Kearney, Neb. – The Nebraska-Kearney women's basketball team returns from a long break when it faces the Newman Jets (Dec. 10) and Central Oklahoma Bronchos (Dec. 12) on the road this weekend.

UNK (2-0), sitting right outside one Top 25 poll, hasn't played since November 21. The Lopers had just one scheduled game last weekend and that was postponed due to COVID protocols. It'll be made up sometime in 2021.

The game Thursday in Wichita against tips at 5:30 p.m. with the Bronchos affair beginning at 2 p.m. on Saturday. Catch the action via The MIAA Network, KRVN FM (93.1 and 106.9) and live stats.

Newman comes in with an 2-2 record, averaging 54 points on 32% field goal shooting. They also hosted Kansas State in an exhibition and fell by just a 63-59 score.

Last year NU upset UNK, 66-65, in one of the final games of the season. The Lopers led by 14 points with just under eight minutes left before NU star Kaitlyn Potter got hot. She has since graduated with only 5-8 senior guard Brooke Haney (12.5) currently averaging in double figures. NU, with six seniors and two juniors on its roster, makes 85% of its free throws. They have posted wins over Missouri Southern, 55-51, and at Washburn, 56-52.The two losses came by double figures.

UCO (2-1), featuring a 17-player roster, is led by 6-3 senior post Kelsey Johnson. The 2020 second-team All-MIAA pick is currently at 29.0 points and 10.7 rebounds per game. Shooting 63% from the field and 73% at the line, she has had two 30-point efforts to date and made at least 10 shots in each game.

Shooting 46% from the field, the 'Chos have no one else in double figures but eight are between 4.0-8.3 points per game. That big group includes 5-8 redshirt freshman guard Avery Allen (4.6 assists per game).

Last year UNK downed UCO 75-69 in the Health & Sports Center with the 'Chos winning the rematch in Edmond, 69-61. Johnson totaled 38 points and 12 boards in those games.

The Lopers currently have a plus rebounding (3.5) and turnover (2.5) margins while holding opponents to 53 points a night. UNK has 10 different players averaging at least nine minutes with six supplying seven points per game.

Point guard Haley Simental (Pueblo West, Colo.) is at an even 10.0 points per game to lead the offense. Including her time at the University of Denver, she now has 94 career three pointers and 529 points. Simental also leads UNK in assists (12), free throw percentage (100%) and threes made (four). Sophomore guard Trinity Law (Brandon, S.D.) had 11 points and a steal in just nine minutes in last year's win over UCO. She is second on the team in scoring (9.0) while averaging an even 20 minutes an appearance.

Finally, junior wing Klaire Kirsch (Rapid City, S.D.) has 16 rebounds, all on the defensive end. She led the MIAA last year in that category (226/7.0 avg.) and is up to 455 career caroms. Forward Heather Steffen is UNK's all-time leading rebounds, grabbing 906 between 2001-2004.

UNK hosts Rogers State and Northeastern State next week to close out the first semester. Those games are a Friday/Sunday format due to winter graduation ceremonies.