UNK WOMEN’S HOOPS DOMINATES FIRST HALF, ESCAPES NORTHWEST; FACES HAYS IN SEMIFINAL:
The Nebraska-Kearney women’s basketball team got out to an 11-0 lead and had six scorers between six and 10 points to hold off Northwest Missouri State, 52-47, Friday afternoon at the MIAA Tournament in Kansas City.
UNK has now won six in a row over the Bearcats (17-13) but needed to hang on after leading 11-0 eight minutes in and by a 44-27 margin entering the fourth. Northwest, behind a game-high 26 points from guard Molly Hartnett, started the fourth on their own 11-0 run and took the quarter by a 20-8 margin. However, the Lopers hit six free throws and got a key layup from veteran guard Haley Simental (Pueblo West, Colo.) at the 2:22 mark to record its fourth straight MIAA Tourney win. That was UNK’s lone field goal of the quarter.
The third-seeded Lopers (23-6) advance to Saturday’s quarterfinals where they’ll take on archrival and second-seeded Fort Hays State. The nationally-ranked Tigers (26-3) slipped past seventh-seed Central Oklahoma, 71-63, Thursday afternoon. The season series was split between the two, each winning on the road. The game tips at 2:15 p.m.
HUSKER WOMEN DOWN MICHIGAN, MOVE ON TO SATURDAY SEMIFINAL:
Sam Haiby and Allison Weidner each scored 16 points and made huge plays down the stretch in the fourth quarter to rally No. 6 seed Nebraska to a 76-73 victory over AP No. 10 Michigan in the quarterfinals of the Big Ten Women’s Basketball Tournament on Friday night at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
With the victory over the third-seeded Wolverines (22-6), the 24-7 Huskers advance to face Big Ten co-champion and No. 2 seed Iowa in Saturday’s second semifinal game, which is set for a 5 p.m. (CT) tip-off on the Big Ten Network. The first game will feature top-seeded Ohio State and No. 5 seed Indiana.
The Huskers, who are ranked No. 21 in the NCAA’s NET rankings, defeated Michigan for the second time this season and notched their school-record-tying third victory of the year over a top-10 opponent, joining a 72-55 win over No. 5 Indiana (Feb. 14). Nebraska also notched its seventh win in the past eight games to advance to the Big Ten semifinals for the first time since 2018.
Pregame tonight on KGFW begins at 4:45 PM with Matt Coatney and the Huskers Radio Network on the call.
STORM SHUT OUT BY DES MOINES, FACE LINCOLN TONIGHT:
The Tri-City Storm was shut out Friday night at Buccaneer Arena in a 2-0 loss to the Des Moines Buccaneers. Friday’s game marked the first time since April 24th, 2021, that the Storm offense did not produce a goal.
Tri-City returns to action Saturday at the Viaero Center in a rivalry matchup with the Lincoln Stars. Tonight’s game is “Kool-Aid Night” and the Storm will wear specialty jerseys during the game.
Tickets are still available for the game and can be purchased online at www.StormHockey.com or by calling the Viaero Center Box Office during Box Office hours at 308-338-8144. Puck drop is set for 7:05pm CT.
NEBRASKA BASEBALL WINS GAME 1, ALLOWS LATE RALLY IN GAME 2:
After winning their first matchup of the day on Friday, Nebraska had a 3-0 lead heading into the bottom of the ninth but fell 4-3 at UT Arlington.
The Huskers (2-7) had three runs on 10 hits and no errors, while the Mavericks (3-5) scored four runs on 11 hits and committed an error.
Starter Kyle Perry tossed five shutout innings, posting four strikeouts with five hits. Mason Ornelas pitched two scoreless innings in relief, while Ethan Bradford shut down the Mavericks in the eighth. Colby Gomes dropped to 0-1 on the year after allowing four runs on five hits in 0.2 innings.
The Huskers wrap up this weekend’s slate with two games tomorrow. Nebraska faces Northwestern State at 11 a.m. before taking on UT Arlington at 3 p.m.
CAM JURGENS COMBINE NUMBERS:
Former Nebraska Center Cam Jurgens – a Beatrice native – competed at the NFL Combine on Friday. Jurgens was reported as bringing his homemade beef jerky to teams during the interview process, but he also wowed during the athletic performance measurements.
Jurgens flew down a 4.91 40 yard dash despite weighing 303 pounds and ending as the second fastest time in the group of lineman.
Linebacker JoJo Domann competes in the combine activities today.
UNK SOFTBALL FALLS TWICE IN MISSOURI:
The Nebraska-Kearney softball team fell to Drury University, 1-0, and Northeastern State, 6-5, Friday in Springfield, Mo.
These games were part of the Drury Softball Classic. Due to weather, the tournament was moved up a day and the overall game schedule changed. UNK (5-11) faces William Jewell and NAIA Evangel (Mo.) University on Saturday.
The Lopers unfortunately are now 1-8 in games decided by two runs or less.
HUSKER SOFTBALL CONTINUES WINNING STREAK:
Olivia Ferrell tossed a one-hit shutout and Nebraska slugged four home runs as the Husker softball team picked up its fifth straight win with a 9-0 six-inning victory over South Dakota State Friday night at Bowlin Stadium.
Ferrell (5-2) was brilliant in the circle while tossing her second career shutout. She fanned nine batters in only 6.0 innings, one shy of her career high. Ferrell allowed just an infield single and only two balls left the infield all night.
Nebraska takes on South Dakota State again today at 2:30 p.m.
NEBRASKA MEN’S BASKETBALL LOOKS TO UPSET WISCONSIN SUNDAY:
The Nebraska men’s basketball team looks to close the regular season with its third straight road win, as the Huskers travel to Madison, Wis., to take on Big Ten regular-season champion Wisconsin on Sunday afternoon. Tipoff between the Huskers and No. 10 Badgers at the Kohl Center is set for 1 p.m. (central) and the game will be carried on the Big Ten Network and the Huskers Radio Network.
The Huskers (9-21, 3-16 Big Ten) return to the road after their most impressive outing of the season, knocking off No. 23 Ohio State, 78-70, in Columbus on Tuesday.
Bryce McGowens has played some of his best basketball down the stretch, as he is averaging 20.8 points and 5.8 rebounds per game over his last five contests and now leads all true freshmen nationally in scoring at 17.2 points per game.
Wisconsin (24-5, 15-4 Big Ten) can earn the outright Big Ten title and the No. 1 seed in next week’s Big Ten Tournament with a win over NU on Sunday or with an Iowa win over Illinois Sunday evening.
Local Results & Schedules:
THIS WEEK IN LOCAL SPORTS:
FRIDAY:
- UNK:
-
- WOMENS BASKETBALL: @ MIAA TOURNAMENT
- #3 UNK v. #6 Northwest Missouri St.
- UNK 52-47
- #3 UNK v. #6 Northwest Missouri St.
- WOMENS BASKETBALL: @ MIAA TOURNAMENT
SATURDAY:
- UNK:
- WOMENS BASKETBALL: @ MIAA TOURNAMENT
- #3 UNK v. #2 Fort Hays State – 2:15 PM
- WOMENS BASKETBALL: @ MIAA TOURNAMENT
- HASTINGS COLLEGE:
- WRESTLING: @ NAIA National Championships
- M/W T&F @ NAIA Indoor Championships
