UNK WBB: Lopers Roll Central Oklahoma

Kearney, Neb. – Graduate forward Shiloh McCool recorded her sixth straight double-double and three others reached double digits as Nebraska Kearney rolled Central Oklahoma, 82-61, Thursday night at the Health & Sports Center.

The Lopers (16-6, 10-6) sweep the series from the Bronchos (5-17, 4-12) for a second straight season.

UCO tallied the game's first four points but then UNK reeled off 14 straight. The Lopers led the rest of the way as the held the 'Chos to 27% first half shooting, were plus 12 on the glass and got scoring from nine different players.

"Nineteen assists on 27 made shots was important. We got some big ones from Meg (Burns) as they tried to press and scramble. The ball maybe didn't get to her first, but she made a lot of right decisions," said UNK head coach Drew Johnson. "Proud of the way we shared the ball and that's been a staple of who we are all season."

McCool (Pleasant Hill, Ia.) is now up to 30 career double doubles, second most in school history, after a 17-point, 10-rebound effort. She's had 11 double doubles this year; the record of 15 was set by UNK's all-time leading scorer, Ginger (Keller) Marx, back in 1993-94. McCool also moved into second place on the career rebound list (911) and to 14th on the career scoring list (1,358).

"She understands how important every moment is as we're getting to the end of the season," said Johnson. "Great, great players understand when the rubber hits the road, it's go time. She's coming up with some of her best performances."

Going 6 of 7 from the field and 5 of 7 at the line, McCool had nine defensive caroms as well as three assists and two steals. Redshirt freshman post Bailee Sobczak (Rapid City, S.D.) had 17 points as well, one off her career-high, thanks to 7 of 15 shooting. She also had three o-boards, pushing her season-total to a team-best 73. Next, redshirt sophomore guard Jillian Aschoff (Lincoln Pius) warmed up to have 15 points, seven boards and five assists with redshirt junior wing Meg Burns (Ankeny, Ia.) providing 13 points, five assists and 3 of 5 triple shooting. Finally, sophomore reserve forward Macy Bryant (Fremont) had a career-best eight boards.

"We did a great job of guarding the scout. We understood what their personnel was trying to do," said Johnson. "Macy is playing as an undersized five right now. We're asking her to do some stuff that's hard to do at her size. But she plays her absolute tail off and it's so much fun to watch.

UCO was paced by reserve guard Natalie Stice (19 points on 7 of 11 shooting) and starting forward Caley Young (12 points on 6 of 9 shooting).

UNK hosts Newman on Saturday afternoon. The Jets (2-20, 1-15) were blasted by Fort Hays State tonight, 76-57.