Story & Photos Courtesy Hastings Broncos
(Hastings, NE) – The women’s basketball team knocked down a record 17 threes in their 112-69 win over (RV) Northwestern and outscored the Red Raiders, 61-26, in the second half. The Broncos have now hit 33 three-pointers in their last two games, also a school record.
Hastings took a 10-6 lead on a three by senior Macy Bryant, who had 12 first half points, but Northwestern surged ahead to go up 16-12 at the 3:20 mark of the first quarter. Sophomore Adyson Mlnarik came off the bench and hit from deep and junior Bailey Kissinger later converted an and-one, tying it at 18 with 2:14 left. The Red Raiders closed the first quarter on a 9-4 run to take a 27-22 lead.
Sophomore Ann Bose hit the first of seven threes made by the Broncos in the second quarter on their first possession and Bryant got them within one at the line a minute later. A three from sophomore Jentri Marx put Hastings ahead, 32-30. Tied at 36 with 4:34 left in the first half, Bryant and Mlnarik hit back-to-back threes. Bose drilled another three at the 2:46 mark to make it 45-40, then three-pointers by sophomore McKenna Yates and senior Mariyah Avila pushed the lead to 11 with a minute left. Northwestern would hit from deep before the half ended, cutting it to eight at 51-43 at the break.
Hastings did most of their damage in the third, outscoring Northwestern 39-16 in the period. The Red Raiders scored the first four points of the half, as Avila got them on the board with a two at the 7:42 mark. She would score the next six points as well to go up 63-50, before Mlnarik splashed another three. Leading 68-52, Kissinger went on a personal 5-0 run, then Bryant scored from deep to go up 76-52 with 3:16 left in the quarter. Mlnarik and Avila each hit three-pointers later in the quarter and Avila also made four free throws in the final minute to put Hastings up 90-59 after three.
Freshman Catelynn Bargen got the first two points of the fourth on free throws, then with Hastings leading 99-59, Marx got a steal-and-score to put them over the century mark at 101-59 with 6:15 left. Sophomore Stella Heapy gave Hastings the school-record for most made threes in their team history, knocking down their 17th at the 3:32 mark. Mlnarik added six points late, as the Broncos rolled to a 112-69 victory.
The Broncos shot 46 from the field, compared to 43 percent by the Red Raiders. Hastings was 17-36 from three, good for 47 percent, and scored 50 points off of 37 Northwestern turnovers, seven shy of the school record.
Mlnarik scored 23 points in 17 minutes off the bench to lead the way, adding three assists. Avila had 20 points and five steals, while Bryant had 16 points and five assists. Yates contributed 14 points, five assists, and three rebounds. Kissinger chipped in with eight points, five rebounds and four assists. Off the bench, sophomore Josilyn Miller had eight points and four steals, while Marx had five points and six steals.
Up next, Hastings will host Mount Marty on Wednesday, December 10 at 5pm.
