Kissinger Erupts for 32 Points in Win Over Chargers
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Briar Cliff (IA) (16-5, 10-5) | 23 | 23 | 19 | 17 | 82 |
|
Hastings (15-6, 11-4) | 26 | 22 | 28 | 26 | 102 |
(Hastings, NE) – The Hastings Broncos faced #16 Briar Cliff in a matchup between two teams tied for fourth in the GPAC with a 10-4 record, looking to improve their chances of hosting the opening round of the GPAC Tournament next month. Hastings, led by a career-high 32 points from junior Bailey Kissinger, outscored Briar Cliff by 18 in the second half to get the 102-82 win.
Briar Cliff made a three on their first possession of the game, then Hastings responded with a 7-0 run that included a three-point play by Kissinger. Leading 9-8, sophomore Josilyn Miller got to the rim and converted a three-point play. Tied at 16, sophomore McKenna Yates broke the tie with a three at the 3:33 mark and after two from sophomore Adyson Mlnarik, fellow sophomore Ann Bose scored their last five points to go up 26-23 after one.
Starting in the second quarter, the Chargers tied it with a triple. The teams traded baskets, with neither team holding a lead larger than two through the first six minutes of the quarter. Briar Cliff took a 43-40 lead on a three with 3:36 left in the half and after Yates got them within one, Briar Cliff hit another from deep to go up four. Kissinger scored the last six points of the half to put Hastings up 48-46 at the half.
In the third quarter, Briar Cliff scored the first five points. Hastings responded with an 8-0 run, getting four from Kissinger to go up 56-51 with 6:31 left. Leading 58-55, Mlnarik drilled a three halfway through the third. After two made free throws by Bose, Kissinger stole the ball and laid it in at the other end to go up eight. A basket inside by Bryant and a three by Yates pushed the lead to 13 with 1:21 to go, as Hastings took a 76-65 lead into the fourth.
Hastings got the fourth quarter scoring with an entry pass into Bryant, who completed a three-point play. The Chargers got within 10 with 6:24 left, but Kissinger drilled a corner three and senior Mariyah Avila made two free throws following a Bryant block to give the Broncos back the momentum and a 15-point lead. Bryant put the Broncos up 17 with a spinning layup with 4:10 left and they later went up 22 on an and-one from Yates. Hastings would control it the rest of the way to get the 102-82 win.
For the game, Hastings shot 44 percent from the field and 39 percent from three. Briar Cliff shot 41 percent from the field and 39 percent from three. Hastings held a 53-47 edge on the boards and forced 20 turnovers, converting them into 22 points.
Kissinger ended with 32 points, nine rebounds, five assists, and five steals. Bose added 22 points, 11 rebounds, three assists, and two steals. Yates finished with 15 points, five rebounds, and four assists. Avila chipped in with seven points, four rebounds, four assists, and three steals.
Up next, Hastings will play at Mount Marty on Wednesday, Jan. 28 at 5:30pm.
