Kearney, Neb. – The Nebraska Kearney women's basketball team starts the 2014-15 regular season this weekend with battles against Top 25 teams Wayne State and Northern State from the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference.
The Lopers and Wildcats renew their rivalry Friday at 6:00 p.m. in Wayne with UNK and NSU meeting at the same time on Saturday. Check the
schedule page for media links.
UNK and Wayne haven't met in women's basketball since early in the 2008-09 season, a 66-50 Loper victory at Rice Auditroium. The 'Cats lead the all-time series, 35-30.
Ranked 12th in the WBCA preseason Top 25 poll, Wayne is coming off a 28-5 (19-3) season in which it reached the NCAA Tournament. In the Central Regional, WSC beat MIAA-member Pittsburg State, 83-77, and lost to Emporia State, 76-69.
The top three scorers return from that squad, led by 5-11 senior post Jordan Spencer, a UNO transfer. She came in at 16.2 points & 6.2 rebounds per game while shooting 51% from the field.
Senior guard Ashton Yossi (11.5 points & 1.9 assists) and UMass transfer Millie Niggeling (11.3 points & 3.5 rebounds) also were in double digits last year with D1 transfers Sadie Muren (UNL) and Haley Moore (Eastern Michigan) expected to help out in the backcourt.
Wayne had nearly a plus 20 scoring margin last winter but did get out rebounded on a nightly basis, 37.2-36.5.
Tied for 25th in the national poll, Northern (Aberdeen, S.D.) has a 19-player roster that features seven standing 6-0 or taller. By way of comparison, UNK will likely dress nine players this weekend.
The Wolves went 24-7 (17-5) in 2013-14, reaching the NCAA's before losing to MIAA foe Central Missouri, 82-69.
Six-one senior post Rachel Krogman (15.5 points & 10.0 rebounds) is the leading returing scorer and averaged a double double as a junior. She did a ton of work at the line, making 121 of 163 shots (74%).
Another six-one post, Megan Mutchler, was at 11.3 points and 6.7 rebounds per game last season. She and Krogman also combined to block 56 shots. On the perimeter, sophomore Paige Waytashek sunk 37 3's last winter to average 6.8 points a night. She also handed out 50 assists.
Northern outscored the competition by eight points per game in 2014 while having a plus eight rebounding margin.
The Wolves are 7-3 all-time against the Lopers with the last meeting coming back early in the 2003-04 season. In that game, NSU hit a last second shot to post a 66-65 win in the Health & Sports Center.
UNK will have several new faces take to the courts this weekend, led by Grand Island Northwest graduate
McKenzie Brown. She comes to the Lopers after scoring 1,867 points, tied for 17th most in Nebraska girls prep history. Brown was subsequently tabbed the 2014 Omaha World Herald Girls Athlete of the Year.
Junior
Javona Wynne (Omaha North) and freshman
Taylor Neilson (Meeker, Colo.) will also help out on the perimeter. Wynne earned all-region honors last season for Central C.C. in Columbus with Neilson averaging just over 12 points per game for a team that placed third in Colorado's Class 2A.
Plenty of veterans are back as well for the Lopers, led by 2013 All-MIAA selection
Amarah Williams (St. Louis, Mo.) and junior guard
Laramey Lewis (Trenton).
Williams led UNK in points (13.6), field goal percentage (48.1) and blocks (33) while being second in rebounds (6.7). Lewis came in at 9.5 points and 5.4 rebounds per game with a team-best 35 made 3's.
UNK has a quick turnaround as the NAIA Midland Warriors come to the H & S Center Monday at 6:00 p.m. MU is currently 1-2 with a road game at Dordt (Ia.) College set for Satuday
