. However, during the next three quarters, the Eagles tallied 56 points, two more than UNK.
The third frame was the best offensively for both teams. Kearney was five of eight from the field and 11 of 14 at the free throw line for 21 points, but the Eagles were nine of 13, including a trey, and five of six at the charity stripe for 24 points.
Shay Powers was CSC’s leading scorer with 15 points and the team’s other stalwart during the past three years, Olivia Waufle, checked in with 10. The Eagles also got a big lift from 6-foot-3 Awoti Akoi, who made all five of her field goal attempts in the second half while tallying 12 points before fouling out with 2:50 left to play.
In addition, sophomore Allison Olsen finished with nine points and seven rebounds, and junior guard Kadyn Comer made two of three shots from behind the arc while scoring eight points.
Kearney was led by super senior Shiloh McCool with 23 points and 10 rebounds for the 21st double-double of her career. Redshirt freshman Bailee Sobczak added 13 points and another fifth-year player, Kia Wilson, contributed 12.
The Eagles will join the CSC men in opening their Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference schedule this coming weekend, Dec. 1-2, by visiting Colorado State-Pueblo and New Mexico Highlands.
Chadron State—Shay Powers 15, Awoti Akoi 12, Olivia Waufle 10, Allison Olsen 9, Kadyn Comer 8, Kylie Krise 7, Kyra Tanabe 2, Liberty Line 2. Totals: 24-53 (4-16) 13-17 65 points, 27 rebounds, 16 turnovers.
Nebraska-Kearney—Shiloh McCool 23, Bailee Sobczak 13, Kia Wilson 12, Trinity Law 10, Meg Burns 8, Jillian Aschoff 6, Lexi Moes 2. Totals: 24-47 (1-8) 25-35 74 points, 31 rebounds, 16 turnovers.
Chadron State 9 18 24 14 —65
Nebraska-Kearney 20 17 21 16 —74
3-pointers: CSC—Comer 2, Olsen 1, Krise 1. UNI—Burns 1.