Several Lopers Honored By MIAA

Several Lopers Honored By MIAA
Loper Forward Elisa Backes-Photo Courtesy UNK Sports
March 3rd, 2021 | Jayson Jorgensen

Kearney, Neb. – The now No. 14/31 Nebraska-Kearney women’s basketball team has had four players voted to the 2020-21 All-MIAA women’s basketball team.The league’s head coaches vote on the makeup of the team and cannot vote for their own players. Hailey Simental

Junior reserve forward Elisa Backes (Salina, Kan.) makes the second-team, junior post Brooke Carlson (Elkhorn) and graduate point guard Haley Simental (Pueblo West, Colo.) were voted to the third-team with junior wing Klaire Kirsch (Rapid City, S.D.) receiving honorable mention accolades. Carlson earns her third honor with Kirsch and Simental repeating as all-league picks. Finally, senior guard Kelsey Sanger (Crofton) is the first-ever Loper to make the “All-Defensive” team.

Entering tonight’s MIAA Tournament, Backes leads UNK in points (13.5), blocks (23), free throws made (63) and attempted (91) while ranking second in threes made (23) and steals (22) and third in rebounds (108) and field goal percentage (49.3). She has had 14 double figure efforts including two double doubles.

Klaire KirschNext, Carlson is second on the Lopers in scoring (9.8), rebounds (5.5), field goal percentage (50.3) and blocks (14). She has reached double digits 10 times and enters tonight with 898 career points. Simental missed three games this year due to injury and has averages of 7.9 points, 3.1 assists, and 1.4 rebounds. She leads the team in threes (29) and free throw percentage (88.5), has had eight double figure efforts and six games with at least four assists.

Finally, Kirsch is once again of the MIAA’s top rebounders (3rd/9.1 avg,). The staunch defender also leads the Lopers in assists (66), steals (36) and minutes (30.8 avg.) while being fourth in scoring (7.4).

A three-time All-MIAA pick in her career, Sanger has 20 steals on the season and usually locks up one of the opposition’s top scorers. The four-year starter has appeared in 103 games for the Lopers.  Kelsey Sanger

Emporia State redshirt sophomore guard Tre’Zure Jobe was tabbed the Player of the Year with Northwest Missouri State guard Molly Hartnett the top freshman. Next, Central Missouri redshirt senior wing Morgan VanHyfte is the top defender with FSHU’s Tony Hobson the Coach of the Year.



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