Huskers Open B1G Tourney with Spartans

No. 8 Nebraska Cornhuskers (16-13, 8-10 Big Ten) 

vs. No. 9 Michigan State Spartans (15-13, 7-10 Big Ten)

Big Ten Tournament Second Round

Thursday, March 2, 2023, 11:30 a.m. (CT)

Target Center – Minneapolis, Minnesota
Live TV: BTN (Fox Sports App)
Mike Hall (PBP), Meghan McKeown (Analyst), Christy Winters Scott (Sideline)
Live Radio: Huskers Radio Network (11:15 a.m.)
Matt Coatney (PBP), Jeff Griesch (Analyst)
Lincoln (107.3 FM), Omaha (590 AM), Huskers.com, Huskers App

Huskers Open Big Ten Tournament with Spartans

The Nebraska women’s basketball team opens its pursuit of a Big Ten Tournament title by taking on Michigan State Thursday in Minneapolis.

Tip-off between the No. 8 seed Huskers (16-13, 8-10 Big Ten) and the No. 9 seed Spartans (15-13, 7-10 Big Ten) is set for 11:30 a.m. (CT) at the Target Center.

The game will be televised live by the Big Ten Network with Mike Hall and Meghan McKeown on the call, while Christy Winters Scott will patrol the sidelines.

Fans also can listen across the Huskers Radio Network, including 107.3 FM in Lincoln and 590 AM in Omaha, the Huskers App and Huskers.com, as Matt Coatney and Jeff Griesch call the action.

The Huskers and Spartans will not only be hunting a Big Ten title this week in Minnesota, they are also trying to stay in the hunt for NCAA Tournament bids. Nebraska opened the week at No. 41 in the NET rankings after playing one of the nation’s toughest regular-season schedules.

The Huskers won their final two games of the regular season by a combined 49 points, including a 33-point road win at No. 25 Illinois (Feb. 22) – the largest margin of victory in school history over an AP Top 25 opponent. The previous largest road victory margin against an AP Top 25 foe came earlier this season with Nebraska’s 90-67 win over then-No. 20 Maryland (Dec. 4). The Terps enter the Big Ten Tournament at No. 5 in the AP rankings.

The Spartans also have won two straight since suffering a 66-61 loss to then-No. 8 Maryland in East Lansing (Feb. 18). MSU has won four of its last five games, but all four of those wins have come against teams outside the top 90 in the current NCAA NET rankings. In fact, the Spartans own only one win this season against a NET top 90 foe – an impressive 83-78 win over current NET No. 4 Indiana (Dec. 29). 

Nebraska defeated Michigan State 71-67 in Lincoln (Feb. 2) in the only meeting between the two teams this season. Isabelle Bourne led Nebraska with 20 points and nine rebounds against the Spartans, while Alexis Markowski (11 points, 13 rebounds) and Sam Haiby (11 points, 10 rebounds) both notched double-doubles for the Huskers.

Jaz Shelley (Moe, Australia) averaged 22.5 points, 9.0 rebounds and 6.0 assists in Nebraska’s wins last week to claim her third spot of the season on the Big Ten Weekly Honor Roll. Shelley poured in 26 points on six three-pointers to go with six assists in the win at No. 25 Illinois (Feb. 22). She followed with her fourth double-double of the year with 19 points and a career-high 13 rebounds to go with six more assists in win over Northwestern (Feb. 26).

Shelley became the first Husker under Coach Amy Williams to earn first-team All-Big Ten honors on Tuesday. Shelley claimed a spot on the Coaches first team after finishing 10th in conference play in scoring (15.2 ppg), 25th in rebounding (5.5 rpg), fourth in assists (5.9 apg), 16th in steals (1.7 spg), third in three-pointers made per game (2.6) and fourth in free throw percentage (.881).

Alexis Markowski (Lincoln, Neb.) added second-team All-Big Ten honors for the second straight season after leading the Big Ten in both double-doubles (14) and rebounding (10.1 rpg) during the regular season. The 6-3 sophomore who is a top 10 contender for the Lisa Leslie Award ranks second among the Huskers with 12.4 points per game. She closed the regular season with 16 points and 14 rebounds in the win over Northwestern. She is adding 13.1 points and 12.0 rebounds over the past eight games – beginning with 11 points and 13 boards in the win over Michigan State (Feb. 2).     

