Kearney, Neb. - In search of a win, the Nebraska-Kearney women's basketball team will play in Gunnison and Grand Junction this weekend to start conference play.

The Lopers (0-4) will tangle with the Western State Mountaineers (1-5) on Friday night at 7:00 p.m. Central and then head down the road a bit to face the Colorado Mesa Mavericks (2-2) Saturday at 6:30 p.m. Central.

Fans can follow the action by listening to Dave Jenner on KGFW AM 1340 or, for a price, watch the action on America One. Live stats are also available.

UNK may have not recorded a victory so far but has been in each contest. The losses include one to Division I Northern Colorado and one to Grand Canyon (Ariz.), currently ranked ninth in Division II.

Ranking second in the league in free throw percentage (71.7), the Lopers are currently being paced by seniors Debi Johnson (19.3 ppg) and Vanessa Leeper Jones (16.0 ppg). Both are among the RMAC's top four scorers and also are among the Loper leaders in rebounds and assists.

And, with 31 more points, Leeper Jones will become the 23rd UNK women's player to reach 1,000 career points. Ironically she wears jersey number 23.
Twenty-three seems to be the number this weekend as CMU six-foot junior forward Kelsey Sigl currently leads the RMAC in scoring at an even 23.0 ppg. A 2011 first-team All-RMAC pick, she is also pulling down 8.3 rpg and makes 55% of her shots.

As a team, Mesa rebounded from two losses in California by picking up two home wins (Oklahoma Panhandle State and Tarleton State of Texas) last weekend.

Picked fourth in the preseason coaches poll, Mesa is making a 46% of its threes but only 58% of its free throws. Besides Sigl, senior Hillary Duncan (10.3 ppg) is shooting 90% (18 of 20) from the field after transferring in from NAIA Oklahoma Christian.

Last year, UNK beat Mesa in Kearney but fell in Grand Junction, 73-70.

Western may be off to a slow start but they have yet to be at home. Besides a long trip to Fairbanks, Alaska, the Mountaineers have played games in Denver and Pueblo.

Losing all five games by 13 points or less, Western features six-foot junior center Katie Hall (15.3 points & 13.5 rebounds) and senior guard Nikki Trujillo at 11.1 ppg.

UNK has lost three of the last four meetings with Western, including a loss in Gunnison late last winter.