Kearney, Neb. - The Nebraska-Kearney women's basketball team will get a crack at a Top 25 team Thursday night when the Lopers face the 17th-ranked Pittsburg State Gorillas in Kansas.

The MIAA game tips at 5:30 p.m. Two day later, UNK heads to Oklahoma to battle Northeastern State -- a perennial 20 win program -- at 1:30 p.m. Multimedia links can be found on the schedule page. 

Pitt was tabbed second in the MIAA preseason poll. They went 27-6 last season, earning a berth in the Elite Elite Eight where they lost to eventual national champ Shaw (N.C.).

After starting 4-0, Pitt dropped home games to D2 newcomer William Jewell, 68-66, and MIAA newbie Central Oklahoma, 70-62. They also lost to the Academy of Art (Calif.) in Las Vegas, 82-73. UNK lost to ART U by a 72-62 score.
    
Pitt allows 60.0 points per game as it holds the opposition to 37% shooting from the field. The Gorillas also have a plus six rebounding margin and force 17 turnovers per game.
    
Individually, only 5-11 sophomore forward Lizzy Jeronimus scores in double digits but she is at a healthy 19.9 points per game. To reach that total, she shoots 49% from the floor and 87% at the line.
    
Jeronimus also leads Pitt in assists (28) and rebounds (6.7) and is second in steals (14). A deep team, seven others average between 4.0-9.9 points per game.
  
 Pitt leads the all-time series, 17-11, but hasn't played UNK since 1988-89.

The Loper and RiverHawks will meet for the first time Saturday in Tahlequah. Northeastern went 23-6 last year, falling to Pitt State in the NCAA's. They won 23 games in 2011 and 26 in 2010.
    
The RiverHawks lost to NAIA member Lubbock Christian (Texas) in double OT, 75-67, to start the year and also were beaten by No. 21 Tarleton State (Texas), 59-57, Drury (Mo.), 65-57, and Lincoln, 54-49.
    
A strong defensive squad, the 'Hawks give up just 54.9 points per game with the opposition making only 35% of its shots. NSU forces 14 turnovers per game and has a plus 1.4 rebounding margin.
    
Offensively, NSU relies on the three (8.4 per game) as four players have made at least 10 treys. That includes 5-7 senior guards Taylor Lewis (13.6 ppg) and Tosha Tyler (11.3). Combining for 48 threes, the pair both shoot well over 80% at the line.
    
Inside, 5-11 junior Carrington Fox leads the team in blocks (15) and is second in rebounds (4.8).

Coming off a 59-55 win over South Dakota Mines, UNK looks to continue a defensive effort that has helped them hold the opposition to under 70 points in four of the last five games. 

The Lopers are among the MIAA leaders in steals (10.7), 3-point percentage defense (26.6%) as well as rebounding margin (+ 3.6).

Individually, senior point Ivy Jones (Vallejo, Calif.) has had back-to-back 10 point games with backcourt mate Sarah Hix (Broomfield, Colo.) tallying a career-best 12 in the win over SDMT.

UNK hosts Missouri Western State next Wednesday night and then MIAA favorite Washburn comes to town on Saturday.