Kearney, Neb. - The Nebraska-Kearney women's basketball will have played the top eight teams in the MIAA after Thursday night's contest at Truman State in Kirksville.

On Saturday, the Lopers (5-10, 2-6) visit the Southwest Baptist Bearcats at 1:30 p.m. The TSU game is slated for a 5:30 p.m. tip. Check the schedule page for multi-media links.

Just like the football team played the league's best right out of the gates in the fall, the Loper women's first eight league opponents are currently 87-34 (79.1%) and occupy seven of the top eight spots in the league standings.

Truman (13-3, 6-2) is currently in a three-way tie for second in the conference. The sharp shooting Bulldogs lead the MIAA in field goal (47.3%), three point (44.0%) and free throw (77.3%) percentages to score a league best 73.8 points per game.

A perfect 8-0 in Kirksville, Truman is coming off a 73-64 upset win over Central Missouri. For the year, TSU is allowing just 54.0 points at home.

Fifth-year head coach Michael Smith has a roster with seven Illinois natives. A balanced offensive attack is paced by 5-7 senior guard Becka McHenry (14.1 points & 3.9 assists per game) with 5-6 sophomore guard Allison Norton at 10.4 points.

UNK leads the all-time series, 2-1, with the last meeting between the two coming in 1996, a 67-62 Truman home win. This will be the last meeting between the two as the 'Dawgs join the GLVC (Great Lakes Valley Conference) on July 1st.

The SBU Bearcats (7-9, 2-6), tied with UNK in the league standings, are a solid 6-2 at home after a 76-74 upset win over NW Missouri State on Tuesday.

Head coach Todd Voss has a 14-player roster that features six seniors. Five 'Cats have made at least 10 threes with SBU, as a team, at 108 triples (6.8 per game).

Having a plus 4.1 rebounding margin and ranking third in the league 3-point defense (28.9%), SBU is led by 6-0 Australian Jacqui Zelenka (12.4 points & 9.9 rebounds pg). To be almost at a double double, she shoots 53.0% from the field and 66% at the line.

Others to watch include 5-8 senior guard Brittney Dukes (10.4 points and 2.3 rebounds pg) and 5-11 senior wing Chasity Prince (11.7 points and 5.4 rebounds pg).

The Lopers and SBU have never met in women's basketball.

In beating Missouri Southern State and almost upsetting Central Missouri last Wednesday, UNK gave up just 60 and 68 points, respectively. The Lopers are now 5-5 when it holds a team under 70 points.

The Lopers are especially tough on the long ball as only two teams (S. D. Mines and Northeastern St.) have shot better than 36% from the three point line this. Currently, UNK's opponents are a frigid 87 of 295 (29.5%) from the triple line. 

Offensively, Kearney got career high point totals from guards Nicole Arp (Kearney) and Ivy Jones (Vallejo, Calif.) on Saturday. Combining for 35 against the Lions, Jones is second on the team in scoring (9.1) with Arp sixth (5.1).

Arp has been very solid at the line all year, going 7 for 7 in Joplin to push her season total to 26 of 34 for a team-best 76.5%.

Next week, Emporia State (Thurs.) and Central Oklahoma (Fri.) come to the Health & Sports Center.