KEARNEY, Neb. – The Northeastern State women's basketball team lost to Nebraska-Kearney 82-49 Saturday afternoon at the Health & Sports Center.
 
The RiverHawks (5-12, 2-9 MIAA) are now on a four-game losing skid and have lost 12 of their last 14 games. UNK improved to 9-8 on the year and 5-6 in the conference.
 
Senior guard Kate Bellamy led NSU with 11 points, while true freshman guard Cailyn Long added 10 points for the visitors. Junior forward Mary Jane Buschmann finished with nine points, six rebounds, four assists and two steals in 33 minutes.
 
Northeastern State shot 28.8 percent (15-for-52) from the field, 25 percent (7-for-28) from behind the 3-point line and 85.7 percent (12-for-14) at the free-throw line. UNK shot 46.8 percent (29-for-62) overall, 36 percent (9-for-25) from deep and 88.2 percent (15-for-17) at the stripe.
 
Laramey Becker led all scorers with 21 points. Bri Starks added 14, while Jenna Gillespie and Kennedy Sander both netted 10.
 
Nebraska-Kearney led in rebounding (51-22), assists (18-11), points in the paint (30-12), points off turnovers (18-4), second-chance points (17-3), fast break points (4-0) and bench points (24-14). NSU led in steals (6-4) and fewer turnovers (10-11).
 
Northeastern State will now prepare to begin its final stretch run of the campaign. The green and white will play eight of its final 11 contests at home, beginning with a 5:30 p.m. tilt Jan. 21 against Central Missouri.

-GoRiverHawksGo.com-