UNK WOMEN DOMINATE HOME OPENER
Twelve different players got into the scoring column and Nebraska-Kearney shot 57 percent from the field to roll past Peru State, 100-56, Wednesday night at the Health & Sports Center.
This was the Lopers (2-1) home opener while the Bobcats remain at 5-4. Per NAIA rules, this was an exhibition game for them.
To reach the Century mark for just the 27th time in program history, UNK made 38 of 67 shots including a 7 of 14 effort from behind the arc. The Lopers also sunk 17 free throws and outscored Peru 54-18 in the paint.
The Lopers face 8th-ranked Colorado School of Mines (2-0) Saturday at 2 p.m. The Orediggers host Eastern New Mexico Thursday before making the trip.
UNK MEN DEFEAT OLD RIVAL CHADRON STATE
The Nebraska-Kearney men’s basketball team shot 58 percent from the field and got big efforts from forward Winston Cook and guard Parker Badding to fly past Chadron State, 79-58, Wednesday night at the Health & Sports Center.
This was the Lopers (2-1) home opener while the Eagles fell to (0-3). UNK is now 117-64 all-time against their longtime rival.
UNK led nearly the entire way and by as many as 33 points. Kearney finished 29 of 50 from the field, 17 of 23 at the line and started the second half on a 14-0 run.
UNK’s Saturday game vs. Colorado Mines has been canceled (COVID protocols) and will not be made up. Thus the Lopers start a five-game road swing at South Dakota Mines next Tuesday (Nov. 23).
HUSKER WOMEN HOLD OFF CREIGHTON
Sam Haiby scored 13 of her team-high 15 points in the second half to help Nebraska withstand a fourth-quarter Creighton rally, as the Huskers secured a 67-62 women’s basketball win over the Bluejays on Wednesday night at Pinnacle Bank Arena.
Haiby added two rebounds, three assists and two steals in the second half to help Nebraska build a 16-point second-half lead before hanging on for the five-point victory to snap Creighton’s five-game winning streak in the series and improve to 4-0 on the young season.
Haiby’s final two points came at the free throw line with 5.4 seconds left to seal the win.
Nebraska caps off its five-game season-opening home stand on Saturday when the Huskers host North Carolina Central. Tip-off between the Big Red and Eagles is set for noon at Pinnacle Bank Arena.
UNK MEN’S SATURDAY GAME CANCELLED
The Nebraska-Kearney/Colorado School of Mines men’s basketball games scheduled for this Saturday has been canceled due to COVID protocols within the Orediggers program.
The non-conference tilt was set to tip at 12 p.m. The UNK/Mines women’s game will still take place and begin at 2 p.m.
The game will not be made up.
NEBRASKA WRESTLING OUTGUNS NORTH CAROLINA
The No. 9 Nebraska wrestling team dominated No. 15 North Carolina allowing only six points and recording three-straight bonus point victories to defeat the Tar Heels (2-2, 0-0 ACC) 27-6 at the Devaney Center on Wednesday night.
Nebraska only allowed two matches to go the Tar Heels’ way all evening.
NU (3-0, 0-0 Big Ten) will return to action this Sunday at the Daktronics Open in Brookings, S.D. before the team travels to the Cliff Keen Invitational in Las Vegas, Nev. on December 3.
ALBERTS’ KLIN WEDNESDAY COMMENTS:
ALBERTS – STILL EXCITED TO WORK WITH FROST
Nebraska Athletic Director Trev Alberts spoke with NRG Media affiliate KLIN on Wednesday, and doubled down on his stance of working with Coach Scott Frost…
Alberts and Frost restructured the Head Coaches’ contract last week while also removing most of the offensive coaching staff.
ALBERTS – LOYALTY EMBRACED AT NEBRASKA
Nebraska Athletic Director Trev Alberts spoke with NRG Media affiliate KLIN on Wednesday, and addressed how loyalty played into a factor of giving Head Football Coach Scott Frost another chance…
Alberts continued by saying that all decisions are also based on money available for athletics and the impact a new coach could bring to any athletic program.
