Western New Mexico sweeps Loper Basketbal Teams |
| Posted by Administrator on Jan 21 2009 |
Photo by Garrett Ritonya
Junior forward Drake Beranek of Ravenna throws up a reverse layup to avoid a Western New Mexico on Saturday night. The Lopers lost the game 69-65 to drop to 8-7 on the year.
By Garrett Ritonya
Antelope Staff
It just wasn't in the cards Saturday night for the Men's and Women's Basketball Teams as they squared off against the Mustangs of Western New Mexico. Both dropped close contests as the Mustangs left Kearney with a pair of wins.
The Lady Lopers saw early leads, including a 20-9 lead nine minutes into the game, evaporate early in the second half as the Mustangs cleaned up the boards, shutting down any chance of a Loper comeback and defeating them 69-65. Western New Mexico out rebounded the Lady Lopers 52-37 on the afternoon, with 18 coming from Mustang leading scorer Audra Major.
Leading UNK on the night was senior Jonni Mildenberger of Sterling, Colo. She scored 21 points and grabbed nine rebounds against the Mustangs and continues to shine in the absence of senior leader Jade Meads of Elm Creek. Meads has been sidelined for the past month with a quadriceps injury, and the team has gone a mediocre 3-5 in that time.
Mildenberger has transformed her game during that time, becoming a go-to scorer when the game is close.
Other Lopers scoring in double digits were senior guard Kassi Schuppe of Iliff, Colo. with 11 and freshman forward Vanessa Leeper of Colorado Springs with 10.
The loss by the Lady Lopers drops them to 8-7 overall on the season and 3-4 in the RMAC, a long way from beginning the season ranked number 22 in Division II.
The Loper men saw tough luck continue with a 65-61 loss at the hands of the Mustang men. UNK fell behind early, as the Lopers trailed by as many as 14 in the first half and eight at halftime. But behind the play of junior forward Drake Beranek, the Lopers stormed back.
Beranek, a junior from Ravenna, led the Lopers with 22 points and grabbed 11 rebounds for his fourth double-double of the season. UNK made its first seven shots of the second half during a 15-2 run and grabbed a 46-41 lead. But then the Lopers went cold, missing 25 of their final 30 shots.
Western New Mexico went on an 8-3 run to finish the game and defeat the Lopers by four, winning in Kearney for the second straight year.
Beranek, who has elevated his game the past two seasons, has led the Lopers all season. Beranek was voted the RMAC Preseason Player of the Year and continues to show why, leading a team with limited game experience.
"One area of my game that I have improved is my leadership," Beranek said. "As a team, we need to execute better and play on a more consistent level in order for our season to really turn a corner."
The only other Loper to score in double digits was freshman Chris Deans of Hemingford, who has emerged as an outside threat for UNK.
The loss drops UNK to 6-8 overall and 3-4 in the RMAC. The loss is their second straight after winning three in a row.
Next weekend, the men and women will host Colorado Christian and Colorado School of Mines as their four-game home stand continues.
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