This Week:  The UNO women's basketball team gets its first look at its competition in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association this week. The Mavrericks will visit the Washburn University Lady Blues on Wednesday, Dec. 3 and the Fort Hays State Tigers on Friday, Dec. 5. Both games tip at 5:30 p.m.

The Records:  The Mavericks are 1-2 so far this season. They're coming off a 67-54 loss to former North Central Conference neighbor St. Cloud State University on Nov. 29. Washburn is 5-0 on the young season. The Lady Blues beat Indiana University of Pennsylvania 72-62 in overtime to win its own Thanksgiving tournament on Nov. 29. Fort Hays is 3-3 this season after a 104-56 win over NAIA opponent Ottawa University last Saturday.

The Coaches:  Patty Patton Shearer is in her fifth season at UNO. She is 68-51 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. Ron Henry is in his 9th season at Washburn. He is 219-44 all-time in Topeka. He is an alumnus of Washburn. Tony Hobson is in his first year guiding the Tigers. He is 234-50 in seven prior seasons as a head coach at Hastings College in Nebraska. Hobson is a 1981 graduate of Hastings.

The Series:  The Mavericks have played Washburn just twice prior to Wednesday's meeting. The series is tied at one win a piece. The Mavs don't have much history with Fort Hays State either. UNO earned a 77-75 win in the only meeting prior to Friday's clash. That came in November of 1997.

Media:  Both games will be is available on-line for viewing at themiaa.tv.

Coming Up:  The Mavericks return home for a pair of games next week. On Tuesday, Dec. 9, they'll host York College of Nebraska at 5:30 p.m. On Saturday, Dec. 13, they'll return to MIAA play when they welcome Northwest Missouri State for a 4 p.m. tip-off.