Kearney, Neb. – The Nebraska-Kearney women's basketball team heads to Wayne this weekend to face two Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) members.

The Lopers battle the Minnesota-Crookston Golden Eagles on Friday at 5:30 p.m. and then face the Wayne State Wildcats Saturday at the same time. MIAA-member Northwest Missouri State is the fourth team in the tournament.

Check the Loper schedule page for media links; free live video is available each day as are live stats. Wayne State radio will air the game Saturday.

UNK squared off against Creighton and Nebraska in the exhibition season, teams expected to reach the Division I NCAA Tournament this season. Freshman post Brooke Carlson (Elkhorn H.S.) led the Lopers by averaging 8.5 points, 5.5 rebounds and 1.0 blocks per game. She also shot 47% from the field and grabbed five of UNK's 20 offensive caroms.

Six others were between 5.0-8.0 points per game including senior Jaymie Bernbeck (Garden City, Kan.), junior Cierra Dvorak (Couer d'Alene, Idaho) and sophomore Adreon Bell (Independence, Mo.).

Last winter the Lopers upset Wayne 59-52 in the season-opener. UNK held a 44-30 rebounding edge and limited the 'Cats to 34% shooting from the field. Wayne still leads the all-time series, 37-31. UNK and UMC have never met in women's basketball.

The Lopers host NAIA member Central Christian (Kan.) College next Wednesday in the Health & Sports Center.
 

About the Minnesota-Crookston Golden Eagles
2017-18 record: 8-19 (8-14 NSIC)

NSIC preseason poll rank: 13th out of 16

Top Returners: #15 Isieoma Odor (R-Sr., 6-0, F, 14.7 points, 7.4 rebounds & 1.7 blocks per game), #3 Caitlin Michaelis (Sr., 5-8, G, 10.9 points, 3.0 rebounds & 2.0 assists pg), #12 Abby Guidinger (So., 5-10, G, 9.8 points, 4.0 rebounds & 1.5 assists pg)
 
About the Wayne State Wildcats
2017-18 record: 25-7 (18-4 NSIC)

NSIC preseason poll rank: 10th out of 16

Top Returners: #22 Erin Norling (So., 5-11, F, 9.0 points, 3.7 rebounds & 1.2 assists per game), #44 Andrea Larson (Sr., 6-0, F, 6.6 points & 3.3 rebounds pg), #54 Brittany Bongartz (So., C, 6-0, 6.6 points & 2.6 rebounds pg)
 
About the Central Christian Tigers
2018-19 record: 0-4

2017-18 record: 1-28 (0-20 Sooner Athletic Conference)

Players to Watch: #2 Piper Kalthoff (Sr., 5-7, G, 16.8 points, 3.3 rebounds & 3.0 assists per game), #5 Mycah McDonald (Fr., 5-7, G, 14.5 points, 6.0 rebounds & 4.3 steals pg), #0 Tania Lowe (So., 5-5, G, 8.8 points pg)