Huskers Open Home Stand with Penn State

Nebraska Cornhuskers (10-6, 2-3 Big Ten)

vs. Penn State Lady Lions (11-5, 2-3 Big Ten)

Wednesday, January 11, 2023, 7 p.m. (CT)

Pinnacle Bank Arena – Lincoln, Nebraska

Tickets: Huskers.com / 1-800-8-BIG-RED
Live Video: B1G+
Live Radio: Huskers Radio Network (6:45 p.m.)
Matt Coatney (PBP), Jeff Griesch (Analyst)

Lincoln (107.3 FM & 1400 AM), Omaha (590 AM), Huskers.com, Huskers App
Special Event: Australia Night (500 Posters)

Huskers Open Big Ten Home Stand With Penn State

The Nebraska women’s basketball team returns to Pinnacle Bank Arena this week for a pair of important Big Ten Conference home games, beginning with a Wednesday clash against Penn State.

Tip-off between the Huskers (10-6, 2-3 Big Ten) and the Lady Lions (11-5, 2-3 Big Ten) is set for 7 p.m. (CT) with tickets on sale now at Huskers.com. A live video stream will be provided to subscribers of B1G+ with Matt McMaster and Skylee Nelson on the call for BTN Student U. The game also can be heard across the Huskers Radio Network with Matt Coatney and Jeff Griesch on 107.3 FM and 1400 AM in Lincoln along with 590 AM in Omaha, Huskers.com and the Huskers App.

Wednesday’s game will feature Australia Night, celebrating the contributions of Isabelle Bourne and Jaz Shelley to the Nebraska program. Lucky fans can receive one of 500 Australia Night posters, and the Huskers will honor Bourne and Shelley with the Australian anthem prior to tip-off.

Nebraska and Penn State are tied for seventh in the 14-team Big Ten standings. The Huskers will try to snap a three-game losing skid, while the Lady Lions come to Lincoln having won three of their last four games, including a 70-60 victory over Purdue on Saturday in University Park.

The Huskers struggled through their coldest shooting game of the season in Piscataway, hitting just 28.3 percent of their field goal attempts overall. The Big Red missed its first 21 three-point attempts before Maddie Krull hit a triple with 4:44 left, extending Nebraska’s streak with at least one three-pointer to 447 games. Kendall Coley added a three in the closing minutes to push NU’s streak of games with at least two made threes to 326 games.

Krull led Nebraska in scoring for the first time in her 16 games as a Husker, finishing with 11 points for her second game in double figures this season. She added season highs of five rebounds and three steals.

Sam Haiby was the only other Husker to manage double figures, finishing with 10 points and season highs of six rebounds and five steals in her third start of the season.

Nebraska Notables

Isabelle Bourne just missed a double-double with nine points and nine rebounds at Rutgers on Saturday. Bourne is nine points away from reaching 1,000 in her Nebraska career. The 6-2 forward from Canberra, Australia is averaging 11.4 points and 7.2 rebounds per game this season.

Bourne is on track to become the 36th 1,000-point scorer in Nebraska history and just the 22nd Husker to achieve the combined career milestones of 1,000 points and 500 rebounds (541).

In five career games against Penn State, Bourne has averaged 14.2 points and 8.0 rebounds on 48.3 percent (29-60) shooting, including 4-of-12 three-pointers (.333).

Fellow Australian Jaz Shelley has been Nebraska’s most potent and reliable weapon throughout the season. The 5-9 guard from Moe, Australia (pronounced MO-ee) is averaging 14.3 points, 3.8 rebounds and team-bests of 6.4 assists and 1.5 steals on the season. 

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 added 21 points and five assists in a loss to No. 14 Michigan (Dec. 28), before being limiting to five points, seven rebounds, six assists and four steals in the loss at No. 4 Indiana (Jan. 1). She went scoreless for the second time in her Nebraska career in NU’s loss at Rutgers (Jan. 7).

Preseason All-Big Ten center and 2022 Big Ten Freshman of the Year Alexis Markowski is one of the Big Ten’s top rebounders, averaging 9.0 boards to go along with her 12.3 points per contest through 16 games. The 6-3 center from Lincoln, Neb., owns six double-doubles on the season and also leads the Huskers with 19 blocks while ranking second on the team with 18 steals on the year.

In two games last season against Penn State, Markowski averaged 20.5 points and 5.5 rebounds while hitting 55.2 percent (16-29) of her shots from the floor. Markowski did not hit a three-pointer against the Lady Lions last season.

