UNK WOMEN DOWN NORTHWEST, AWAIT SATURDAY MATCHUP:
Seven players scored between five and 16 points and No. 7 Nebraska Kearney held Northwest Missouri State to 23 percent shooting in a 65-43 win Thursday night in an MIAA Tournament quarterfinal game in Kansas City.
To beat Northwest (15-15) for a ninth straight time, UNK used a 12-2 run to close the first quarter and never looked back. The spurt made it 19-9 and featured a buzzer beating three from point guard Sarah Schmitt (Swisher, Ia.) and four points from senior reserve post Brooke Carlson (Elkhorn).
The Lopers (28-3) win a 15th straight game, beat the Bearcats in this event for a second straight year and tie the school-record for wins. The 1996-97 Lopers also posted a 28-3 mark. UNK plays again Saturday at 6 p.m. against the winner of Pittsburg State (22-6) and Missouri Southern (24-6). Those two rivals play Friday at 6 p.m.
GIRLS STATE HOOPS SEMIFINALS SET:
State semifinals for all classes are set for today during the NSAA’s Girls State Basketball championships in Lincoln.
In local action, York faces Elkhorn North at 1:30 in Class B; Adams Central takes on Bridgeport in Class C1 at 10:45 AM; Ravenna and Hastings St. Cecilia do battle at 9 AM in Class D1 while Centura takes on Cedar Catholic; and Shelton takes on Wynot at 7:45 PM in the the Class D2 nightcap.
Check the NSAA website for tip-off times and location updates. All classes will have finals set for Saturday in Lincoln with the third place games taking place at Lincoln Northwest High School.
HUSKER WOMEN KNOCKED OUT OF BIG TEN TOURNAMENT:
Jaz Shelley led three Huskers in double figures with a game-high 24 points, but it was not enough to stop No. 9 seed Michigan State from eliminating No. 8 Nebraska, 67-64, in the opening game of the second round of the Big Ten Women’s Basketball Tournament.
Nebraska slipped to 16-14 overall while the Spartans improved to 16-13 and advanced to face No. 1 seed Indiana on Friday at 11:30 a.m.
Nebraska will await word on its postseason tournament prospects when the NCAA announces its 68-team field on Sunday, March 12. The Postseason WNIT will follow with its announcement of a 64-team field later that same evening.
NEBRASKA BASEBALL BEGINS TOUGH WEEKEND MATCHUPS:
Nebraska is set to take on a talented field at the Cambria College Classic at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis this weekend.
The Huskers open play with No. 7 Vanderbilt at 11 a.m. on Friday. The Big Red continue play against Hawaii at 3 p.m. on Saturday, before wrapping up the weekend slate with No. 4 Ole Miss at 1:30 on Sunday.
Friday’s game between the Huskers and Commodores marks the first all-time meeting between the two programs.
KGFW will broadcast Husker Baseball beginning at 11 AM.
SPORTS NIGHTLY COMMENTS – TREV ALBERTS:
ALBERTS – WANTED VOLLEYBALL ATTENDANCE RECORD:
Athletic Director Trev Alberts joined Sports Nightly on Wednesday night and was asked why it was important to bring Nebraska Volleyball – as well as UNO, UNK, and Wayne State – into Memorial Stadium for “Volleyball Day”…
The Huskers owned the attendance record after the match at the CHI Health Center in Omaha last season, until Wisconsin ultimately broke the record later that season. Volleyball Day is set for Aug. 30.
ALBERTS – SPRING FOOTBALL SHOULD BE COMPETITIVE:
Athletic Director for Nebraska Trev Alberts spoke on his excitement for the Nebraska Football team as Matt Rhule leads his first spring practices after the conclusion of winter conditioning later this month…
Nebraska is aiming to pack Memorial Stadium with 45,000 spring game tickets already sold for the April 22 scrimmage.
Local Results & Schedules:
THIS WEEK IN LOCAL SPORTS:
THURSDAY:
- UNK:Women’s Basketball: MIAA TOURNAMENT @ Kansas City, MO
- UNK 65-43 NWM St.
FRIDAY:
- KEARNEY HIGH:
- N/a
- KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
- N/a
- UNK:
- Softball: v. Minnesota-Crookston @ Springfield, MO – 10 AM
- Softball: @ Drury @ Springfield, MO – 12:15 PM
- HASTINGS COLLEGE:
- Women’s T&F: @ NAIA Indoor Championships @ Brookings, SD – 1 PM
- Softball: @ Hosea Bell Red Dirt Classic @ USA Softball HOF
- v. Mid-America Christian
- KGFW Sports Schedule:
- TBD
SATURDAY:
- KEARNEY HIGH:
- N/a
- KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
- N/a
- UNK:
- Softball: v. Evangel, MO @ Springfield, MO – 10 AM
- Softball: v. Augustana @ Springfield, MO – 12 PM
- HASTINGS COLLEGE:
- Women’s T&F: @ NAIA Indoor Championships @ Brookings, SD – 1 PM
- Softball: @ Hosea Bell Red Dirt Classic @ USA Softball HOF
- Baseball: v. Mayville State – 12 PM
- Baseball: v. Mayville State – 3 PM
- KGFW Sports Schedule:
- TBD
SUNDAY:
- KEARNEY HIGH:
- N/a
- KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
- N/a
- UNK:
- N/a
- HASTINGS COLLEGE:
- Baseball: v. Mayville State – 1 PM
- Baseball: v. Mayville State – 4 PM
- KGFW Sports Schedule:
- Nebraska Men’s Basketball @ Iowa (12 PM – 3:45 PM)
