Kearney, Neb. – The 22nd/24th-ranked Nebraska Kearney women's basketball team heads to Missouri this weekend to take on the Griffons and Bearcats.

UNK (9-1, 2-0) first faces Missouri Western (6-3, 1-1) Thursday at 5:30 p.m. in St. Joe with Saturday's tilt against Norhtwest Missouri State (4-3, 0-2) set for 1:30 p.m. Fans not in attendance can watch via The MIAA Network and listen to The River 93.1/106.9 KRVN FM. 

The Lopers swept the Griffs last year, 75-64 in Kearney and 60-48 in St. Joe, but lost the rubber match in Hays, 72-59. That was in the second round of the NCA Tournament and Mo West went on to win the region title.

Leading the all-time series with the Lopers by a 25-23 margin, Mo West is coming off a six-point road loss to No. 4 Missouri Southern. That stopped a four-game win streak with the Griffs currently 2-0 at home.

Veterans Connie Clarke (17.9 points, 9.8 rebounds, 3.2 assists) and Brionna Budgetts (16.7 points, 3.7 rebounds) lead the way. Budgetts had a big effort (17 points, seven rebounds, three assists) in last year's NCAA win. As a team MWSU has plus 6.1 (rebounds) and 2.6 (turnover) margins and rank second in the MIAA in scoring offense at 82.1.

Northwest lost to both Pitt and MSSU on the road last weekend and have just played one home game to date, a 75-61 victory against Peru State. They are 7-12 all-time against UNK and have dropped the past six meetings in the series.

Sophomore guard Molly Hartnett (12.6) is the only 'Cat in double figures as she shoots 90% at the line and also leads in assists (4.1). Six others are between 5.3-9.4 points a night with NW having a plus 2.9 turnover margin.

UNK currently ranks third in D2 in scoring defense (48.9), having held its last five opponents to under 49 points. Only Chadron State (60) has cracked the 60-point mark. Next, the Lopers are tied for 77th in 3-point pct. defense (27.9) and 53rd in field goal pct. defense (36.3). Finally, UNK's +8.2 rebounding margin is 30th in the land.

Balance and depth continue to be the Blue & Gold's calling card. Eight players are between 4.8-10.7 points per game, four grab between 3.5-6.0 rebounds nightly with eight averaging 15.8-27.3 minutes a contest. In the MIAA stats, point guard Sarah Schmitt (Swisher, Ia.) ranks third in assist-to-turnover ratio (3.0) with forward Shiloh McCool (Pleasant Hill, Ia.) third in offensive rebounds (32).

UNK returns home next Friday (Newman) and Sunday (Central Oklahoma) to close out the first semester.