Kearney, Neb. – The Nebraska Kearney women's basketball team gets a crack at two more NSIC (Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference) foes this weekend when it hosts Southwest Minnesota State on Friday and travels to North Dakota to face Mary on Sunday.

The Lopers (0-3) and the Mustangs (0-2) tip off at 6:00 p.m. with the tilt against the Marauders (0-3) in Bismarck starting at 3:00 p.m. Check the schedule page for media links.

To begin the 2014-15 season, UNK fell to nationally-ranked Northern State and Wayne State, two of the top teams in the NSIC.

SMSU, led for former Loper All-American Allison Kruger, dropped games to RMAC member Metro State, 67-60, and MIAA member Pittsburg State, 92-73, last weekend at home. Picked 16th in the NSIC preseason poll, the Mustangs have a minus six rebounding margin but are shooting 46% from the field.

A 17-player roster features seven freshmen and four sophomores. First-year guard Lauren Hedlund leads in scoring (13.0) and is second in rebounds (5.0) with 5-3 junior guard Annessa Rosch at 12.5 points and 3.0 assists per game. Finally, Bellevue East grad Amaun Fazier is at 4.0 points and 3.5 assists per game.

Mary, coming off a 17 win season, dropped two games in California to start the year and then lost a road game at NAIA Valley City State (N.D.) on Wednesday. Prior to Sunday, they face Canadian Mennonite University on Friday and Saturday.

Tabbed 11th in the NSIC preseason poll, UM has five players standing six feet or taller, including freshman Anna Schmelzer (6-2) and senior Sloan Turner (6-2).

In an 89-84 OT setback to UC San Diego, Mary got 35 points, four assists and four steals from 5-10 junior forward Brittney Dietz. She mainly did her damage at the line, sinking 17 of 18 shots. Dietz also had 22 in the setback to Valley City and 12 (7 of 11 free throws) at Cal State San Bernardino. Last year, she was second on Mary in scoring at just over 15 per game.

Coming off a wild 117-115 double OT loss to Midland on Monday, the Lopers are averaging 70.0 points per game and have a plus six rebounding margin. UNK is surrendering 85 points a night with the opposition averaging 33 free throw attempts per game.

Individually, senior post Amarah Williams (St. Louis, Mo.) leads in points (15.0), blocks (three) and field goal percentage (48.6) with junior guard Laramey Lewis at 13.7 points and a team-best 9.3 rebounds per game.

Sophomore post Kelsey Fitzgerald (Yankton, S.D.) also has three blocks and is close to averaging a double double (11.3 points & 8.3 rebounds).

After the 16-hour round trip to Mary, the Lopers are off for six days before visiting Oklahoma Panhandle State on Sunday, November 30th.