Story by UNK Athletic Communications
The 22nd-ranked Creighton Bluejays started and finished strong and used five different 7-0 runs to down Nebraska Kearney, 93-42, in an exhibition game Monday night in Omaha. This was the fourth time the Lopers and 'Jays met in the exhibition era; the previous contests kicked of the 2018-19, 2004-05 and 2003-04 seasons. This was the first game UNK was under the direction of head coach Drew Johnson. He used 15 different players with nine getting into the scoring column and eight logging at least 10:59 of action. Of note, no official box score will be posted for this game. "There's a lot to learn from but I was very impressed with our team. It took us a minute to settle in, took us a minute to understand the pace that they were going to play. You can talk about all the screening and the actions in practice all you want but it just takes a minute when they are that long and athletic," said Johnson on the KRVN post-game radio show. CU, led by senior wing Morgan Maly of Crete, scored the game's first seven points and never looked back. The 'Jay's shot 54% from the field, was plus 14 on glass and took advantage of 19 Loper turnovers. However, UNK was outscored by just a 40-29 margin over the second and third quarters. The Lopers also committed just six turnovers in the first half, had 10 offensive rebounds on the night and held CU to a 7 of 24 effort (29%) from behind the arc. "I'll take the second and third quarters all day long. We would've liked to have scored it a little bit better in the third but love the energy, effort and intensity and we guarded better in the third," said Johnson. Super senior forward Shiloh McCool (Pleasant Hill, Ia.) led UNK with 11 points and six rebounds in 28 minutes of work. Next, redshirt senior Lexi Moes (Smithville, Mo.) knocked down two threes with grad transfer and newcomer Kia Wilson (St. George, Kan.) also scoring six. Finally, off the bench, redshirt freshman post Bailee Sobczak (Rapid City, S.D.) and junior wing Samantha Moore (Mullen) both grabbed four rebounds."You have these games to learn what you're good at and what you need to work on. Proud of our effort, proud of our toughness and how we executed," said Johnson. "You also want to give everyone the opportunity to play in this kind of environment. This is a special place (D.J. Sokol Arena)."An 2023 first-team All-Big East selection, Maly hit her first nine shots from the field and ended up with a game-high 28. She was 11 of 14 from the field (4 of 7 threes) and 2 of 2 at the line while also supplying eight defensive boards, two assists, a block and steal. Senior forward Emma Ronisek (15) and Laura Jensen (10) also were in double figures for the 'Jays who ended the game on 16-0 run. UNK starts the regular season next weekend in Marshall, Minn., with games against Minnesota-Crookston and Southwest Minnesota State.