Kearney, Neb. – The Nebraska-Kearney women's basketball team returns to action this weekend when it hosts Missouri Southern State and Pittsburg State.

The Lions (9-3, 3-3) visit Saturday and the Gorillas (9-2, 4-2) on Monday; both games tip at 5:30 p.m. Check the Loper schedule page for media and ticket links.

Missouri Southern is coming off a 64-42 home setback to Washburn on December 19th. However, three days earlier, the Lions beat nationally-ranked Emporia State, 71-58.

Sporting a 2-1 road record, MSSU has a plus 4.3 rebounding margin as well as a plus 1.9 turnover margin. Offensively, the Lions shoot 75% at the line and are led by 5-8 senior guard Sharese Jones and 5-7 junior guard Deb Holcomb.

Jones is at 17.3 points and 7.0 rebounds per game thanks to shooting 49% from the field. That includes a 16 of 31 effort from behind the arc. Making 25 of her 58 threes, Holcomb is the other MSSU player averaging double digits (13.7). She also has 16 steals and pulls down 3.6 boards per game.

Last year in the Health & Sports Center, the Lions shot 58% from the field, including an 11 of 23 effort from the three point line, to post a 92-64 win over UNK. Jones went 12 of 16 from the field to tally a team-best 25 as Southern outscored the Lopers by 20 points in the second half.

Despite having to replace All-American forward Lizzy Jeronimus, Pitt has dropped only two games all season. One of those was on December 19th, a 90-69 home setback to Emporia.

Also having plus rebounding and turnover margins, Pitt has a balanced attack that features veteran post Kylie Gafford (12.3 points  & 6.5 rebounds) and sophomore guard Mikaela Burgess (team-high 16.3 points).

Gafford already has 16 blocks and shoots nearly 50% from the field with Burgess having sunk 33 of Pitt's 77 threes. She also makes 88% of her free throws.

Last year, Pitt beat the Lopers by scores of 86-73 (Kearney) and 87-68 (Kansas). UNK has yet to beat the Gorillas since joining the MIAA (0-5).

UNK is currently 3-3 in true road games and 2-2 at the Health & Sports Center. Coming off tough road setbacks to Fort Hays State and Central Missouri, the Lopers (5-6, 1-4) are now averaging 71 points a night.  

Senior guard Laramey Becker (Trenton), the newest member of the 1,000 point club, is among the MIAA leaders in scoring at 15.5. She has made a team-best 37 free throws and also leads UNK in steals (27) while ranking second in threes made (24) and assists (23).

Backcourt mate McKenzie Brown (Grand Island) is the other Loper in double digits to date, coming in at an even 11.0 per game. She has made 26 triples and is one of seven Kearney players with a double digit assist total. UNK is second in the league in assists per game at 15.27.

Next weekend, the Lopers head down to Missouri to face Lincoln and Lindenwood.