Kearney, Neb. - The Nebraska-Kearney women's basketball team makes its first-ever trip to California this weekend when it plays at San Francisco State Saturday and the Academy of Art Sunday.

The game against the SFSU Gators starts at 4:00 p.m. Central with the contest vs. the Urban Knights tipping at 3:00 p.m. Central. Multimedia links can be found on the UNK schedule page.

UNK is coming off a 54-45 overtime win over Sioux Falls Wednesday night. Dating back to last season, three of the Lopers last four wins have coming in extra time.

Junior wing Shelby Zimmerman (Tri-County H.S.) is shooting 57% from the floor to lead the team in scoring at 15.5. She also is third on UNK in rebounds (5.0) and tied for second in steals (three).

Hitchcock County graduate Laramey Lewis is the other Loper making half her field goals(5 of 10) and that has her at 8.0 points per game. The Trenton native has four of UNK's seven made threes and also is pulling down 5.5 rebounds a night.

Finally, sophomore post Melissa Norman (Elk Grove, Calif.) is at a team-best 7.5 rebounds pg along with five blocks.

San Francisco State (1-0)
Coming off an 8-20 (7-15 CCA) year, the Gators had an impressive 73-68 exhibition win over Division I member Nevada to start 2012-13.

SFSU opened the regular season last night, winning at D2 newcomer Holy Names (Calif.), 95-63. They forced 33 turnovers and got 19 points and 16 boards from 5-11 sophomore post Farrah Shokoor.

Five-seven senior guard Nicole Hicks (11.6) and 5-6 junior guard Angela Van Sickel (8.3) are the top returning scorers and combined for 41 points vs. HNU.

Academy of Art (2-0)
Former Nebraska football player Dr. Jamie Williams helped start intercollegiate sports at the Academy of Art in 2008. The San Francisco-based school is the country's largest and most renowned art university in the country.

Already owning wins over Humboldt State, 86-65, and Cal State East Bay, 59-56, the Urban Knights went 16-10 last winter, including a 12-6 mark in Pac West Conference games.

So far, ART U has a balanced offensive attack as four are averaging double digits, led by 5-10 senior forward Jordan Rogers (13.0). She began her career at Division Pacific and is one of seven transfers on the roster.

The Knights are getting out rebounded by nearly six per game but counter that with a plus 12.5 turnover margin. Prior to playing the Lopers, ART U hosts Alaska-Fairbanks Friday night.