Huskers Aim for Road Win at Penn State

Nebraska Cornhuskers (19-6, 8-6 Big Ten)

at Penn State Lady Lions (9-15, 3-11 Big Ten)

Thursday, Feb. 17, 2022, 6 p.m. (CT)

Bryce Jordan Center – University Park, Pa.

Live Video: B1G+
Live Radio: Huskers Radio Network (5:45 p.m.)
Matt Coatney (PBP), Jeff Griesch (Analyst)
Lincoln (107.3 FM), Omaha (ESPN 590 AM), Huskers.com, Huskers App

Huskers Shoot for Road Win at Penn State

After notching the third win over a top-five AP team in school history with a 17-point victory over No. 5 Indiana on Monday night in Lincoln, Nebraska hunts for its second straight road win when the Big Red takes on Penn State Thursday.

Tip-off between the Huskers (19-6, 8-6 Big Ten) and the Lady Lions (9-15, 3-11 Big Ten) is set for 6 p.m. (CT) as part of a men’s and women’s basketball doubleheader at the Bryce Jordan Center in University Park as the men’s team plays host to Minnesota with a 3 p.m. (CT) tip-off. 

Live video of the women’s basketball game will be provided to subscribers of B1G+, while Matt Coatney and Jeff Griesch describe the action on the Huskers Radio Network (B107.3 FM, Lincoln; ESPN 590 AM, Omaha), the Huskers App and Huskers.com.

The Huskers are coming off a huge 72-55 win over No. 5 Indiana at Pinnacle Bank Arena on Valentine’s Day, marking the largest margin of victory in program history over a top-five opponent. It was Nebraska’s second win over an AP Top-10 foe in Big Ten play, joining a 79-58 win over then-No. 8 Michigan (Jan. 4), which matched the Big Red’s largest margin ever against a top-10 foe.

Sam Haiby and Jaz Shelley led five Huskers in double figures with 14 points apiece, while Big Ten Freshman-of-the-Year candidate Alexis Markowski added her fifth double-double with 10 points and a career-high-tying 15 rebounds. It was the third time in February that Markowski has pulled down 15 boards in a game.

Isabelle Bourne contributed double figures for the fifth straight game with 10 points, while true freshman Allison Weidner came off the bench to put up 11 points, including eight in the first half to help Nebraska build a 34-26 halftime lead over the Hoosiers.

Jaz Shelley continues to be the only Big Ten player to rank among the top 20 in the conference in all five major statistical categories, including scoring (19th, 12.3 ppg), rebounding (9th, 7.2 rpg), assists (6th, 4.8 apg), steals (8th, 1.8 spg) and blocked shots (2nd, 1.3 bpg).

Alexis Markowski, a 6-3 freshman from Lincoln, leads Nebraska in scoring (12.6 rpg) and rebounding (7.7 rpg) despite playing just 19 minutes per game on the season. In 12 games as a Big Ten starter, Markowski is averaging 16.7 points and 9.1 rebounds in 25 minutes per game. She is shooting 56.2 percent from the field and 57.1 percent (12-21) from three-point range the last 12 games.

Nebraska will be shooting for its second 20-win season under Coach Amy Williams, joining the 2017-18 squad that finished with 21 victories. NU has a total of 17 20-win seasons in program history.

Nebraska Cornhuskers (19-6, 8-6 Big Ten)

34 – Isabelle Bourne – 6-2 – So. – F – 10.3 ppg, 4.8 rpg

40 – Alexis Markowski – 6-3 – Fr. – F/C – 12.5 ppg, 7.7 rpg

0 – Ashley Scoggin – 5-7 – RSo. – G – 8.4 ppg, 1.6 rpg

1 – Jaz Shelley – 5-9 – So. – G – 12.3 ppg, 7.2 rpg

4 – Sam Haiby – 5-9 – Jr. – G – 10.4 ppg, 4.2 rpg

Off the Bench

3 – Allison Weidner – 5-10 – Fr. – G – 6.5 ppg, 3.4 rpg

14 – Bella Cravens – 6-3 – Jr. – F – 6.2 ppg, 5.8 rpg

21 – Annika Stewart – 6-3 – Fr. – F – 5.6 ppg, 2.4 rpg

32 – Kendall Coley – 6-2 – Fr. – F/G – 2.6 ppg, 1.9 rpg

11 – Ruby Porter – 5-10 – Fr. – G – 2.5 ppg, 0.9 rpg

10 – Whitney Brown – 5-8 – Fr. – G – 2.1 ppg, 0.7 rpg

5 – MiCole Cayton – 5-9 – Gr. – G – 2.0 ppg, 0.9 rpg

15 – Kendall Moriarty – 6-1 – Fr. – G – 1.6 ppg, 0.5 rpg

Head Coach: Amy Williams (Nebraska, 1998)

Sixth Season at Nebraska (91-81); 15th Season Overall (284-190)

Penn State Lady Lions (9-15, 3-11 Big Ten)

