LINCOLN, Neb. – It will be a big day of basketball Saturday (Jan. 5) as Nebraska Wesleyan University hosts Loras College in an American Rivers Conference doubleheader at Snyder Arena.  The women's game will tip-off at 2 pm, followed by the men at 4 pm.
 
In the men's game, it will be a matchup of nationally-ranked teams.  No. 1 Nebraska Wesleyan puts it's school record 25-game winning streak on the line against No. 20 Loras.  This marks the first time since Feb. 21, 1998 that two nationally-ranked opponents meet in a regular season game at Snyder Arena.
 
Both teams average over 95 points a game to rank in the top eight of NCAA Division III.  In each of the past two seasons the two teams have split their two meetings.
 
NWU returned to the court for the first time in over two weeks on Wednesday night as they blew out Buena Vista 83-59 in Storm Lake, Iowa.  The Prairie Wolves lead NCAA DIII in field goal percentage shooting 56.6 percent as a team.
 
The Prairie Wolves bring a 12-0 mark into Saturday's game and are the only remaining unbeaten team in American Rivers Conference play at 3-0.  Loras is 11-2 this season and 3-1 in conference play.  Earlier this season the Duhawks upset #3 Augustana.  The Duhawks two losses were against cross-town rival Dubuque and #10 Wisconsin-Whitewater.
 
To open the day of basketball, the women's game should be just as entertaining with two of the top three teams in the American Rivers Conference standings.
 
Nebraska Wesleyan is tied for 1^st with a 3-0 mark in conference play, sitting at 8-4 overall.  Loras is right behind at 3-1 with a 10-3 mark overall.
 
The Prairie Wolves have won seven of their last eight games and all three league games.  Against American Rivers opponents, the Prairie Wolves are averaging a league best 77.3 points a game and outscoring their opposition by 16.3 points.
 
This also marks the first time in program history that the Nebraska Wesleyan women's basketball team has started the season 3-0 in conference play.
 
Loras has won six straight games dating back to December 5^th.  The only conference loss for the Duhawks was to nationally-ranked Wartburg in the conference opener.