Kearney, Neb. – The nationally-ranked Nebraska-Kearney women's basketball team return home this weekend to face the Lincoln Blue Tigers and Central Missouri Jennies.

This quick home-stand begins Thursday at 5:30 with LU (4-8, 0-6) and continues Saturday at 2:30 p.m. against the Jennies (9-5, 5-2). Note the men's game vs. LU is postponed due to COVID issues within the Blue Tigers program. Check the wbb schedule page for media links. 

The Lopers, ranked fourth in the D2SIDA poll and ninth in the WBCA Top 25, are riding a 10-game winning streak which includes a 6-0 home record. UNK (11-1, 6-0) sits atop the MIAA standings with Missouri Western and Northwest Missouri (6-1) both a half-game back. The Lopers visit those schools next weekend.

UNK currently leads the MIAA in field goal percentage defense (36.2) and assist-to-turnover ratio (1.45) while ranking third in scoring margin (+15.2). Nationally, the Lopers are number one in D2 in assist-to-turnover ratio. Point guards Haley Simental (Pueblo West Colo.) and Sarah Schmitt (Swisher, Ia.) have combined for 61 assists compared to just 23 turnovers with five others having more dimes than miscues.

During its current win streak, the Lopers have seen just one team (Central Oklahoma) reach the 60-point mark. UNK still has had some close calls during this stretch but won all five games decided by eight points or less. Offensively, a balanced attack has seven between 6.3-11.3 points per game. Post Shiloh McCool (Pleasant Hill, Ia.) is at a team-best 57.1 percent from the field, Simental is the team's top free throw shooter (81.4) with wing Klaire Kirsch (Rapid City, SD) having sunk half of her 20 three-point attempts.  

LU has lost six in a row and is 2-4 away from Jefferson City this year. The Blue Tigers have no one averaging in double figures but eight between 5.1-9.8 points per game. That large group includes 6-1 forward Le'Yanna McGinnis and 5-11 forward Imani Jones. UNK has won the past eight games over LU with last year's contests being decided by scores of 79-57 (Kearney) and 68-53 (Jeff City).

The defending Central Region Champions, UCM was dealt a big blow prior to the season as 2020 MIAA Freshman of the Year Graycen Bolden was lost for the year due to injury. She averaged a healthy 11.8 points and 5.8 rebounds per game in 27 appearances off the bench.

The Jennies still have plenty of stars and are coming off an 83-49 thumping of Emporia State. They are at nationally-ranked Fort Hays State (11-1, 5-1) on Thursday night. Veteran post Nija Collier (20.4 points & 12.3 rebounds pg) is putting up Player of the Year numbers with 6-2 post Brooke Littrell (18.4 points & 8.9 rebounds) close behind. Sophomore guard Olivia Nelson (14.2 points & 4.9 assists) rounds out the trio and is one of five starters averaging at least 31 minutes a game.

UCM is 10-2 all-time against UNK but the Lopers won last winter in Warrensburg, 68-56. The two will meet in Missouri on Feb. 17.