Kearney, Neb. – The Carrie Hofstetter begins at Nebraska-Kearney when the Lopers began the 2015-16 regular season this weekend in Sioux Falls, S.D.

UNK will face NSIC (Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference) rivals Sioux Falls and Augustana with both games being played in USF's Stewart Center.

The USF tilt is set for Friday at 8:00 p.m. with the contest vs. Augie scheduled to tip-off Saturday at 4:00 p.m. Check the Loper schedule page for media links.

The Sioux Falls Cougars were picked third out of 16 teams in the NSIC preseason coaches' poll. Receiving three first place votes, USF lost its lone Division I exhibition game at Northern Iowa, 82-66.

Coming off a 17-10 (13-9) season in which it was 13-2 in the Stewart Center, the Cougs return five of its top six players. They averaged eight made three pointers and had a plus 4.6 rebounding margin. Eighth-year head coach Travis Traphagen did see his team shoot 63% at the line while committing 16 turnovers a night.

Colorado State transfer Taylor Varsho, a 5-7 senior guard, averaged a team-best 13.2 points thanks to 68 made threes. She also pulled down 6.3 rebounds and handed out 3.9 assists per game.

Inside will be 6-2 junior Sam Knecht (11.1 points & 7.8 rebounds pg) and 6-1 senior Teagan Molden (9.4 points & 5.3 rebounds per game). This pair combined for 80 blocks last year.

Two years ago in Sioux Falls, the Cougars handed the Lopers an 88-71 loss. In 2012-13, UNK won the matchup, 54-45, in the Health & Sports Center.

Augustana College, picked eighth in the NSIC preseason poll, whipped NCAA Division III St. Olaf (Minn.), 84-29, in its only exhibition game. They'll play NW Missouri State Friday prior to the UNK/USF game.

Going 21-10 (14-8) in 2014-15, the Vikings lost top scorer Shaunteva Ashley (21.1) to graduation but nearly everyone else returns.

Augie likes to bomb away, sinking 244 threes last year. Five-nine sophomore guard Allie Koehn, with 52 makes, is the top returner from behind the arc with 6-0 senior Nicole Kerkhoff (11.1) the only Viking to score in double figures last year besides Ashley.

The Vikings did get out rebounded last season but made up for that by forcing 20 turnovers per game. UNK hasn't faced Augie since the 2007 NCAA Tournament where the Lopers pulled the upset, 75-68. 

On the Lopers side of the court, five returners are back including four starters. The newcomers include four transfers and seven freshmen.

Senior guard Laramey Becker (formerly Laramey Lewis) earned 2015 honorable mention All-MIAA honors after ranking in the league's top 10 in virtually every statistical category.

Closing in on 1,000 career points, she averaged 14.8 points, 6.9 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 1.9 steals per game while playing 37 minutes a night.

Backcourt mate McKenzie Brown was among the MIAA's top freshmen in 2014-15 as she made 58 three pointers to average 12.5 points, 4.1 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game.

In the front court, junior forward Kelsey Fitzgerald had a big sophomore season, averaging 10.3 points and 6.9 rebounds per game while blocking a team-high 39 shots.
 
Getting the ball to these three players was junior point guard Alexa Hogberg. Averaging 9.9 points and 2.8 rebounds per game, Hogberg led the MIAA in assists with 142 (4.9 per game). The other returner is the versatile Tori Payne, who made 12 threes last season but also pulled down 3.9 rebounds per game as a part-time post player.

Transfers Courtney Aitken (U. of Nebraska-Lincoln), Imani Kyser (Jacksonville U., Fla.) and Bri Starks (U. of Illinois-Springfield) bolster the roster.
 
Aitken starred at Centura High and last played for the 'Huskers during the 2012-13 season. She will help Becker, Brown and Hogberg along the perimeter. Another Division I transfer, Kyser will help replace 2015 All-MIAA center Amarah Williams. The Alabama native and six-footer helped the JU Dolphins win 12 games last year.
 
Finally, Starks was an all-region selection at Hutchinson C.C. (KS) before averaging just over eight points per game for the Division II UIS Prairie Stars in 2015. The 5-11 forward will help out in the post.
 
In UNK's exhibition game at Nebraska on November 1st, freshman post Kennedy Sander (Lincoln Pius X) and freshman guard Jenna Gillespie (Holdrege) saw significant minutes.
 
The Lopers have a very quick turnaround as they host Midland Monday night at 6:00 p.m. The Warriors (1-1) rallied for a 117-115 double OT victory over UNK last season in the Health & Sports Center. Midland also has two road games this weekend in Kansas.