This Week's Release

This Week: The UNO women's basketball team returns to the competitive arena this week with games at the University of Nebraska-Kearney on Monday, Nov. 17 and at home against Dana College on Wednesday, Nov. 19. The game against UNK will begin at 6 p.m. at the Health and Sports Center in Kearney while Wednesday's tilt against Dana will tip at 5:30 p.m. at Sapp Fieldhouse.

The Records: The Mavericks have played just one game this season, although it doesn't count toward their record. They dropped a 93-68 exhibition decision at Creighton University on Nov. 4. Like the Mavericks, the Lopers have just one exhibition game under their belts. They lost to Nebraska 80-69 on Nov. 5. Dana already has played seven games this season, posting a 4-3 record. The Vikings are coming off a 77-72 loss to the University of Arts and Science of Oklahoma on Nov. 15.

The Coaches:  Patty Patton Shearer is in her fifth season at Nebraska-Omaha looking to continue the program's rapid improvement since her arrival. She is 67-49 all time at UNO. Last year, the Mavericks started 14-1 (the best start in school history) and recorded their third-straight winning season at 17-12. A native of Marana, Ariz., Patton Shearer is a 1990 graduate of Rocky Mountain College. Carol Russell is in her sixth season guiding the Lopers. She is 134-51 in her time at Kearney. She is a 1993 graduate of Nebraska. Shane Larson begins his first season as head coach at Dana. He is a graduate of Bethany College in Kansas.

The Series: UNK leads the all-time series with the Mavericks, 19-9. The Lopers edged the Mavs 67-63 in action last year at Sapp Fieldhouse. The Mavericks and Vikings have met just once before. UNO opened the 2007-08 season with a 79-36 win on Nov. 15.

Coming Up: Following Wednesday's matchup with Dana, the Mavericks will host the UNO Thanksgiving Classic on Nov. 28-29. The Mavs will play just one game in that tournament, squaring up with former NCC foe St. Cloud State on Saturday, Nov. 29 at 3 p.m.