Isabelle Bourne (Canberra, Australia) captured honorable-mention All-Big Ten recognition for the third consecutive season in 2023. Bourne ranked 24th in scoring (12.9 ppg) and 15th in the league in rebounding (6.1 rpg) while ranking ninth in field goal percentage (.512) during conference play. She is averaging 15.9 points and 7.0 rebounds over the past eight games, beginning with 20 points and nine rebounds in the first meeting with Michigan State (Feb. 2). Bourne has scored in double figures in nine straight games, including 16 points and a season-high 13 rebounds in last week’s win at No. 25 Illinois.

Sam Haiby (Moorhead, Minn.) claimed All-Big Ten recognition for the third straight year by adding honorable-mention accolades from the league media. Haiby ranks No. 12 at Nebraska in career points (1,574), 17th in rebounding (628) and No. 7 in assists (467) while averaging 11.1 points, 5.1 rebounds and 3.5 assists over the past eight games – beginning with her lone double-double of the season with 11 points and 10 rebounds in the win over Michigan State (Feb. 2). Haiby missed 10 of the first 11 games this season while recovering from a leg injury. 

Maddie Krull (Omaha, Neb.) rounds out Nebraska’s starting five with 6.2 points, 2.1 rebounds and 1.9 assists on the season. Over the last four games, Krull is averaging 9.5 points, 2.8 rebounds and 1.8 assists. She owns seven double-figure scoring efforts on the season. 

Nebraska Cornhuskers (16-13, 8-10 Big Ten)

34 – Isabelle Bourne – 6-2 – Jr. – F – 12.3 ppg, 6.5 rpg

40 – Alexis Markowski – 6-3 – So. – C/F – 12.4 ppg, 10.1 rpg

1 – Jaz Shelley – 5-9 – Jr. – G – 14.3 ppg, 4.8 rpg

4 – Sam Haiby – 5-9 – Gr. – G – 10.2 ppg, 5.1 rpg

42 – Maddie Krull – 5-9 – So. – G – 6.2 ppg, 2.1 rpg

Off the Bench

21 – Annika Stewart – 6-3 – So. – F – 5.4 ppg, 2.9 rpg

14 – Callin Hake – 5-9 – Fr. – G – 4.6 ppg, 1.3 rpg

15 – Kendall Moriarty – 6-1 – So. – G – 3.1 ppg, 1.7 rpg

44 – Maggie Mendelson – 6-5 – Fr. – F/C – 2.3 ppg, 2.2 rpg

32 – Kendall Coley – 6-2 – So. – F/G – 1.7 ppg, 1.2 rpg

2 – Trinity Brady (Out) – 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 (112-97); 16th Season Overall (305-206)

Michigan State Spartans (15-13, 7-10 Big Ten)

11 – Matilda Ekh – 6-0 – So. – G/F – 12.3 ppg, 2.9 rpg

12 – Isaline Alexander – 6-3 – So. – F – 7.0 ppg, 4.7 rpg

0 – DeeDee Hagemann – 5-8 – So. – G – 8.7 ppg, 2.4 rpg

5 – Kamaria McDaniel – 5-10 – Gr. – G/F – 13.7 ppg, 3.7 rpg

22 – Moira Joiner – 5-10 – Sr. – G – 9.6 ppg, 4.7 rpg

Off the Bench

14 – Taiyier Parks – 6-3 – Sr. – F – 8.6 ppg, 5.5 rpg

1 – Tory Ozment – 6-1 – RSr. – G – 3.5 ppg, 2.1 rpg

40 – Julia Ayrault – 6-2 – RJr. – G/F – 3.5 ppg, 2.5 rpg

4 – Theryn Hallock – 5-10 – Fr. – G – 2.8 ppg, 1.0 rpg

13 – Stephanie Visscher – 6-0 – Gr. – G – 2.2 ppg, 2.1 rpg

2 – Abbey Kimball – 5-10 – Fr. – G – 2.6 ppg, 0.6 rpg

21 – Brooklyn Rewers – 6-4 – So. – C – 2.2 ppg, 1.2 rpg

Head Coach: Suzy Merchant (Central Michigan, 1991)

16th Season at Michigan State (326-185); 28th Season Overall (527-305)

Scouting The Michigan State Spartans

Nebraska will face Michigan State for the second time this season when the two teams meet in the second round of the Big Ten Tournament in Minneapolis on Thursday.

The Huskers won the first meeting between the two teams, 71-67, on Feb. 2 at Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln. MSU Head Coach Suzy Merchant was not in attendance in Lincoln after being hospitalized following a minor one-car accident due to a medical incident. Associate Head Coach Dean Lockwood led the Spartans at Nebraska.