11 – Anna Camden – 6-3 – Jr. – F – 6.1 ppg, 5.2 rpg

5 – Leilani Kapinus – 5-10 – Fr. – G – 9.7 ppg, 5.3 rpg

20 – Makenna Marisa – 5-11 – Jr. – G – 22.4 ppg, 4.0 rpg

23 – Shay Hagans – 5-6 – Jr. – G – 6.6 ppg, 2.2 rpg

25 – Kelly Jekot – 6-0 – Gr. – G – 3.6 ppg, 2.0 rpg

Off the Bench

1 – Ali Brigham – 6-4 – So. – F – 9.5 ppg, 4.7 rpg

4 – Niya Beverley – 5-7 – Sr. – G    5.4    1.9

10    Tova Sabel    5-10    So.    G    4.9    2.9

15    Maddie Burke    6-0    So.    G    2.5    1.6

12    Kayla Thomas    6-3    Fr.    F    2.2    1.3

Head Coach: Carolyn Kieger (Marquette, 2006)

Third Season at Penn State (25-53); Eighth Season Overall (124-117)

Nebraska Numbers to Watch

• Through games Feb. 14, the Huskers ranked among the top 25 teams nationally in total rebounds (7th, 1,082), scoring margin (10th, +16.6), assists (11th, 432), scoring offense (12th, 78.3 ppg), assists per game (14th, 17.3 apg), three-point field goal percentage defense (14th, .259), rebounds per game (15th, 43.3 rpg), defensive rebounds per game (15th, 29.6 rpg), three-point field goals made (15th, 213), assist-to-turnover ratio (20th, 1.19), and three-point field goals made per game (24th, 8.5 pg).

• Nebraska leads the Big Ten in scoring margin (+16.6 ppg), total rebounds (43.3 rpg), field goal percentage defense (.368) and three-point field goal percentage defense (.259).

• Alexis Markowski is a six-time Big Ten Freshman of the Week and the USBWA National Freshman of the Week (Jan. 11).

• Nebraska guard Jaz Shelley is the only player to rank among the top 20 players in the Big Ten in scoring (19th, 12.3 ppg), rebounding (9th, 7.2 rpg), assists (6th, 4.8 apg), blocked shots (2nd, 1.3 bpg) and steals (8th, 1.8 spg).

• Huskers Jaz Shelley (10th, 2.3 pg) and Ashley Scoggin (13th, 2.2 pg) rank among the top 15 shooters in the Big Ten in three-point field goals made per game. 

• Nebraska ranks 12th nationally in scoring offense with 78.3 points per game. The only time in the last 25 years NU has averaged more than 75 points per game in a season came in 2009-10 (77.4 ppg). That Husker team went unbeaten in the regular season, won the Big 12 regular-season title and advanced to Nebraska’s first NCAA Sweet Sixteen as a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament.    

• Sophomore point guard Jaz Shelley has pulled down 173 total rebounds in 711 minutes this season. In two seasons (971 minutes) at Oregon (2019-20, 2020-21), the 5-9 Shelley totaled 70 rebounds.

• Jaz Shelley leads Nebraska with 30 blocked shots in 24 games. She had six blocks in 55 games over two seasons at Oregon.

• In 25 games in 2021-22, Nebraska has far surpassed its season steals total (120, 26 games) from a year ago. The Huskers own 190 steals this season.

• Nebraska’s minus-21 foul disparity (28-7) at Iowa (Jan. 16) marked the largest foul differential in program history (by NU or opponent) in 1,453 games over 48 seasons. It marked the first time in history that a Husker team held a negative foul differential of greater than 17. In NU’s other 24 games this season, the Huskers own a positive foul differential of +1.5.

• Nebraska has hit 213 threes this season, which ranks eighth in school history. NU’s record for made threes came with 250 (2017-18) when the Huskers earned their last NCAA Tournament bid.

Scouting The Penn State Lady Lions

• Penn State heads into Thursday’s game with Nebraska trying to snap an eight-game losing streak following a 71-62 loss at Rutgers (Feb. 13). The Lady Lions have played three of their last four on the road, beginning with a 76-61 setback at Nebraska (Feb. 3).

• Penn State’s struggles the past 10 days followed back-to-back wins over Illinois and Northwestern.

• The Lady Lions are 9-15 overall and 3-11 in the Big Ten under third-year coach Carolyn Kieger. Last season, Penn State finished with a 9-15 overall mark that included a 6-13 Big Ten record.

• Offensively, Penn State is averaging 70.7 points per game, including 70.3 points over the last three contests. The Lady Lions have surrendered 74.1 points per game (last in the Big Ten) on the year, including 76.7 points over the past three contests since leaving Lincoln.

• PSU features one of the Big Ten’s premier scorers in Makenna Marisa, a 5-11 junior guard averaging 22.4 points per game. Marisa has hit 54 threes (.367) and is an 83.2 percent free throw shooter. She also leads PSU with 4.1 assists per game. She had 27 points in the first meeting with NU.

• Freshman Leilani Kapinus has added 9.7 points and 5.3 rebounds. The 5-10 guard also leads PSU with 1.2 blocks per game. She is averaging 15.0 points and 8.3 rebounds over the past three games. She had 10 points to join Marisa as the only Lady Lions in double figures in Lincoln.

