Huskers Hit Road to Meet No. 12 Michigan

Nebraska Cornhuskers (14-10, 6-7 Big Ten)

at 12/14 Michigan Wolverines (19-5, 9-4 Big Ten)

Sunday, February 12, 2023, Noon (CT)

Crisler Center – Ann Arbor, Michigan

Live Video: B1G+ 
Live Radio: Huskers Radio Network (11:45 a.m.)
Matt Coatney (PBP), Jeff Griesch (Analyst)
Lincoln (107.3 FM), Omaha (590 AM), Huskers.com, Huskers App
Special Event: Pink Game

Huskers Hit Road to Meet No. 12 Michigan Sunday

The Nebraska women’s basketball team returns to Big Ten road action on Super Bowl Sunday when the Huskers take on No. 12 Michigan in Ann Arbor.

Tip-off between the Huskers (14-10, 6-7 Big Ten) and the Wolverines (19-5, 9-4 Big Ten) is set for Noon (CT) with a live video stream provided to subscribers of B1G+. 

The game also can be heard across the Huskers Radio Network with Matt Coatney and Jeff Griesch on 107.3 FM in Lincoln along with 590 AM in Omaha, Huskers.com and the Huskers App.

Nebraska will be shooting for a season split with Michigan, after the Wolverines ran to a 76-59 win over the Huskers in Lincoln on Dec. 28. 

The Huskers have won two of their last three games but are coming off a 72-64 loss to Illinois on Thursday night at Pinnacle Bank Arena. Nebraska led for three quarters but succumbed to the Fighting Illini down the stretch to slip below .500 in the Big Ten.

Sam Haiby continues to surge for the Big Red, increasing her quickness, explosiveness and endurance after missing 10 of Nebraska’s first 11 games with an injury. The 5-9 graduate guard from Moorhead, Minn., led Nebraska with 15 points, eight rebounds and four assists against Illinois. That followed a season-high 17 points at Northwestern. Her effort in Evanston followed her first double-double of the season with 11 points and 10 rebounds in a win over Michigan State in Lincoln (Feb. 2). Since returning to the starting lineup against Michigan (Dec. 28), Haiby is averaging 11.9 points, 6.1 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.9 steals. Over the last seven games, those numbers have increased to 14.0 points, 7.1 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.9 steals.

Alexis Markowski notched her 12th double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds against Illinois Thursday. It was her fourth straight game with a double-double and sixth in the last eight contests. The 6-3 sophomore ranks second in the Big Ten with 9.7 rebounds per game, trailing only Kendall Bostic from Illinois. Markowski, who was named to the Lisa Leslie Award Top 10 (Feb. 3), was the 2022 Big Ten Freshman of the Year. She ranks second among the Huskers with 12.2 points per game while leading the Big Red with 1.0 block per contest. Her 12 double-doubles on the year are tied for 17th nationally and rank eighth on the individual season list at Nebraska. She is also tied for 10th on NU’s career double-double list with two-time WNBA All-Star Anna DeForge (1995-98).

Jaz Shelley continues to be a leader for the Huskers. The 5-9 guard from Moe, Australia (pronounced MO-ee), is averaging team bests with 12.5 points, 6.3 assists and 1.6 steals. Shelley had 12 points and eight rebounds against Illinois, going 10-for-10 at the free throw line. She also finished with 12 points, eight rebounds, seven assists and a career-high-tying four blocked shots in the win at Northwestern (Feb. 6). She crossed the 1,000-point scoring mark in her career in the closing minutes against the Wildcats (718-Nebraska; 296-Oregon).

Isabelle Bourne, a 6-2 junior from Canberra, Australia, led Nebraska in scoring in wins over Michigan State (20) and Northwestern (18) before getting 11 points and five boards against Illinois Thursday. Bourne has produced double figures in four straight games, averaging 15.8 points and 6.3 rebounds during that stretch.

Maddie Krull (Omaha, Neb.) rounds out Nebraska’s starting five with 5.7 points, 2.0 rebounds and 2.0 assists on the season. Krull has scored in double figures in four of the last nine games. 

