UNK Women Handle Missouri Western

Kearney, Neb. – Redshirt freshman reserve post Bailee Sobczak scored a season-high 18 points and redshirt sophomore point guard Jillian Aschoff got close to a triple double to help Nebraska Kearney rolled past Missouri Western State, 76-54, Thursday night at the Health & Sports Center.

The Lopers (8-1, 2-1) wax the Griffons (5-3, 1-2) at home for the second straight year and push its win streak at Buckle Court to 24 in a row. Northwest Missouri (7-1, 2-1) is the next test this Saturday at 2 p.m.

Mo West just dropped out of the WBCA Top 25 poll and hung around thanks to five first half threes. However, they struggled from inside the arc for much of the night and got blitzed 28-15 in the third quarter. Thus, UNK turned a 28-24 halftime score into an insurmountable 56-39 lead.

“In the Northeastern State game (74-71 loss last Saturday), I thought our toughness was just okay. I really challenged them this week to be tougher and that you’re going to have to be ready to go,” said UNK head coach Drew Johnson. “We really paid attention to the defensive scouting report, and it paid off for us.”

Beating the Griffs 91-55 last year in the H &S Center, the Lopers made 57% (16 of 28) of its shots after the break including a sizzling 7 of 10 effort from downtown. Senior guard Trinity Law (Brandon, S.D.) hit all four of her triples after the break with Sobczak (Rapid, S.D.) one of four others to make one. Defensively, UNK limited MWSU to 8 of 31 three-point shooting as well as being plus 10 on the boards.

“We made the first run in the second half. We missed a couple of layups in the first quarter, and it could’ve been a seven- or nine-point lead for us,” said Johnson.

Sobczak reached her game-high point total in just 17 minutes as she was 5 of 10 from the field and 7 of 9 at line. She also had eight rebounds (five offensive) with Aschoff (Lincoln Pius) having a game-high 12, all on the defensive end. She also had a season-high 16 points, eight assists and two steals. In the season-opener vs. Minnesota-Crookston, Aschoff had stat line of 15-11-7. 

“She plays incredibly hard and I think she’s going to get that triple double at some point this season,” said Johnson.

Also for UNK, Law finished with 14 points, post Shiloh McCool (Pleasant Hill, Ia.) had nine points, five rebounds and four dimes and freshman wing Brinly Christensen (Lincoln SW) had five points in 20 minutes off the bench.

Jayme Jackson paced MWSU with 15 points, six rebounds and two assists.