By LAURYN BECKER
Photos by REBEKAH REED
In a tight ball game, the Lopers made the plays when they needed to.
That propelled the University of Nebraska-Kearney women’s basketball team to a 77-70 win over University of Minnesota-Duluth during the quarterfinals of the NCAA Division II Central Regional Tournament on Friday at Gross Memorial Coliseum in Hays.
The No. 6-seeded Lopers (24-7) proved to be too balanced to stop, with seven players scoring at least five or more points — including four players in double figures. Trinity Law paced UNK with 21 points on 7 of 15 shooting.
The Bulldogs (24-5) battled the entire game, make it a back-and-forth affair for a majority of the four quarters. Minnesota-Duluth had four players of its own score in double figures, with Ann Simonet pacing the team with 16 points.
Nebraska-Kearney took control early, leading 17-12 after the first quarter and 32-26 at halftime. UMD got rolling on offense in the third quarter, outscoring UNK 22-21.
But it would prove to be the only quarter the Bulldogs outscored the Lopers in.
Late in the fourth, the Bulldogs tightened the score to come within 75-67. But UNK made plays down the stretch.
The Lopers shot 47% from the field (26 of 55) and 65% from the free-throw line (20 of 31). Klaire Kirsch dominated the boards, finishing with a game-high 16 rebounds to go along with her 10 points. Brooke Carlson chipped in 13 points, shooting 50% from the field (5 of 10), and 75% from the free-throw line (3 of 4). Elisa Backes finished with 10 points.
For the Bulldogs, leading the way was Ann Simonet with 16 points, including a 4-of-6 effort from 3-point range. Brooke Olson led the team in rebounds with nine and added 11 points. Maesyn Thiesen added 13 points, and Payton Kahl ended with 10.
The Lopers will play MIAA foe Missouri Western at 5 p.m. Saturday in GMC. The Griffons dominated Southwestern Oklahoma State in another quarterfinal Friday, 111-77.
Minnesota-Duluth players huddle prior to their game against UNK during Friday’s quarterfinal at the NCAA DII Central Regional in Hays. 
Minnesota-Duluth’s Brooke Olson eyes UNK’s Haley Simental on defense during Friday’s quarterfinal at the NCAA DII Central Regional in Hays. 
Minnesota-Duluth’s Sarah Grow drives to the hoop against UNK’s Elisa Backes during Friday’s quarterfinal at the NCAA DII Central Regional in Hays. 
UNK’s Sarah Schmitt shoots a free throw against Minnesota-Duluth during Friday’s quarterfinal at the NCAA DII Central Regional in Hays. 
UNK’s Shiloh McCool drives against Minnesota-Duluth’s Brooke Olson during Friday’s quarterfinal at the NCAA DII Central Regional in Hays. 
UNK’s Shiloh McCool plays defense against a Minnesota-Duluth player during Friday’s quarterfinal at the NCAA DII Central Regional in Hays. 
UNK’s Elisa Backes looks to pass around Minnesota-Duluth’s Madelyn Granica during Friday’s quarterfinal at the NCAA DII Central Regional in Hays. 
Minnesota-Duluth’s Madelyn Granica readies herself to play defense against UNK during Friday’s quarterfinal at the NCAA DII Central Regional in Hays. 
UNK’s Trinity Law shoots a free throw against Minnesota-Duluth during Friday’s quarterfinal at the NCAA DII Central Regional in Hays. 
The Minnesota-Duluth bench cheers on teammates against UNK during Friday’s quarterfinal at the NCAA DII Central Regional in Hays. 
UNK and Minnesota-Duluth players jostle for position during Friday’s quarterfinal at the NCAA DII Central Regional in Hays. 
UNK’s Klaire Kirsch looks to pass around Minnesota-Duluth’s Payton Kahl during Friday’s quarterfinal at the NCAA DII Central Regional in Hays. 
UNK’s Trinity Law battles against a Minnesota-Duluth player during Friday’s quarterfinal at the NCAA DII Central Regional in Hays. 
UNK’s Maegan Holt reacts after shooting a free throw against Minnesota-Duluth during Friday’s quarterfinal at the NCAA DII Central Regional in Hays. 
UNK’s Maegan Holt shoots a free throw against Minnesota-Duluth during Friday’s quarterfinal at the NCAA DII Central Regional in Hays. 
UNK’s Sarah Schmitt runs the fastbreak against Minnesota-Duluth during Friday’s quarterfinal at the NCAA DII Central Regional in Hays. 
UNK’s Klaire Kirsch passes to a teammate against Minnesota-Duluth during Friday’s quarterfinal at the NCAA DII Central Regional in Hays. 
Minnesota-Duluth’s Brooke Olson plays defense against UNK’s Elisa Backes during Friday’s quarterfinal at the NCAA DII Central Regional in Hays. 
UNK’s Sarah Schmitt tries to avoid the defense of Minnesota-Duluth’s Maesyn Thiesen during Friday’s quarterfinal at the NCAA DII Central Regional in Hays. 
UNK and Minnesota-Duluth battle during Friday’s quarterfinal at the NCAA DII Central Regional in Hays. 
UNK’s Brooke Carlson and Minnesota-Duluth’s Sarah Grow watch as a basket is made during Friday’s quarterfinal at the NCAA DII Central Regional in Hays. 
The Minnesota-Duluth bench reacts to a made 3-pointer against UNK during Friday’s quarterfinal at the NCAA DII Central Regional in Hays. 
Minnesota-Duluth’s Ann Simonet drives around a UNK defender during Friday’s quarterfinal at the NCAA DII Central Regional in Hays. 
Minnesota-Duluth’s Maesyn Thiesen dribbles up the court against UNK during Friday’s quarterfinal at the NCAA DII Central Regional in Hays. 
UNK’s Trinity Law shoots a free throw against Minnesota-Duluth during Friday’s quarterfinal at the NCAA DII Central Regional in Hays. 
Minnesota-Duluth’s Madelyn Granica calls out a play in front of UNK’s Maegan Holt during Friday’s quarterfinal at the NCAA DII Central Regional in Hays. 
Minnesota-Duluth’s Ella Gilbertson looks to get open against UNK during Friday’s quarterfinal at the NCAA DII Central Regional in Hays. 
Minnesota-Duluth senior Payton Kahl looks for the ball against UNK during Friday’s quarterfinal at the NCAA DII Central Regional in Hays. 
The Minnesota-Duluth bench reacts against UNK during Friday’s quarterfinal at the NCAA DII Central Regional in Hays. 
The UNK coaching staff reacts during Friday’s quarterfinal at the NCAA DII Central Regional in Hays. 
Minnesota-Duluth’s Maesyn Thiesen fires a 3-pointer over a UNK defender during Friday’s quarterfinal at the NCAA DII Central Regional in Hays. 
UNK’s Haley Simental dribbles up the floor against Minnesota-Duluth during Friday’s quarterfinal at the NCAA DII Central Regional in Hays. 
UNK sophomore Trinity Law drives around a screen by junior Elisa Backes during Friday’s quarterfinal at the NCAA DII Central Regional in Hays. 
UNK junior Elisa Backes, Minnesota-Duluth senior Sarah Grow and UNK junior Klaire Kirsch wait on the free throw line during Friday’s quarterfinal at the NCAA DII Central Regional in Hays.