The Huskers built a 40-22 halftime lead and led 51-31 with two minutes left in the third quarter. The Spartans cut the lead to two points on multiple occasions in the fourth quarter, before Nebraska held on for the four-point win. Michigan State committed 12 fouls in the fourth quarter, and the Huskers hit 11-of-17 free throws in the period. After the Huskers opened the fourth period 3-of-4 from the field, they went 0-for-6 with seven turnovers in the final seven minutes. 

The first time the two teams met, Nebraska was No. 41 in the NET, while Michigan State was No. 43. DeeDee Hagemann led MSU with 17 points, five rebounds, five assists and five steals, while Matilda Ekh finished with 15 points. Hagemann and Ekh each scored 10 of Michigan State’s 27 fourth-quarter points in Lincoln. Moira Joiner pitched in 13 points, six rebounds and five steals, while Taiyier Parks added 11 points and six boards. 

The Spartans, who began the season with a 6-0 record and an average winning margin of 45 points in those contests against teams all lower than 240 in the current NET rankings, followed with five straight losses before notching four consecutive wins, including an 83-78 victory over then-No. 4 Indiana in East Lansing (Dec. 29). The win over the Hoosiers is Michigan State’s lone win over a top-90 NET team this season. In contrast, Nebraska owns six wins over NET Top-50 teams, including five victories away from home.

Michigan State has won four of its last five games with two wins over Penn State, a win over Minnesota and a road win at Wisconsin. 

Graduate transfer and former Penn State and Baylor star Kamaria McDaniel leads Penn State with 13.7 points per game. McDaniel, who turned 24 years old on Feb. 12, has added 3.7 rebounds and 2.5 assists. She had just four points in 17 minutes in the first meeting with Nebraska.

Sophomore Matilda Ekh gives Michigan State a pair of starters averaging in double figures with 12.3 points per game. The 6-0 wing from Vasteras, Sweden, leads MSU with 68 three-pointers and has hit at a 39.8 percent clip from beyond the arc. She is also a 94.3 percent free throw shooter.

Sophomore point guard DeeDee Hagemann gives MSU a third consistent starter, averaging 8.7 points and team bests of 5.0 assists and 1.9 steals. All of Hagemann’s numbers have been on the rise over the last month of the season.

Michigan State’s other two starting spots have been filled by several players, including a rotation of Isaline Alexander (17 starts) and Taiyier Parks (11 starts) in the post. The duo has combined for nearly 16 points and just over 10 rebounds per game. Alexander, a 6-3 sophomore forward, is averaging 7.0 points and 4.7 rebounds. The 6-3 senior Parks (8.6 ppg, 5.5 rpg) has not been starting recently, but her production is on the rise, while Alexander has been earning starts with declining production.

Moira Joiner (9.6 ppg, 4.7 rpg) has added 12 starts, including six since the first game with the Huskers in Lincoln, while Tory Ozment (3.5 ppg, 2.1 rpg) has pitched in six starts. 

Joiner, a 5-10 senior, and Ozment, a 6-1 redshirt senior have primarily replaced junior Gabby Elliott in the starting five, after Elliott suffered a season-ending ACL injury in the third quarter of a loss to Ohio State (Dec. 11). Elliott averaged 9.5 points and a team-best 5.5 rebounds through MSU’s first 11 games.

Julia Ayrault (3.5 ppg, 2.1 rpg), Theryn Hallock (2.8 ppg, 1.0 rpg) and Stephanie Visscher (2.2 ppg, 2.1 rpg) all have been regulars in Michigan State’s rotation, giving the Spartans a deep and experienced bench. Abbey Kimball (2.6 ppg, 0.6 rpg) also has been a regular contributor.

Michigan is scoring 78.4 and allowing 66.3 points per game on the season while hitting 43.5 percent of its shots, including 32.7 percent of its threes. However, MSU has knocked down just 65.2 percent of its free throws. The Spartans own a plus-2.9 rebound margin and a plus-6.3 turnover margin.

In Big Ten play, MSU has continued to score at a 74.7 points per game clip, but conference foes are averaging 73.9 points per game. The Spartans are being out-rebounded (38.0-35.5 rpg) in the league but still carry a plus-4.5 turnover margin.

Nebraska vs. Michigan State Series History

Nebraska leads the all-time series with Michigan State 10-5 with all 15 meetings as Big Ten foes. 

