UNK WBB: Lopers Start 2023-24 in Minnesota

The Nebraska Kearney women’s basketball team heads to Marshall, Minn., this weekend to tip off the 2023-24 season.

For a third straight November, the Lopers will play Minnesota-Crookston (Fri./3:30 p.m.) and Southwest Minnesota State (Sat./ 7 p.m.). The games can be viewed via live stats and via The NSIC Network.

UNK, under the direction of new head coach Drew Johson, is 3-1 all-time vs. the UMC Golden Eagles and 3-2 against the SMSU Mustangs. In the 15-team Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) preseason poll, the ‘Stangs were picked fourth and the Eagles 13th.

Crookston also has a new coach in Natalie Moynihan who previously was an assistant at Division II Bridgeport (Conn.). Crookston lost its final eight games last year to finish at 10-19 (9-13) record.

Five-one sophomore guard Emma Miller is back after a super first year; 18.1 points, 4.2 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 1.1 steals per game. Five-four guard Taryn Frazer (5.7 points) started 19 times last year with 6-2 redshirt junior Nicole Hernandez inside. UNK won last year, 69-49, thanks to a 16-2 first quarter. No Golden Eagle reached double figures with 11 different Lopers getting into the scoring column.

The Blue & Gold had to rally the next night against Southwest, outscoring the ‘Stangs 40-23 in the second half to win by 10. Super senior Shiloh McCool (Pleasant Hill, Ia.) had 17 points, nine rebounds, four assists and two blocks with guard Trinity Law (11) and wing Samantha Moore (10) also in double figures.

All five SMSU starters were between eight-11 points with this year’s roster featuring seven upperclassmen. Southwest went 19-11 (14-8) last winter and reached the NSIC Tourney finals.

A four-game homestand begins Tuesday (Nov. 4) against Central Christian College (McPherson, Kan.).