UNK (3-3, 2-0 RMAC) is now 24-3 all-time against the Mavericks (4-2, 1-1 RMAC).
The Lopers led for the last 28 minutes but didn't put away Mesa until the closing minutes. After being limited by foul trouble Friday night, Becker (Southern Valley H.S.) made up for lost time by having 14 points and 11 rebounds in the first half.
UNK led by as many as seven in the opening frame and went into the break up 32-28. A three from junior guard Kim Rickels (Iowa City, Ia.) capped a 13-5 UNK run to start the second half and it suddenly was a 45-33 game.
Among the top rebounding teams in the RMAC, Mesa was out boarded by eight, 25-17, in the first half. They pulled down 13 offensive caroms in the second half to hang around and eventually trailed by just five, 68-63, after a put back by post Kelsey Sigl at the 3:41 mark.
Two Becker free throws a minute later got the lead back to seven and then a Rickels steal turned into a layup by freshman guard Nicole Arp (Kearney H.S.) and the win was secured for the Lopers.
UNK out shot Mesa, 46 to 33 percent, and also won the rebounding battle, 48-37. The Lopers did commit 24 turnovers but they had a plus two advantage, 20-18, in points off turnovers.
Becker finished 9 of 15 from the field to score a game-high 23 points. She also grabbed a career-high 17 rebounds and had five assists to boot. The 17 boards are just one off the school record, shared by Heather Steffen ('03) and Julie Volquardson ('85).
Leeper (Colorado Springs, Colo.) recorded a second straight double double as she had a big second half (eight points, six rebounds) to be at 12 points and 12 rebounds (seven offensive) for the game. Also, Arp went 5 of 5 from the floor to tally 13 points with junior guard Debi Johnson (Elsie) having 13 points, three steals, two assists and two rebounds.
Katie Brady paced Mesa with 14 points on 5 of 8 field goal shooting.
UNK plays at Metro State and Regis next weekend.
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