On Feb. 27, 2021, Michigan State chose not to play on Nebraska’s Senior Day, despite traveling to Lincoln. As a result, Nebraska played three consecutive games in the series at East Lansing before NU’s 71-67 victory at Pinnacle Bank Arena, Feb. 2, 2023. The Huskers had won the previous meeting in Lincoln, 82-71, Feb. 17, 2019.

The Huskers fought to a 68-64 win over the then-No. 23 Spartans in East Lansing on Jan. 10, 2021, which followed a 78-70 OT loss to MSU on Dec. 31, 2019.

The Huskers are 3-5 against Michigan State all-time in East Lansing, and 1-0 against the Spartans at the Big Ten Tournament – an 85-58 pounding on March 8, 2014, on the way to Nebraska’s 2014 Big Ten title. 

Six of Nebraska’s 10 wins have been by 10 points or less, while each of MSU’s last two wins have been by single digits.

Nebraska is 9-3 in its last 12 meetings with the Spartans, even though seven of the 12 games have been played away from Pinnacle Bank Arena.

Since 2014-15, Maryland’s first season in the Big Ten, the Terrapins have been Nebraska’s most frequent opponent from the Eastern Time Zone, facing the Huskers 15 times. 

Maryland has made six trips to Pinnacle Bank Arena. Lincoln is 1,205 miles from College Park. Michigan State has only appeared on the court at Pinnacle Bank Arena four times, and the Huskers have played the Spartans 10 times. Lincoln is 727 miles from East Lansing. NU is 10-5 all-time against Michigan State and 6-0 in Lincoln.

Huskers Face Historic Strength of Schedule

Nebraska’s game against No. 25 Illinois (Feb. 22) was its 12th this season against an AP Top 25 team at game time, setting a new Husker standard for strength of schedule.

The Big Red tied the previous Nebraska record with its 11th game against an AP Top 25 team when the Huskers faced No. 7 Iowa (Feb. 18). The game against the Hawkeyes marked just the second time in school history that Nebraska had ever faced 11 AP Top 25 opponents in a season, joining the 2000-01 Huskers. 

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 game with Iowa was 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.

The Huskers have played 10 games this season against current NCAA NET Top 25 teams, including 4-Indiana (1), 8-Iowa (2), 12-Virginia Tech (1), 13-Maryland (2), 16-Ohio State (1); 17-Creighton (1); 22-Michigan (2). Michigan State also has played 10 games against current NCAA NET Top 25 teams and 10 games against AP Top 25 teams at game time.

Nebraska’s Big Ten road wins at No. 25 Illinois (90-57, +33, Feb. 22) and at No. 20 Maryland (90-67, +23, Dec. 4) represent the largest road victory margins in school history against AP Top 25 teams.

Nebraska owns six wins (6-10) over current NCAA NET Top 50 teams, while the Huskers have played 19 games against NET Top 100 teams this season. NU owns eight top 100 wins and nine of its 11 top-100 losses have come against current NET Top 25 teams.

The Huskers have played 14 games against teams who already have secured 20 wins (Indiana, Maryland-2, Virginia Tech, Iowa-2, Ohio State, Michigan-2, Illinois-2, Creighton, Mississippi State, Wyoming) in 2022-23, while Purdue (18), Kansas (17) and Drake (17) are all within reach of 20 wins.

According to the NCAA’s Toughest Schedule Report, Nebraska’s opponent winning percentage (.615) is 21st nationally and trails only Indiana (9th, .635) and Maryland (15th, .620) among Big Ten schools. Iowa is fourth in the Big Ten (33rd, .600), while Michigan is fifth (44th, .591).

Nebraska’s RPI/NET Strength of Schedule is No. 19 nationally, while Indiana’s is No. 7 and Maryland’s is No. 13. Iowa’s is No. 29 and Michigan’s is No. 44. Michigan State’s is No. 129.

Injuries Altering Nebraska’s Season

While Nebraska is in the hunt for a second straight NCAA Tournament bid (NET No. 42), the Huskers have had their journey through the season challenged by 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 is out for the season, missing Nebraska’s last 21 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 16 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 Husker to start all 29 contests this season is first-team All-Big Ten guard Jaz Shelley. Shelley leads the Big Ten with 35.7 minutes played per game. She became the first Husker player under Coach Amy Williams to play 1,000 minutes in a season, crossing the plateau in Nebraska’s win over Northwestern (Feb. 26).