HUSKERS’ TREY MCGOWENS UNDERGOES SURGERY
University of Nebraska guard Trey McGowens underwent surgery Wednesday afternoon to repair a broken 5th metatarsal in his right foot. The injury occurred during the first half of Nebraska’s game against Creighton on Tuesday.
According to Nebraska Men’s Basketball Athletic Trainer R.J. Pietig, the injury will sideline McGowens for between six and eight weeks, and McGowens is expected to have a full recovery.
McGowens, who had started all 30 games since transferring to Nebraska prior to last season, is averaging 6.3 points and 5.0 rebounds per game. He ranked second on the team in both scoring (10.7 ppg) and assists (2.3 apg) last season.
HUSKER VOLLEYBALL PREPARES FOR PENN STATE, RUTGERS
The No. 11 Nebraska volleyball team (19-6, 13-3 Big Ten) plays its final two home matches of the regular season this weekend, welcoming No. 15 Penn State (19-7, 12-4) and Rutgers (8-19, 0-16) to the Devaney Center.
First serve against the Nittany Lions on Friday, Nov. 19 is set for 8 p.m. On Saturday, Nov. 20, the Huskers’ play host to the Scarlet Knights on Senior Night at 7 p.m.
Nebraska is tied with Wisconsin for the lead in the Big Ten standings at 13-3. The Huskers stayed at No. 11 in the AVCA national poll this week.
SEVEN LOPERS NAMED TO ALL-MIAA TEAM
Seven members of the Nebraska-Kearney volleyball team have been selected to the 2021 All-MIAA team.
Making the first-team are super senior middle Anna Squiers (Kearney Catholic) and super senior setter Madison Squiers (Kearney Catholic) as well as redshirt sophomore outside Emersen Cyza (Alliance).
On the second-team is senior libero Lindsay Nottlemann (Lincoln Pius X), redshirt sophomore middle Bailee Sterling (Kearney H.S.) and redshirt freshman right side Lauren Taubenheim (Lincoln Pius X). Finally, redshirt sophomore outside Cecilia Beahm (Hastings H.S.) was named honorable mention.
UNK FOOTBALL’S LYNN, DAVIS WIN CONFERENCE AWARDS
Josh Lynn is the 2021 MIAA Football Coach of the Year and Loper redshirt junior quarterback TJ Davis is the 2021 MIAA Offensive Player of the Year.
No. 21 UNK (9-2), heading into the NCAA Division II playoffs for the fifth time in program history, had nine offensive players selected, seven on defense and one special team honoree on the All-MIAA team voted on by conference coaches.
Davis, a four-time MIAA Offensive P.O.W award winner and a Harlon Hill Trophy Candidate, guides an offense that averages 36 points and 471 yards per game. The third-year starter is at 94.5 yards rushing and 186.5 yards per game with 38 touchdowns
Lynn has directed “The Rise” of UNK football, taking over a program in 2017 that was 1-21 the previous two seasons. The Lopers have won 18 of its last 25 games, recorded the program’s fourth-ever postseason win (2019 Mineral Water Bowl) and cracked the national rankings for the first time in a decade.
NEBRASKA FOOTBALL TUESDAY PRACTICE COMMENTS:
CHINANDER – DEFENSE EXCITED FOR TEST
Defensive Coordinator Erik Chinander met with the media after Tuesday’s practice and spoke about where his defense’s focus is after the coaching changeups from last week…
Chinander also mentioned his defense is motivated to overcome the loss of senior JoJo Domann, who ended his Husker career to prepare for the NFL Draft.
CHINANDER – GIFFORD TO REPLACE DOMANN
Defensive Coordinator Erik Chinander is facing a tough test for his defense after the loss of senior leader JoJo Domann due to injury.
Chinander mentioned on Tuesday he doesn’t expect a steep dropoff in play with reserve Isaac Gifford stepping into the role…
Gifford, the younger brother of former Husker and current Dallas Cowboy linebacker Luke Gifford, currently has four special teams tackles recorded on the season.
