Memorable season for Loper trio |
| Posted by Administrator on Feb 20 2008 |
Photo courtesy of Garret Ritonya and Peter Yazvac
The 2007-2008 women's basketball season has been on of much excitement. Three Lopers, Jade Meads (left), Melissa Hinkley(center) and Amy Mathis (right), made their way into UNK history by reaching the 1,000 career point milestone.
By Amanda Bell
Antelope Staff
What more could add to the UNK Women's Basketball 21-5 record? Or that they were picked to win the conference in the pre-season polls? Or that this is only the fifteenth time in school history that the Lopers have reached 20 wins in a single season? How about the fact that three of members of the UNK Women's Basketball have hit the 1,000 point marker in their careers, an unprecedented accomplishment.
Seniors Amy Mathis and Melissa Hinkley, and junior Jade Meads have all played huge roles in the success of the Lopers this year.
"The 1,000 point thing didn't even cross my mind until Jade did it," Mathis said.
"It's an honor individually to do something like this, but it means more now that we get to share the experience with each other."
Mathis, a Millard North graduate out of Omaha, averages 18.1 points a game, and leads the RMAC in scoring and in three point shooting percentage. This forward also leads the conference in free-throw percentage, and is fourth in rebounds. She has been named player of the week in the eastern division of the RMAC three times, and was announced all-academic player of the year.
Hinkley, a Lincoln East graduate from Lincoln, also playing forward, averages 11.3 points a game and is fifth in the conference in steals and offensive rebounds. Hinkley was named player of the week Dec. 3, 2007.
"I don't even really care about the awards. Most of the time I don't even know until someone comes up and congratulates me," Hinkley said.
"As long as we're winning, I'm happy."
Meads is the rarity of these three. While the other two are competing in their final season, Meads is only a junior. A graduate of Elm Creek High School, from Elm Creek, this guard is averaging 15.1 points a game. She ranks eighth in scoring and fourteenth in offensive rebounds. Meads was named player of the week for the week of Dec. 31, 2007.
"Even though I'm only a junior, I try to be one of the go-to people when it comes to leadership responsibility. Our seniors do a great job of leading us, but I try to be a leader too," Meads said.
Although these three women have accomplished a great feat, it is nothing compared to what lies ahead of them. This year the NCAA Elite Eight Tournament will be held here in Kearney.
"I am just trying to finish this season playing with more intensity," Mathis said.
"I'm staying in the gym after practice quite a bit perfecting my shot. By this time in the season, everyone knows that I drive, so I've really been working on my shot," Meads said.
Hinkley is not changing her game much to prepare for the final stretch of the Lopers season, but she does remind herself and her teammates every game that this season their goal is to "bring it home."
The Lopers play again Feb. 21 at 6 p.m. against Regis. They also play Feb. 23 against University of Colorado at Colorado Springs at 2 p.m. The first round of the RMAC tournament begins March 1.
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