Kearney, Neb. – The Nebraska-Kearney women's basketball team will look to improve upon a solid 5-3 road record with games at Northwest Missouri State and fifth-ranked Missouri Western State this weekend.
The Lopers are in Maryville on Thursday night and St. Joseph Saturday afternoon. Check the UNK
schedule page for media links and tip times.
Winning 18 true road games over the past six seasons combined, UNK has already tasted victory in Chadron, Marshall, Minn., Bolivar, Mo., Jefferson City, Mo., and St. Charles, Mo. The record could even be better as Kearney fell in overtime at then-No. 1 Fort Hays State, 82-75, and was edged by Central Missouri , 64-62.
UNK plays the Bearcats and Griffons only once during the regular season. This marks the second straight winter Kearney has to play at Northwest (2-15, 0-11).
The Bearcats have lost 11 in a row with the program now led by interim head coach Buck Scheel. Northwest has dropped six games by 10 points or less, including an 82-73 decision at Missouri Western.
Senior guard Tember Schechinger (11.4) and sophomore wing Tanya Meyer (10.0) lead in scoring with Schechinger also first in board work (7.4). As a team, Northwest averages 55 points and 18 turnovers per game.
Last year in Maryville, UNK was minus an injured
Laramey Becker but still posted a 71-54 win.
Behind Division II Player of the Year candidate LaQuinta Jefferson, the Griffons (17-0, 11-0) have won all 17 games its' played by an average of 24 points a night. Coming off a road sweep of Washburn and Emporia State, they host No. 3 Hays Thursday.
A 6-0 guard, Jefferson is at 23.1 points, 5.3 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.5 steals per game. Shooting 58% from the field and 78% at the line, she tallied a season-best 31 in a 79-77 win at Lindenwood.
Forcing 22 turnovers a night Western allows just 62 points per game as opponents are shooting only 39% from the field (27% threes).
Besides Jefferson is 5-9 senior guard Sarafina Hardy (15.5 points pg) and Fiji native Miliakere Koyamainavure (11.7 points & 5.3 rebounds pg). Hardy is the current MIAA Women's Player of the Week.
Jefferson scored 40 points in 35 minutes last year in Kearney but the Lopers won 86-81 as they sunk 27 free throws and made seven threes.
UNK has just one game next week, hosting Hays on Saturday, January 30th.
