Kearney, Neb. – Riding a four-game winning streak and fresh off its first win over a Top 25 team in eight years, the Nebraska-Kearney women's basketball team hosts No. 1 Emporia State Thursday night.

League play begins this weekend for all MIAA squads. UNK (4-2) hosts the Hornets and then the Washburn Ichabods on Saturday. Both double headers begin at 5:30 p.m.; check the Loper schedule page for media and ticket links.

Emporia went 29-5 last season, winning the Central Region and advancing to the Final Four. Among those 29 wins were two over UNK; an 80-49 decision in Kansas and a 73-57 score in the Health & Sports Center. That game was close, 58-52, with six minutes to go.

This year, E-State has gotten off to a 6-0 start with four wins coming by at least 17 points. A roster with five six-footers and two seniors is led by guards Kelly Moten and Kelsey Barnwell.

A 2015 first-team All-MIAA pick, Moten (5-7) is averaging a team-best 15.8 points per game thanks to 51% shooting from the field. Also making 78% of her free throws, she leads in assists as well (4.6 pg).

Beginning her career at Division I Missouri-Kansas City, Barnwell (5-7) has sunk a team-best 16 threes to be at 14.0 points per game. As team, ESU averages nine triples a night with eight different players having already made two.

Inside is six-one redshirt junior Kathryn Flott (10.5 rpg) and six-two senior Sandra Ngoie (7.0 rpg), who previously was at Georgia Tech and George Mason (Va.). Defensively, Emporia is allowing only 53.5 points per game as they force 18 turnovers per game and holds the opposition to 34% shooting. 

Playing No. 5 Fort Hays State Thursday, Washburn enters the week with a 4-2 record. The Ichabods, having to replace three key seniors off last year's 16-12 team, is allowing just 60 points per game.

Former Tulsa Golden Hurricane Erika Lane, a 5-10 guard, is the only 'Bod in double digits (12.3). She has made a team-best 21 triples and shoots 75% at the line. Next, 5-10 senior Jayna Smith pulls down a team-best 7.2 rebounds a night while also averaging five points per game.

Off the bench, Northern Iowa transfer Erin Dohnalek is at 9.5 points and 3.0 rebounds an appearance. Washburn edged UNK in Topeka, 68-61, last February and then won in the H & S Center, 84-67.

To be off to its best start in six years, the Lopers are shooting 42% from the field, 67% at the line while having plus margins in both rebounds (1.5) and turnovers (3.7).

Showing off its depth, nine players are averaging nine minutes a night with none over 30. Last year, UNK had three of the busiest players in the MIAA, each averaging over 34 minutes per game.

A balanced attack has four players between 10.8-12.2 points per game, including post newcomers Imani Kyser (Madison, Ala.) and Kennedy Sander (Lincoln Pius X H.S.). This pair has combined to shoot 61% from the field, pull down 9.6 rebounds per game and block 21 shots.

On the perimeter, senior Laramey Becker (13) and sophomore McKenzie Brown (13) have combined to sink 29 threes. UNK is currently tied for fifth in the MIAA at 6.7 made triples a night.

Next week, the Lopers are at Southwest Baptist Thursday night and Hays Saturday afternoon.