Four Huskers Earn All-Big Ten Honors

Jaz Shelley claimed first-team All-Big Ten honors from the coaches to headline a group of four Huskers who earned all-conference accolades when the league announced its women’s basketball regular-season awards on B1G Today on the Big Ten Network, Tuesday, Feb. 28. Shelley, a 5-9 guard from Moe, Australia, led Nebraska with 14.3 points, 6.3 assists and 1.6 steals while adding 4.8 rebounds per game in her second season with the Big Red. She also led the Huskers and ranked among Big Ten leaders with 67 three-pointers on the season.

In Big Ten play, Shelley was even better, ranking 10th in the league in scoring (15.2 ppg), 25th in rebounding (5.5 rpg), fourth in assists (5.9 apg), 16th in steals (1.7 spg), third in three-pointers made per game (2.6) and fourth in free throw percentage (.881). Shelley, who is also an Academic All-America candidate, is the first Husker to earn first-team All-Big Ten honors under Head Coach Amy Williams. Shelley added second-team all-conference accolades from the Big Ten media. 

Alexis Markowski added second-team All-Big Ten honors from league coaches and media for the second straight year. The 6-3 center out of Lincoln Pius X High School led the Big Ten in double-doubles (14) and rebounding (10.1 rpg), while ranking second among the Huskers with 12.4 points per game. Markowski’s 14 double-doubles are tied for the fourth-most by a Husker in a season in school history. With 294 rebounds through 29 games, Markowski is also closing in on becoming just the eighth Husker in history to produce a 300-rebound campaign, joining Janet Smith (2), Jordan Hooper (2), Emily Cady (2), Carol Garey (2), Karen Jennings, Kelsey Griffin and Nafeesah Brown. Markowski, who was on the Naismith Trophy Preseason Watch List, is one of 10 contenders for the Lisa Leslie Award presented to the nation’s top center.

Isabelle Bourne added honorable-mention All-Big Ten recognition from league coaches and media for the third consecutive season. The three-time Husker captain ranked among the top 25 scorers (24th) in Big Ten play with 12.9 points per game, while ranking 15th in the league in rebounding (6.1 rpg). The 6-2 forward from Canberra, Australia, also ranked ninth in the conference in field goal percentage (.512) in league games. A Big Ten Distinguished Scholar in 2021, Bourne is also a two-time Academic All-Big Ten selection who is a candidate for Academic All-America honors in 2023. The three-time Tom Osborne Citizenship Team member was also Nebraska’s Big Ten Sportsmanship Award winner in 2023.

Sam Haiby joined Bourne as a three-time All-Big Ten award winner by claiming honorable-mention recognition from the conference media for the second straight season. The 5-9 guard from Moorhead, Minn., battled back from early season injury to average 10.2 points, 5.1 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.5 steals through 19 games. Haiby, who was a second-team All-Big Ten choice in 2020-21, missed 10 of Nebraska’s first 11 games this season while recovering from a leg injury that was originally thought to have ended her fifth season as a Husker before it started. She has since tied the school record for career games played (136), while ranking 12th in school history in career points (1,574), 17th in rebounds (628) and seventh in assists (467).

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 (1,163) and 500 rebounds (615) joining teammate Sam Haiby (1,574 points, 628 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 (12th, 1,574), rebounds (17th, 628) and assists (7th, 467). Haiby joins Maurtice Ivy, Anna DeForge and Emily Cady as the only other Huskers on that elite list.

Two-time All-Big Ten center Alexis Markowski (Lincoln, Neb.) is the Big Ten’s top rebounder, averaging 10.1 boards to go along with her 12.4 points per contest. The 6-3 center leads the Big Ten with 14 double-doubles on the year – one more than Big Ten Player of the Year Caitlin Clark from Iowa. Markowski is tied for 19th nationally with 14 double-doubles.

Jaz Shelley erupted for a career-high 37 points at Minnesota (Feb. 15). She 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 26 points and six assists in a win at No. 25 Illinois (Feb. 22) to go along with 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 a school-record 13 times this season and was 10-0 when hitting double-digit threes before falling 80-75 at No. 12 Michigan (11-25) and 95-92 at Minnesota (10-24). The Huskers are 11-2 this season when making double-digit threes.

Nebraska is 41-of-94 from beyond the arc on the road the last four games, including 10-of-21 in a win at Northwestern (Feb. 6) and 10-of-24 in a win at No. 25 Illinois (Feb. 22). 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. 

Huskers Smash Single-Game Attendance Record

Nebraska shattered its single-game attendance record by attracting 14,289 fans for Pack PBA on Play4Kay Day at Pinnacle Bank Arena on Saturday, Feb. 18 vs. No. 7 Iowa.