Nebraska Cornhuskers (14-10, 6-7 Big Ten)

34 – Isabelle Bourne – 6-2 – Jr. – F – 11.5 ppg, 6.4 rpg

40 – Alexis Markowski – 6-3 – So. – C/F – 12.2 ppg, 9.7 rpg

1 – Jaz Shelley – 5-9 – Jr. – G – 12.5 ppg, 4.5 rpg

4 – Sam Haiby – 5-9 – Gr. – G – 10.5 ppg, 5.6 rpg

42 – Maddie Krull – 5-9 – So. – G – 5.7 ppg, 2.0 rpg

Off the Bench

21 – Annika Stewart – 6-3 – So. – F – 6.0 ppg, 3.2 rpg

14 – Callin Hake – 5-9 – Fr. – G – 5.1 ppg, 1.4 rpg

15 – Kendall Moriarty – 6-1 – So. – G – 3.4 ppg, 1.8 rpg

44 – Maggie Mendelson – 6-5 – Fr. – F/C – 2.8 ppg, 2.1 rpg

32 – Kendall Coley – 6-2 – So. – F/G – 1.8 ppg, 1.5 rpg

2 – Trinity Brady – 5-11 – Jr. – G – 2.6 ppg, 1.9 rpg

3 – Allison Weidner (Out) – 5-10 – So. – G – 10.2 ppg, 6.2 rpg

Head Coach: Amy Williams (Nebraska, 1998)

Seventh Season at Nebraska (110-94); 16th Season Overall (303-203)

12/14 Michigan Wolverines (19-5, 9-4 Big Ten)

33 – Emily Kiser – 6-3 – Gr. – F – 16.1 ppg, 7.0 rpg

44 – Cameron Williams – 6-3 – Jr. – F – 6.6 ppg, 3.9 rpg

3 – Maddie Nolan – 5-11 – Sr. – G – 8.3 ppg, 3.6 rpg

5 – Laila Phelia – 6-0 – So. – G – 17.0 ppg, 3.9 rpg

32 – Leigha Brown – 6-1 – Sr. – G – 17.7 ppg, 5.1 rpg

Off the Bench

10 – Jordan Hobbs – 6-3 – So. – G – 4.3 ppg, 2.0 rpg

11 – Greta Campschroeder – 6-0 – So. – G – 3.8 ppg, 2.7 rpg

22 – Chyra Evans – 6-2 – Fr. – F – 2.3 ppg, 2.3 rpg

20 – Alyssa Crockett – 6-2 – Fr. – F – 1.7 ppg, 1.2 rpg

30 – Elise Stuck – 6-1 – Jr. – G/F – 1.5 ppg, 1.8 rpg

24 – Michelle Sidor – 5-9 – Sr. – G – 1.0 ppg, 1.0 rpg

12 – Ari Wiggins – 5-8 – So. – G – 0.7 ppg, 0.8 rpg

13 – Kate Clarke – 6-1 – Fr. – G – 0.5 ppg, 0.2 rpg

Head Coach: Kim Barnes Arico (Montclair State, 1993)

11th Season at Michigan (237-114); 27th Season Overall (507-320)

Huskers Face Historic Strength of Schedule

Nebraska’s game with No. 12 Michigan will be its 10th this season against an AP Top 25 team at game time, and the Huskers are scheduled to face at least one more current top-25 foe in No. 5 Iowa (Feb. 18) in Lincoln. If those numbers hold, it would give NU a school-record-tying 11 games against AP Top 25 teams. No other Nebraska team has ever faced more than 11 AP Top 25 opponents (2000-01). 

Since entering the Big Ten (2011-12), the Huskers had never played more than eight games in a season against AP Top 25 foes prior to this season.

Nebraska’s upcoming game with Iowa could be its fifth against an AP Top 10 team this season. The Huskers have never faced more than five AP Top 10 teams in the same season.

Scouting the Michigan Wolverines

Coach Kim Barnes Arico is in her 11th season leading Michigan and her 27th year as a head coach. She recorded her 500th career victory in Michigan’s 76-59 win over Nebraska in Lincoln (Dec. 28) and has kept the Wolverines rolling in Big Ten play. 

Michigan produced its best season in school history with a trip to the NCAA Elite Eight last year, after the Wolverines advanced to their first-ever NCAA Sweet Sixteen in 2021.

No. 12/14 Michigan heads into Sunday’s game with a 19-5 overall record and a 9-4 Big Ten mark, still hunting for a top-four seed at the Big Ten Tournament. The Wolverines are riding a three-game winning streak with wins over Minnesota, Illinois and Michigan State – all by double digits – before enjoying the week off to prepare for the Huskers, who will be playing their fourth game in 10 days.

All four of Michigan’s conference losses were to top-16 teams at game time (Ohio State, Iowa, Indiana, Maryland) and its only other loss this season was a three-point loss to Toledo.

Leigha Brown leads Michigan with 19.5 points and 6.5 assists to go along with 5.4 rebounds in Big Ten play. Brown is hitting 60.7 percent of her shots from the floor and 78.4 percent of her free throws. Brown had 20 points, eight rebounds and seven assists in the first meeting at Nebraska.

