Kearney, Neb. – The Nebraska-Kearney women's basketball team begins a three-game MIAA road trip this weekend with games at Southwest Baptist and 11th-ranked Central Missouri.

UNK (10-2, 2-2) heads to SBU on Thursday at 5:30 p.m. and then heads over to UCM Saturday afternoon at 1:30 p.m.; check the Loper schedule page for media links. This is the only meeting with the Jennies (9-1, 3-0) but the Bearcats (8-4, 0-3) will be in the Health & Sports Center for the regular season finale on Friday, February 23.

The Lopers amassed 220 total points in home wins over Manhattan Christian (Dec. 16) and York College (Dec. 30). That vaulted them up the MIAA statistics race, now ranking third in field goal percentage (44.6) and assists (15.5 per game) and fourth in scoring (77.6 per game).

Nationally, UNK is in the top 50 in those categories as well as free throw percentage (76.0) and assist to turnover ratio (1.2). The Lopers also continue not to foul as its opponents are only 78 of 120 at the line through 12 games. That comes out to just eight points per game while UNK tallies almost double that (174 of 229).

Individually, sophomore point guard Grace Barry (Lincoln East) leads the MIAA in assist to turnover ratio (four to one) while ranking ninth in assists (3.1). Despite missing the last few games due to injury, graduate transfer Alyssa Frauendorfer (Humphrey) still is in the MIAA top 12 in scoring, field goal percentage and free throws made and attempted.

Finally, these are UNK's first true road games since early December. Last winter, Kearney won at SBU, 93-76, to help secure an MIAA Tournament home game. The Lopers are 0-2 at UCM since joining the MIAA but dropped those games by a combined nine points.

Next week, the lone game is a Saturday afternoon affair at rival Fort Hays State.


Southwest Baptist U. Bearcats
2017-18 Record: 8-4 (0-3)

2017-18 Notable Results: Beat No. 8 Drury, 93-82; Lost to No. 11 Central Missouri, 80-75

Player to Watch: 5-8 senior guard Megan Rosenbohm (21.8 points, 5.1 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 2.7 steals per game) and 6-2 junior forward Caylee Richardson (15.5 points and 7.8 rebounds per game)

Team Numbers:  79.6 points per game, + 7.7 scoring margin, - 2.6 rebounding margin, + 4.1 turnover margin, 82% at the line
 
U. of Central Missouri Jennies
2017-18 Record: 9-1 (3-0)

2017-18 Notable Results: Beat No. 19 Northern State, 82-65; Beat Missouri Western, 70-48

Player to Watch: 6-0 sophomore wing Morgan Fleming (13.9 points, 3.2 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game), 5-8 junior guard Paige Redmond (13.8 points, 3.3 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game) and 6-1 senior post Kayonna Lee (8.7 points and 9.5 rebounds per game)

Team Numbers:  75.8 points per game, + 21.3 scoring margin, + 6.3 rebounding margin, + 4.3 turnover margin, 75% at the line