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Kearney, Neb. – The third-seeded Nebraska-Kearney women's basketball team looks to reach the 2021 MIAA Tournament finals when it battles seventh-seeded Washburn Saturday afternoon in Hays, Kan.
 
The No. 14/31 Lopers (20-3) face the streaking Ichabods (12-11) at 4 p.m. in Gross Memorial Coliseum. The early game pits the top-seeded Fort Hays State Tigers (21-2) against the fourth-seeded Emporia State Hornets (18-5). The title game is set for Sunday at 2 p.m. with the winner receiving the league's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.

Those not in Hays can catch the action via The MIAA Network or on KRVN radio (93.1 FM/106.9 FM).
 
UNK downed Pittsburg State, 66-50, Thursday at Buckle Court to reach the MIAA tourney semifinals for a second straight season. In 2019-20 the Lopers bested Missouri Western State, 68-62, in the quarters before falling to E-State, 61-52, in games played in Kansas City. This year's eight-team tourney was moved to campus sites because of the on-going pandemic. 
 
The Lopers and 'Bods met just once this season and that was way back on November 21 in the Health & Sports Center. UNK posted a 62-52 victory thanks to getting out to a 35-23 halftime leads. WU shot 60% after the break but didn't get the deficit under seven. Kearney was plus five on the boards, got 29 bench points and led by as many as 19 in the second half. UNK still trails the all-time series by a 28-14 margin but has won three of the last four meetings.
 
Washburn has won five of six, beating regionally-ranked Emporia, 74-64, to end the regular season and then shocking No. 13/15 Central Missouri, 63-55, Thursday in Warrensburg. The 'Bods win thanks to the league's second-ranked scoring defense (57.5) and a plus four rebounding margin.
 
Senior guard Hunter Bentley and junior wing Nuria Barrientos lead the way with both earning All-MIAA honors this week.  Bentley is at 15.7 points, 6.3 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.6 steals per game while making a team-best 45 threes. Barrientos, a transfer from D1 Idaho State, comes in at 10.7 points, 7.9 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.6 steals nightly. She also has a team-best 30 blocks.
 
UNK kept this duo in check in the first meeting as Bentley and Barrientos combined for 13 points, 12 boards, six dimes, six steals, two blocks and five turnovers. Both went 3 of 6 from the field and neither attempted a free throw. WU was just 2 of 2 at the line overall with sophomore reserve guard Macy Doebele sinking both. She scored a team-high 12 on 5 of 7 shooting.
 
The Lopers currently lead the MIAA with a 52.8 scoring defense which would smash the school-record (56.53, 2001-02). Teams shoot just 25% from the 3-point line against UNK while going to the line only 15 times per game. UNK also is a healthy plus 7.0 on the glass and forces 13 miscues nightly.
 
The offense has started to hum of late as well, averaging 70 points on 48% field goal shooting over the last nine games. UNK has made at least half its shots in four of those contests while sinking 10 triples twice. Finally, in six of those games Kearney has managed between 17-20 assists.
 
UNK is now 3-7 all-time in the MIAA Tournament while posting a 29-12 mark during its Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) era. The Lopers won six RMAC tourney titles and was runner up three times. The last finals trip came in back in 2007-08 with the last tourney trophy being hoisted way back in 2003-04.