Sophomore Laila Phelia has added 17.2 points and 4.3 rebounds in league play. is off to an outstanding start to her sophomore season. The 6-0 guard had 12 points and five rebounds in this season’s first meeting in Lincoln.

Senior Emily Kiser gives Michigan a strong presence inside with 14.1 points and a team-leading 7.2 rebounds in conference play. The 6-3 Kiser has been hindered by a broken nose since colliding with Leigha Brown against Purdue (Jan. 10). Kiser scored 18 points and grabbed seven rebounds in 39 minutes in Michigan’s win at Nebraska (Dec. 28).

Senior guard Maddie Nolan has stepped up her production in Big Ten play, averaging 9.2 points, 3.6 rebounds and a team-best 1.5 steals. Nolan has knocked down 29 of Michigan’s 80 three-pointers in league play. She scored 16 points on 4-of-6 three-point shooting against Nebraska.

Junior forward Cameron Williams rounds out Michigan’s starting five with 6.4 points and 3.4 rebounds in conference action. She managed four points and three rebounds in 16 minutes in the first meeting with NU.

Michigan gets solid bench contributions from Jordan Hobbs (5.5 ppg, 2.5 rpg), Elise Stuck (1.3 ppg, 1.2 rpg) and Greta Kampschroeder (3.3 ppg, 2.3 rpg). Chryra Evans, Alyssa Crockett and Ari Wiggins also have continued to see regular action throughout Big Ten play for the Wolverines.

Michigan is averaging 75.6 points and hitting 46.8 percent of its field goal attempts, including 36.5 percent of its threes, while making 6.1 threes per game in Big Ten action. The Wolverines own a plus-3.5 team rebounding margin but a minus-0.2 turnover margin. Michigan is surrendering 66.0 points per game while holding opponents to 40.4 percent shooting.

Nebraska vs. Michigan Series History

Nebraska owns a 16-8 edge in the all-time series with Michigan, but the Wolverines earned a 76-59 win over the Huskers in the first meeting this season in Lincoln (Dec. 28). 

Reigning Big Ten Freshman of the Year Alexis Markowski made her first career start against the Wolverines last season in Lincoln, putting up 20 points and pulling down seven rebounds in a 79-58 win (Jan. 7, 2022). Jaz Shelley added a double-double with 12 points and 12 rebounds. The Huskers hit 8-of-20 threes while holding the Wolverines to 1-of-12 from long range in NU’s largest victory margin ever over a top-10 team.

Sam Haiby and Allison Weidner each scored 16 points, while Jaz Shelley and Annika Stewart added 12 points apiece to lead the Huskers to a 76-73 win at the 2022 Big Ten Tournament (March 4). Laila Phelia led Michigan with 19 points, while Naz Hillmon added a double-double with 18 points and 12 rebounds.

NU is 8-4 all-time against Michigan in Lincoln. The Huskers are also 8-4 all-time against the Wolverines away from home, including 6-3 in Ann Arbor and 2-1 at the Big Ten Tournament.

In the last meeting in Ann Arbor, Michigan escaped with a 64-62 win on Jan. 7, 2021. Sam Haiby led Nebraska with 27 points and nine rebounds, but it was not enough to overcome a 35-point, 22-rebound performance by Naz Hillmon.

The series has been evenly matched as Big Ten foes, with Nebraska owning a 10-8 edge since joining the conference in 2011-12. 

Nebraska was 6-0 against Michigan as non-conference foes dating back to the first meeting between the two teams on Nov. 28, 1980 at the Bob Devaney Sports Center in Lincoln. The Huskers won 118-92 in the highest scoring game in Nebraska women’s basketball history.

Husker Numbers to Watch

Sam Haiby needs one rebound to match Pyra Aarden (611, 1993-96) in 19th on Nebraska’s career rebound list. Haiby is seven rebounds away from Carol Garey at No. 18 (617, 1979-80). 

Sam Haiby is 13 points away (1,528) from matching Angie Miller for No. 12 on Nebraska’s all-time scoring list (1,541 points, 1984-87).

Isabelle Bourne needs one point to move ahead of Kate Cain into sole possession of No. 29 on NU’s scoring list (1,085, 2018-21). Bourne is four points from Nafeesah Brown at No. 28 (1,089, 1992-94) and 11 points away from Ann Halsne (1,096, 1988-91). Bourne needs 16 points to catch Yvonne Turner (2007-10) at No. 26 and 22 points to match Dominique Kelley in No. 25 (1,107, 2008-11). Issie’s older sister, Callie, recently reached the 1,000-point mark in her fifth season at Idaho State, achieving the milestone at San Diego (Nov. 25) in career game No. 118.

