Kearney, Neb.  – The Nebraska-Kearney women's basketball team hosts the surprising Lindenwood Lions Friday night at 5:30 p.m. in the Health & Sports Center.

This is the Lopers (4-5, 2-1) final game of the first semester. The NCAA Division II moratorium (no games & no practices) runs from December 23-29 with UNK's next contested being January 4th at current-No. 8 Central Missouri.

The game with LWU can be heard on KGFW AM 1340 and be seen (for purchase) on America One. Also available are live stats.

Lindenwood is one of the early season surprises in the MIAA as they have won seven of nine after going 4-22 (1-17) in 2012- 13.

Coming off an 85-68 home win over Missouri S & T Monday night, the Lions have three starters and a reserve in double figures, out rebound their opponent by seven, shoot 48% from the field and make 74% of its free throws.
 
Division I transfers Morgan Johnson (St. Louis) and Dru Haertling (SE Missouri State), and true freshman guard Kassidy Gengenbacher, have made a big impact as well as returners Caroline Bourlioux (Belgium) and Marissa Lehnig.
 
Coming off the bench, Lehnig averages 12.8 points per game thanks to 71% free throw shooting. She also ranks second in steals (17) and pulls down 4.2 rebounds per game.
 
Six others shoot over 50% from the field, including Bourlioux (12.4 ppg) and Gegenbacher (12.8 ppg). Finally, Bourlioux leads in rebounds (5.7) with sophomore guard Jenny Rocha first in assists (4.1 pg).
 
In last year's season finale, UNK whipped Lindenwood, 89-74. Shooting 62% from the field, the Lopers went 10 of 13 from the three point line and had a plus 10 rebounding margin.
 
Current junior guard Julie Hlinak (6.9 ppg) erupted for 25 points on 10 of 20 (5 of 12 threes) shooting. She led the Lions in both scoring (12.7) and rebounding (5.7) last season.
 
The Lopers are coming off a 71-50 win over Lincoln last Friday night. It marked the team's first home game in over a month and the contest vs. the Lions will be one of only two home games over the next five weeks.
 
Ranking third in the MIAA in steals at 10.2 per game, the Lopers also have one of the league's block leaders in junior post Amarah Williams. After swatting six Blue Tiger shots, she has a team-high 12 on the season with four others having at least three.
 
Offensively, UNK makes 65% of its freebies and shoots 43% from the line to be at 71.4 points per game. Williams (St. Louis, Mo.) has been in double digits in each of the last three games to boost her season average to 11.6 with sophomore Sydney Seberger (8.6 avg.) having four straight double digit efforts.
 
On the glass, Kearney has out rebounded five opponents, including Lincoln (+ 20) and Sioux Falls (+ 10). They are now at a plus 3.9 margin for the year with senior Shelby Zimmerman (8.8) still leading the way.
 
The forward likely will return to the court on January 4th. That weekend also includes a rare Monday night game (January 6th) at Missouri Western State.