JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - The second quarter was the difference on Thursday night (Feb. 13) as a late run by Nebraska Kearney lifted the Lopers to a 60-52 win over the Lincoln women's basketball team.

Kaloni Pryear scored a game-high 21 points against the Lopers, who entered the week ranked No. 25 in the Women's Basketball Coaches Association's Division II poll. Pryear also had six rebounds and a team-high four assists. Vivian Chigbu, meanwhile, posted a double-double, finishing with 14 points and 10 boards.

The teams played a back-and-forth first quarter, with Nebraska Kearney (23-2, 12-2 MIAA) finishing the period with a slim 12-10 lead. Lincoln (3-20, 0-14 MIAA) took a 16-14 lead in the second on a Pryear layup, but UNK tied it on a layup of its own with 5:33 until halftime. The Lopers then proceeded to end the half on a 13-3 run that ended up being critical to the final score.

The Blue Tigers out-scored the Lopers, 19-16, in the third quarter, and pulled to within 49-44 on a pair of free throws by Natasha Elliott with 6:05 to play. Elliott ended the night with seven points, three boards, an assist and two steals. The Lopers scored five of the next seven points to regain an eight-point advantage, and held a 56-47 lead with 1:55 remaining.

Alecia Gulledge ended the night with six rebounds, two steals, an assist and six points, two of which jump started LU onto a brief 5-0 run to pull within four. Nebraska Kearney shot .632 from the line for the game, but made four free throws down the stretch to hold a Lincoln comeback.

The Blue Tigers out-rebounded the Lopers, 39-34, and forced 10 turnovers while scoring 13 second chance points. Natasha Dolinsky and Anna Munoz Vidueira each scored two points and grabbed three rebounds, with Dolinsky also contributing an assist. Kiara Shoulders came off the bench to pull down three rebounds.

Lincoln closes its 2019-20 home slate on Saturday (Feb. 15) by hosting Fort Hays State at 1:00 p.m. CST. A Senior Day ceremony will be held after the game to honor Gulledge and Pryear.