Lopers Earn All Conference Honors

Lopers Earn All Conference Honors
March 2nd, 2022 | Peter Yazvac

Kearney, Neb. – Guard David Simental represents Nebraska-Kearney on the 2021-22 All-MIAA men’s basketball team. Head coaches vote on the makeup of the squad and cannot vote for their own players.
Simental (Pueblo, West.) made the third-team and this is his third straight all-league honor at the NCAA Division II level. He was twice named second-team All-Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) while playing at Colorado State-Pueblo. As a redshirt freshman at Central Wyoming College, the point guard was named second-team All-Region IX.  Having one more year of eligibility, Simental had a banner first season as a Loper. He came in at 18.8 points, 3.4 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game while shooting 86% at the line and 41% from behind the arc. Simental ranked third in the MIAA in minutes (36.6 avg.), fifth in scoring and three-point percentage, sixth in free throw percentage and 12th in assists.
He has tallied 1,273 career points at the NCAA level and 1,740 including that junior college season. Simental had four 30-point games this winter and five more between 25-29 points. Finally, his 70 made 3’s rank 10th in school history with his free throw percentage fifth highest for a single season.

Kearney, Neb. – Nebraska-Kearney has placed four upperclassmen on the 2022 All-MIAA women’s basketball team. Head coaches vote on the makeup of the squad and cannot vote for their own players. 
Forward Elisa Backes (Salina, Kan.) is tabbed second-team for a second straight year, wing Klaire Kirsch (Rapid City, S.D.) is honorable mention for a third time with post Brooke Carlson (Elkhorn) and guard Haley Simental (Pueblo West, Colo.) each named honorable mention and earning their third All-MIAA honors. This was Simental’s final year of eligibility; the other three are returning in 2022-23 to use their “COVID year.”

Backes leads UNK in scoring (12.8), threes made (48) three-point percentage (37.5) and blocks (25) while being second in assists (50) and free throw percentage (73.5). She has been in double figures 19 times, reached 20 points in four games and currently is 21st (1,174) on the all-time scoring list.

Next, Kirsch is about to become UNK’s all-time leading rebounder. Missing five games early this year due to injury, her current carom total of 893 sits behind only Ginger Keller (894/’94) and Heather Steffen (906’01). Kirsch’s season stat line is 8.7 points, 8.6 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.3 steals per game while making nearly half her shots (49.4%). She is second in scoring and first in rebounds and steals.

In the lane, Carlson is at 8.6 and 4.5 rebounds per game while shooting 52% from the field. Now 18th on the UNK career scoring list (1,205), she has posted one double double and reached double digits nine times. Finally, Simental has been at point and shooting guard and is at 7.4 points, a team-best 3.1 assists and 1.6 rebounds per game. She also leads UNK in free throw percentage (80.4), minutes (871/31.1 avg.), is third in made 3’s (35) and is at 904 career points which includes time at Division I Denver.

Surprise league co-champion Missouri Southern State saw Ronnie Ressel be named Coach of the Year with Lion post Lacy Stokes named the Freshman and Player of the Year. Finally, Central Missouri senior forward Nija Collier is the league’s top defender.  UNK (22-6, 17-5) is the third seed in this year’s MIAA Tournament and faced Northwest Missouri State Friday at 2:15 p.m. in Kansas City.

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