• Ali Brigham, a 6-4 sophomore forward has added 9.5 points and 4.7 rebounds while shooting a team-best 56.6 percent from the field. Brigham has managed just 6.3 points the past three games. She had six points before fouling out in just 13 minutes in the loss to Nebraska (Feb. 3).

• Anna Camden, a 6-3 junior, has earned starts in place of Brigham the past three games and has averaged 7.7 points and 4.0 rebounds while hitting 4-of-8 three-pointers. In the first game with Nebraska, Camden managed two points before fouling out in 15 minutes.

• Junior guard Shay Hagans (6.6 ppg, 2.2 rpg, 1.9 apg, 1.9 spg) and graduate guard Kelly Jekot (3.6 ppg, 2.0 rpg) round out Penn State’s other potential starters.

• Penn State gets regular contributions off the bench from Tova Sabel (4.9 ppg, 2.9 rpg) and Maddie Burke (2.5 ppg, 1.6) while fifth-year guard and former Wisconsin Badger Niya Beverley (5.4 ppg, 1.9 rpg) has been a part-time starter for the Lady Lions. 

• Opponents are hitting 43.6 percent of their field goal attempts, including a whopping 37.3 percent of their three-pointers. During its eight-game losing streak, PSU foes have hit 40.6 percent (67-165) of their three-point tries, despite NU going just 7-for-25 (.280) in Lincoln.

• The Lady Lions also have struggled on the glass, ranking 13th in the Big Ten in rebounding margin (-5.8 rpg) including a minus-8.2 margin in conference play (38.6-30.4).

• PSU owns a plus-1.1 turnover margin in 2021-22, but a minus-0.4 turnover margin in Big Ten play. In the first meeting at Nebraska, the Huskers won the turnover battle, 15-13.

Nebraska vs. Penn State Series History

• Nebraska leads the all-time series with Penn State, 10-7, including a 76-61 victory over the Lady Lions in the last meeting between the two schools at Pinnacle Bank Arena (Feb. 3). 

• Alexis Markowski led the Big Red with 18 points, while Isabelle Bourne and Allison Weidner added 14 points apiece. Jaz Shelley supplied a double-double with career highs of 11 assists and 12 rebounds while adding six points.

• Makenna Marisa (27) and Leilani Kapinus (10) combined for 37 points but the other eight Lady Lions totaled just 24 points. Penn State hit just 4-of-19 threes and got out-rebounded, 46-36.

• Nebraska will be looking to avenge an 85-74 loss in its last trip to Penn State (Feb. 4, 2021), when Johnasia Cash went off for 27 points and 19 rebounds. Marisa (17), Maddie Burke (13) and Shay Hagans (10) added double figures.

• The Huskers have won nine of the last 11 in the series with Penn State.

• Penn State won five of the first six all-time meetings, dating back to a 102-66 win over the Huskers in University Park on Jan. 2, 1993.

• PSU owns a 4-3 advantage all-time in the series at University Park.

• Thirteen of the 17 meetings in the series have been decided by double digits.

Markowski Making Mark as Freshman

• Alexis Markowski is making her mark as a true freshman for her hometown Huskers. The 6-3 forward/center from Lincoln leads Nebraska with 12.5 points and 7.7 rebounds per game.

• A six-time Big Ten Freshman of the Week, Markowski has increased her production to 16.7 points, 9.1 rebounds and 1.3 steals over the past 12 games as a Big Ten starter. She has hit 56.2 percent from the field and 57.1 percent (12-21) from three-point range in league play.

• Markowski has captured four of the past six Big Ten Freshman-of-the-Week awards and was named the USBWA Tamika Catchings National Freshman of the Week (Jan. 11).

• Markowski’s numbers compare to 2005-06 Nebraska freshman Kelsey Griffin, who averaged 13.3 points and 6.0 rebounds as a 6-2 true freshman. Griffin started all 32 games and averaged 27.9 minutes. Markowski has averaged 19.3 minutes per game. Griffin was the 2006 Dallas Morning News Big 12 Freshman of the Year. She was a first-team All-American as a senior in 2010.

Nebraska Streaks

• Isabelle Bourne and Alexis Markowski are the only Huskers to score in all 25 games in 2021-22.

• Ashley Scoggin has started a team-best 51 consecutive games.

• The Huskers have hit at least one three in 423 straight games dating back to a loss at UTEP on Dec. 20, 2008. Nebraska has hit at least two three-pointers in 302 consecutive games.

Deep Bench Boosts Big Red

• The Husker bench has outscored opponent reserves 657-356 (+12.0 ppg) through 25 games, including a 462-235 edge (+15.1 ppg) in 15 games at Pinnacle Bank Arena.

• A total of 10 Huskers are averaging better than 10.0 points per 40 minutes, including two Huskers (Alexis Markowski, 26.8 pp40, 15.7 rp40 and Annika Stewart, 22.7 pp40; 9.5 rp40) who are averaging better than 20 points per 40 minutes. 

• No Husker ranks among the top 25 players in the conference in minutes per game. Jaz Shelley leads Nebraska with 29.6 minutes per game, while Gabbie Marshall from Iowa ranks 25th in the conference (30.5 mpg).