Kearney, Neb. – Another week, another nationally-ranked foe for the Nebraska-Kearney women's basketball team.

The Lopers (3-6, 0-2) host No. 1 Emporia State (8-0, 0-0) Thursday night and Washburn (6-2, 0-0) Saturday night. Both games tip at 5:30 p.m.; check the UNK schedule page for media links.

UNK has already faced No. 4 Pittsburg State (9-0) and No. 25 Northern State (6-1), as well as Regis (6-1) and Wayne State (5-3).

The ESU Hornets come in with a massive 40-point margin of victory, 94-54. To achieve that, they have a plus 16 rebounding margin, a plus five turnover margin and make nine threes per game.
 
A 5-9 senior guard, Kelly Moten, leads the way as she is averaging 17.5 points, 5.6 rebounds, 4.8 assists and 2.1 steals per game. Shooting 79% at the line, she has made 10 threes and also blocked eight shots. Last year in a 73-64 win over UNK, Moten went for 31 points (10 of 11 FT's & 10 of 23 FG's).
 
Another 5-9 guard, junior Addie Lackey, is at 15.1 points and 3.9 assists per game with 5-10 junior wing Kyrstie Miller averaging 11.6 points and a team-best 7.0 rebounds a night. Emporia is coming off a 70-60 win over defending Division II national champ Lubbock Christian (Texas) and also won at No. 11 Drury (Mo.), 74-59.
 
The Ichabods, playing at Fort Hays State Wednesday, are holding teams to 56.6 points and 37% field goal shooting. Veteran head coach Ron McHenry has seven players averaging between 7.8-10.9 points per game as the'Bods shoot 65% at the line and 46% from the field.
 
Senior guards Erika Lane (10.9) and Jharian Bowen (10.0) lead in scoring with 6-2 senior post Alyxis Bowers first in rebounds (5.9) and blocks (seven). Last year in Kearney, Washburn managed a 63-57 win as current senior post Erin Dohnalek (7.9 ppg) came off the bench to score 14 in 18 minutes.
 
Currently on a four-game win streak, Washburn has lost to Drury, 74-43, and to NSIC-member Mary, 66-62.
 
Last week, UNK rallied from a 15-point second half deficit to lead Pittsburg State late in regulation. The game went into OT with the Gorillas pulling out an 84-80 win. That's the Lopers second OT loss at Pitt in recent seasons.
 
Two days later, Missouri Southern (5-4, 2-0) hit six early threes as part of a 79-66 victory. The Lions upset 25^th-ranked Fort Hays State in its MIAA opener.
 
Individually, senior point guard Alexa Hogberg (Chandler, Ariz.) needs two more threes to move into 10th place on UNK's all-time list. She currently has 88 treys; junior McKenzie Brown has sunk 137 to rank sixth.
 
Averaging just over four assists per game, Hogberg is also closing in on Tami Tully's career assist mark of 373. She'll likely reach the mark in 11 games or the weekend of January 26-28 when UNK hosts Lindenwood and Lincoln.
 
Among the many new faces, senior post Nieka Wheeler (7.0 points & 3.4 rebounds per game) and junior guard Abby Hix (6.6 points per game & 47% 3-point pct.) – both from Independence, Mo. – are part of a bench crew that has scored 99 points the past three contests.
 
UNK will practice next week (finals week at UNK) before getting an extended Holiday break. They'll return to practice on Tuesday, December 27th as the D2 moratorium runs from December 20-26.