Nebraska’s Pack PBA crowd eclipsed its previous women’s basketball attendance mark of 13,595 fans (sellout) against Missouri at the Devaney Center on Feb. 27, 2010. NU drew 10 straight crowds of more than 10,000 fans at the Devaney Center in 2009-10.

The record Pack PBA crowd also eclipsed the previous Pinnacle Bank Arena record crowd of 9,750 to open its stay in the arena with a win over UCLA on Nov. 8, 2013. The home-opening crowd at PBA is also a Nebraska non-conference record.

Nebraska ranks No. 14 nationally in average home attendance (5,823) through 15 games in 2022-23. It is an increase of 1,344 fans per contest at Pinnacle Bank Arena over last season.

Nebraska finished No. 14 nationally in total home attendance (76,317) while ranking 18th in NCAA Division I women’s basketball in average home attendance (4,489). Nebraska’s 16 home regular-season wins (16-1) at Pinnacle Bank Arena also led the nation in 2021-22.

Nebraska ranked No. 20 nationally in average home attendance (4,397 fans per game) over 17 regular-season games at Pinnacle Bank Arena in 2019-20. It marked an increase of 296 fans per game compared to the 2018-19 season, when the Huskers ranked No. 22 nationally (4,101). 

The Huskers have ranked among the top 25 nationally in attendance for 12 consecutive seasons (not including 2020-21 when no fans were allowed at Pinnacle Bank Arena).

In 158 all-time home games at Pinnacle Bank Arena, the Huskers own a 115-43 record (.728 winning percentage).

In 147 games with attendance allowed (excludes games during COVID pandemic in 2020-21), the Huskers have averaged 5,070 fans per game (745,273 total fans/147 games).

Nebraska produced its top attendance season in school history by ranking No. 7 nationally with a record 7,390 fans per game at the Bob Devaney Sports Center in 2009-10. The Huskers went 16-0 at the Devaney Center on their way to a perfect 29-0 record, a Big 12 title and a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament.

Husker Numbers to Watch

Sam Haiby (136) is expected to move into a sole possession of the top spot on Nebraska’s career games played list with 137 on Thursday, ahead of Janet Smith (1979-82), who has held the school record for 40 seasons. 

Sam Haiby (628) needs eight rebounds to catch Olympic medalist Danielle Page at No. 16 (636, 2005-08) on Nebraska’s career rebound list.

Sam Haiby (467) needs three assists to match former teammate Hannah Whitish at No. 6 (470, 2017-20) on Nebraska’s career assist list.

Isabelle Bourne (615) needs two rebounds to climb to No. 19 on the NU career chart with Carol Garey (617, 1979-80). 

Alexis Markowski (294) needs six rebounds to become just the eighth Husker to record a 300-rebound season, joining Janet Smith (2), Jordan Hooper (2), Emily Cady (2), Carol Garey (2), Karen Jennings, Kelsey Griffin and Nafeesah Brown. 

Alexis Markowski’s 14 double-doubles this season are tied for the fourth most by a Husker in a season in school history. Her next double-double will move her into a tie for third with Jessica Shepard (15, 2016-17). Kelsey Griffin owns the Nebraska season record with 20 (2009-10), while Nafeesah Brown ranks second with 16 (1993-94).

Alexis Markowski (20) needs one more double-double to move into a tie for eighth on the Nebraska career double-doubles list, joining Maurtice Ivy (1985-88) and Debra Powell (1982-85) who both recorded 21 double-doubles in their Husker careers.

Alexis Markowski (559) needs 15 rebounds to match Nafeesah Brown (574, 1993-94) at No. 23 on Nebraska’s career rebound list.

Jaz Shelley (342) needs one assist to pass Amy Beiriger (342, 1979-81) in sole possession of 11th place on Nebraska’s career assist list. Shelley is 50 assists away from two-time WNBA All-Star Anna DeForge (392, 1995-98) at No. 10 on that list.

Jaz Shelley (182) needs one assist to catch Lindsey Moore (183, 2010-11) at No. 7 on NU’s season assist chart. Shelley needs four assists to match Nicole Kubik (186, 1998-99) and nine assists to reach both Jina Johansen (2004-05) and Kathy Hawkins (1975-76) at No. 4 with 191 assists.

Jaz Shelley (67) is four three-pointers away from her second straight top-10 season for 3FG made at Nebraska. Shelley hit 82 threes last season, which ranks fourth in school history.

Jaz Shelley (149) is six made threes away from matching Anna DeForge (1995-98) and Natalie Romeo (2015-16) for seventh on the Husker career three-point list with 155.