Kearney, Neb. - The Nebraska Kearney women's basketball team remains on the road this week, visiting Lindenwood Thursday night and Lincoln University Saturday afternoon. This is the Lopers first-ever visits to St. Charles, Mo., and Jefferson City, Mo.

The Lopers (4-5, 0-2) face the Lions at 5:30 p.m. and the Blue Tigers at 1:30 p.m. Check the women's basketball schedule page for media links.

After dropping the season opener at Wayne State, UNK has won road games at Mary (N.D.), Oklahoma Panhandle State and South Dakota Mines. Kearney won two road games each of the past three seasons.

To keep the streak going, Kearney will have to hit the boards against a Lindenwood squad (6-2, 0-2) that lost to Missouri by just a 67-61 score in exhibition play. The Lions have a healthy + 9.8 rebounding margin thanks to MIAA leader Vanessa Zalio. Despite standing 5-11, the Canadian is pulling down 13.9 caroms a night.

Currently 3-0 at home, Lindenwood's offense runs through 5-10 sophomore Kassidy Gengenbacher. The 2014 MIAA Freshman of the Year is averaging 18.6 points, 4.1 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game. Five-four junior guard Jenny Rocha (13.4) is the other Lion in double figures.

Over the last two winters, UNK managed wins of 89-74 and 78-71 over the LWU in the Health & Sports Center.

The Blue Tigers (5-3, 0-2), who host 8th-ranked Washburn Thursday, are 2-0 in Jeff City and suffered a 69-68 road setback to Northeastern State (6-3, 2-0) two weeks ago. While they have a -4.8 rebounding margin and shoot 40% from the floor, they have a very healthy +6.4 turnover margin.

A balanced attack features four players in double digits, led by 5-6 sophomore guard Kelsey Williams (12.8) and 5-8 junior guard Dorian Briggs (12.7). Williams is shooting 50% from the field with Briggs among the league leaders in free throws (90.5%).

Inside, Lincoln has just three six footers, including 6-0 senior Kate Frazier (11.8 points & 6.3 rebounds). She also has blocked a team-high 12 shots.

UNK beat LU by scores over 71-50 and 79-62 in 2014 and 2013. This game will be a bit of a homecoming for Loper head coach Kevin Chaney as he was an assistant coach for the Lincoln men's squad in 2006-07.

At the start of the week, UNK was leading several MIAA individual categories. That includes assists per game as sophomore point guard Alexa Hogberg (Chandler, Ariz.) is handing out 5.2 a night. Having nearly a 2-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio, Hogberg has had at least three assists in every game with her season-high of 10 (at OPSU) tied for the fifth most in school history and four off the Loper record.

Her offense hasn't suffered from all these good passes as she is averaging 11.7 points per game and shooting 42% from the field.

Backcourt mate Laramey Lewis (Trenton) continues to fill up the box score, ranking in the MIAA top 10 in nine categories. She continues to lead in steals (2.6) and minutes (38.6) while being fourth in 3's made (2.2), free throw shooting (86.7%) and three point shooting (45.5^%).

After about a week off, UNK returns to practice on Monday, December 29th, in preparation for rematch with the OPSU Aggies on New Year's Eve. Central Missouri (Jan. 3rd) and Missouri Western State (Jan. 5th) come to town soon after.