Career-night for Law in Lopers' 10th-straight win - NTV
KEARNEY, Neb. — Redshirt sophomore guard Trinity Law scored a career-high 23 points and Nebraska-Kearney started the fourth quarter on a 6-0 run to get past Rogers State, 61-53, Saturday afternoon in Claremore, Okla.
This was the first contest for both teams after the Holiday break. The No. 10/5 Lopers win a 10th straight game to improve to 11-1 (6-0) while the Hillcats drop to 4-9 (0-7). UNK's Monday afternoon game at Northeastern State was postponed so the Lopers won't play again until a January 6th home date with Pittsburg State.
The 'Cats were a bit short-handed but never let the deficit get bigger than 12 points and held UNK to its third lowest point total of the season. RSU got 21 points from both sophomore forward Bailey Kliewer and junior guard Katrina Christian to trail 21-20 at the break and 37-34 heading into the fourth.
UNK finally got some breathing room as reserve point guard Sarah Schmitt (Swisher, Ia.) sunk a free throw with Law (Brandon, S.D.) knocking down a three after grabbing her own two-point miss. After getting another stop, junior forward Maegan Holt (Council Bluffs, Ia.) converted a layup and suddenly the Lopers had its biggest lead to the that point at 43-34. RSU trimmed the deficit to five by the 4:46 mark but a 4-0 Kearney spurt ended the comeback hopes. UNK ended 18 of 26 at the line with the make total a new season-high.
"It was low energy in here and the first game back from break. I didn't think we played particularly well throughout the entire game," said UNK assistant coach Devin Eighmey on the KRVN radio post-game show. "I don't think we paid attention to details early on and I don't think we were very tough in the first half. We showed some signs of just wanting to get through it."
Law finished 7 of 12 (3 of 6 3's) from the field and 6 of 8 at the line. Tallying 19 in the second half, she also had seven boards (three offensive) and three steals. Her previous career-high of 18 came in November in a home win over nationally-ranked Colorado Mines.
"They had some players out but still had three starters available. We talked about some things at half two of the players had 42 of their 53 points. It was a low-possession game and we have to be better," said Eighmey.
Leading for 31 minutes, UNK out scored the RSU bench by a 17-0 margin and was plus eight on the glass. No other Loper reached double figures but seven others were between two and eight points. That included Kansas junior forward Elisa Backes (seven points, six rebounds & two assists) and Holt (five rebounds, two points & an assist).
"Trinity did a great job of getting into the paint and hitting in rhythm threes. Even the pull-up late was good," said Eighmey. "Great teams find a way to win. At the end of the day, defense and rebounding wins championships and our defense was pretty good today."
Rogers saw Kliewer and Christian combine to go 17 of 29 (5 of 12 3's) from the field. The pair also grabbed seven rebounds with the 'Cats finishing 5 of 20 from long range but committing just eight turnovers.
Courtesy UNK Athletics
source: https://nebraska.tv/sports/college/career-night-for-law-in-lopers-10th-straight-win
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