Alexis Markowski is three rebounds away from 500 in her career.

Nebraska Notables

Isabelle Bourne recently became the 36th 1,000-point scorer in Nebraska history, achieving the milestone in the fourth quarter of NU’s win over Penn State (Jan. 11). She is just the 22nd player in NU history to achieve the combined career milestones of 1,000 points (1,085) and 500 rebounds (581) joining teammate Sam Haiby (1,528 points, 610 rebounds) in that prestigious group.

Sam Haiby is one of just four players in Nebraska history to rank among the school’s top 20 in points (13th, 1,528), rebounds (20th, 610) and assists (7th, 447). Haiby joins Maurtice Ivy, Anna DeForge and Emily Cady as the only other Huskers on that elite list.

Preseason All-Big Ten center and 2022 Big Ten Freshman of the Year Alexis Markowski (Lincoln, Neb.) is one of the Big Ten’s top rebounders, averaging 9.7 boards to go along with her 12.2 points per contest. The 6-3 center owns 12 double-doubles on the season and leads the Huskers with 23 blocks.

Jaz Shelley opened Big Ten play with 29 points in a road upset at No. 20 Maryland (Dec. 4), before pumping in 31 points in a win over Wisconsin (Dec. 7). She also had 21 points and five assists in a loss to No. 14 Michigan (Dec. 28). She just missed a triple-double with 10 points, 10 assists and eight rebounds in a win over Penn State (Jan. 11).

Nebraska has knocked down 10 or more threes on 10 occasions this season and is 10-0 when hitting double-digit threes. Nebraska’s most recent double-digit three-point effort came on 10-of-21 shooting at Northwestern (Feb. 6). The Huskers’ most recent double-digit effort inside Pinnacle Bank Arena came on 13-of-28 shooting against Penn State (Jan. 11). 

Kendall Moriarty put the exclamation point on the win over Penn State (Jan. 11) with a running, half-a-hook three from beyond halfcourt in the closing seconds to beat the shot clock. Moriarty’s improbable shot, which came on a Nebraska baseline inbounds play, was Scott Van Pelt’s “The Best Thing I Saw Today” on ESPN. 

Injuries Altering Nebraska’s Season

While Nebraska is squarely in the hunt for a second straight NCAA Tournament bid (NET No. 42), the Huskers have had their journey through the season challenged with several injuries to key players.

Despite Nebraska returning five starters (Isabelle Bourne, Alexis Markowski, Jaz Shelley, Allison Weidner, Sam Haiby) from last year’s team that went 24-9 overall and 11-7 in the Big Ten, Haiby missed 10 of the first 11 games this season with a leg injury suffered in practice (Sept. 12).

Trinity Brady, a fourth-year guard, started the first eight games in place of Haiby, before Brady suffered a concussion in the first half of a loss at No. 9 Virginia Tech (Dec. 1). Brady has missed the last 16 games.

Despite the loss of Brady and the absence of Haiby, Nebraska notched an impressive 90-67 road win at No. 20 Maryland (Dec. 4) in the first start by Maddie Krull as a Husker.

However, prior to Nebraska’s next game with Wisconsin (Dec. 7), the Huskers lost Isabelle Bourne to an upper body injury suffered in practice. Bourne missed three games, as Annika Stewart made the first three starts of her career. Nebraska went 3-0 with wins over Wisconsin, Samford and Wyoming.

Bourne returned to the starting lineup for a 3OT win over Kansas (Dec. 21), but Allison Weidner suffered a season-ending leg injury early in the fourth quarter of the victory over the Jayhawks. Weidner has missed Nebraska’s last 10 games and underwent season-ending surgery (Jan. 10).

Weidner’s injury hastened the return of Sam Haiby to the starting lineup for Nebraska’s Big Ten loss to No. 14 Michigan (Dec. 28).

Nebraska was forced to make another adjustment to its starting five in a win at Purdue (Jan. 18), when Maddie Krull missed a start because of illness. Freshman Callin Hake made her first career start and played well with eight points and three rebounds. Krull also played huge off the bench, overcoming illness for one of her best performances of the season, finishing with 15 points in the victory over the Boilermakers.

The only two Huskers to start all 24 contests this season are Jaz Shelley and Alexis Markowski, despite Markowski battling multiple nagging injuries from preseason to the present. Shelley ranks second in the Big Ten with 35.2 minutes played per game.