CHINANDER – DEFENSIVE LEADERSHIP NEEDS TO STEP UP
Erik Chinander spoke to the media on Tuesday after the Huskers’ practice and said despite the loss of some senior leadership due to injury, his Blackshirts are ready to step up and show out for the remainder of the season…
Chinander was speaking on the loss of senior JoJo Domann. Chinander also added that more rotations and different schemes will be implemented for the defense in the final two weeks.
CHINANDER – WISCONSIN OFFENSE PREVIEW
Defensive Coordinator of the Huskers Erik Chinander previewed the Wisconsin Offense his Blackshirts will be facing on Saturday…
Chinander added that it’s important for the defense to not allow the running game to build momentum and give up the big run late in the game.
CHINANDER – GOOD DEFENSE MEANS BEING PHYSICAL, VIOLENT
Erik Chinander has created a much improved Husker defense compared to prior to his arrival. Chinander described on Tuesday the mark of a good defense…
Chinander has been nominated for the Broyles award, recognizing the top assistant coaches in the country.
CHINANDER – COMPARING GIFFORD BROTHERS
Defensive Coordinator Erik Chinander spoke to the media on Tuesday and stated that Isaac Gifford will be called upon to replace senior linebacker JoJo Domann.
Gifford’s older brother, Luke, was a former Husker captain and leader under Chinander’s first defenses. Chinander compares the siblings…
Gifford had four tackles on the season, and will start the contest against Wisconsin for the first time in his career.
HUSKERS ACCEPT SENIOR BOWL INVITES
A few notable Huskers have accepted postseason invites to NFL Draft preparation bowl games.
Cam Taylor-Britt and JoJo Domann have accepted spots in the NFL’s Senior Bowl, hosted in Mobile, Alabama. Both players confirmed the acceptance on Twitter.
Taylor-Britt has yet to confirm if he is returning for his added season with the COVID-19 shortened 2020 season, but linebacker Domann has announced his intention to leave the Huskers once the season concludes.
Local Results & Schedules:
THIS WEEK IN LOCAL SPORTS:
WEDNESDAY:
- UNK:
- WOMEN’S BASKETBALL: v. Peru State @ Health and Sports Center
- UNK 100-56
- MEN’S BASKETBALL: v. Chadron State @ Health and Sports Center
- UNK 79-58
- WOMEN’S BASKETBALL: v. Peru State @ Health and Sports Center
- HASTINGS COLLEGE:
-
- WOMEN’S BASKETBALL: @ Doane
- HC 76-72
- MEN’S BASKETBALL: @ Doane
- Doane 82-67
- WOMEN’S BASKETBALL: @ Doane
THURSDAY:
- KEARNEY HIGH:
- N/a
- KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
- N/a
- UNK:
- N/a
- HASTINGS COLLEGE:
-
- N/a
FRIDAY:
- KEARNEY HIGH:
- N/a
- KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
- N/a
- UNK:
- VOLLEYBALL: MIAA Semifinal
- #4 UNK @ #1 UCM – TBD
- VOLLEYBALL: MIAA Semifinal
- HASTINGS COLLEGE:
-
- WOMEN’S CROSS COUNTRY: NAIA Nationals – Vancouver, WA
SATURDAY:
- KEARNEY HIGH:
- N/a
- KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
- N/a
- UNK:
- VOLLEYBALL: TBA – MIAA Finals
- MEN’S CROSS COUNTRY: NCAA Championships
- WRESTLING: UNK Open – 9 AM
- MEN’S BASKETBALL: v. Colorado Mines @ Health and Sports Center – 12 PM
- WOMEN’S BASKETBALL: v. Colorado Mines @ Health and Sports Center – 2 PM
- FOOTBALL: NCAA D2 Playoffs
- UNK @ Western Colorado (Gunnison, CO) – 2 PM
- HASTINGS COLLEGE:
-
- WRESTLING: UNK Open – 9 AM
- WOMEN’S BASKETBALL: v. Mount Marty @ Lynn Farrell Arena – 2 PM
- MEN’S BASKETBALL: v. Mount Marty @ Lynn Farrell Arena – 3:45 PM