Nebraska has recently lost starters Allison Weidner (10.2 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 2.4 apg) and Trinity Brady (2.6 ppg, 1.9 rpg) to injuries. Weidner (leg) was injured in the fourth quarter of Nebraska’s 85-79 3OT win over No. 20 Kansas (Dec. 21) and is out for the season. Brady (concussion) was injured in the first half of NU’s loss at No. 9 Virginia Tech (Dec. 1) and has missed the past eight games.

The injuries to Weidner and Brady have helped hasten the return of three-year starter Sam Haiby to Nebraska’s lineup. Haiby, who has more than 1,400 points, 500 rebounds and 400 assists in her Husker career, produced double figures off the bench in the win over Kansas, and in a starting role at No. 4 Indiana and Rutgers. She is averaging 7.0 points and 3.7 rebounds in 18 minutes per game since returning from her own leg injury suffered in the preseason (Sept. 12). 

In six career games against Penn State, Haiby has averaged 12.0 points, 5.7 rebounds and 4.3 assists.

Fellow freshman Maggie Mendelson has given Nebraska an additional option inside since the conclusion of volleyball season. The two-sport athlete has averaged 5.2 points, 3.6 rebounds and 1.8 blocks in 11 minutes per game through the first five games of her career dating back to her first appearance on the basketball court in a win over Wyoming (Dec. 18).

Nebraska Cornhuskers (10-6, 2-3 Big Ten)

34 – Isabelle Bourne – 6-2 – Jr. – F – 11.4 ppg, 7.2 rpg

40 – Alexis Markowski – 6-3 – So. – C/F – 12.3 ppg, 9.0 rpg

1 – Jaz Shelley – 5-9 – Jr. – G – 14.3 ppg, 3.8 rpg

4 – Sam Haiby – 5-9 – Gr. – G – 7.0 ppg, 3.7 rpg

42 – Maddie Krull – 5-9 – So. – G – 4.3 ppg, 1.7 rpg

Off the Bench

21 – Annika Stewart – 6-3 – So. – F – 6.7 ppg, 3.6 rpg

44 – Maggie Mendelson – 6-5 – Fr. – F/C – 5.2 ppg, 3.6 rpg

15 – Kendall Moriarty – 6-1 – So. – G – 3.9 ppg, 2.1 rpg

14 – Callin Hake – 5-9 – Fr. – G – 3.9 ppg, 1.4 rpg

32 – Kendall Coley – 6-2 – So. – F/G – 2.3 ppg, 1.6 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 (106-90); 16th Season Overall (299-199)

Penn State Lady Lions (11-5, 2-3 Big Ten)

10 – Chanaya Pinto – 6-1 – Sr. – F – 6.2 ppg, 4.4 rpg

24 – Alexa Williamson – 6-2 – Gr. – F – 6.6 ppg, 3.2 rpg 

4 – Shay Ciezki – 5-7 – Fr. – G – 10.8 ppg, 2.0 rpg

5 – Leilani Kapinus – 5-10 – RSo. – G – 11.8 ppg, 6.1 rpg

20 – Makenna Marisa – 5-11 – Sr. – G – 18.7 ppg, 4.8 rpg

Off the Bench

23 – Taniyah Thomson – 5-11 – Sr. – G – 7.1 ppg, 1.9 rpg

1 – Ali Brigham – 6-4 – Jr. – F – 4.0 ppg, 2.8 rpg

33 – Johnasia Cash – 6-3 – Gr. – F – 3.9 ppg, 5.0 rpg

22 – Alli Campbell – 6-1 – RSo. – G – 3.9 ppg, 1.7 rpg

11 – Anna Camden – 6-3 – Sr. – F – 2.9 ppg, 1.1 rpg

2 – Aicha Dia – 6-1 – Fr. – F – 1.4 ppg, 0.5 rpg

0 – Ivane Tensaie – 5-7 – So. – G – 1.2 ppg, 0.2 rpg

12 – Kayla Thomas – 6-3 – So. – F – 1.2 ppg, 0.7 rpg

Head Coach: Carolyn Kieger (Marquette, 2006)

Fourth Season at Penn State (38-61); Ninth Season Overall (137-125) 

Scouting The Penn State Lady Lions

Coach Carolyn Kieger brings her fourth Penn State squad to Lincoln with an 11-5 overall record, including a 2-3 Big Ten mark. The Lady Lions, who have already matched their win total from all of last season (11-18) after a 70-60 win over Purdue in University Park, Pa., on Saturday, opened 2022-23 with seven consecutive wins before ending November with an 89-68 loss to Virginia in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge.

Since opening 7-0, Penn State has gone 4-5 with Big Ten losses at Minnesota (98-96 2OT), to No. 4 Indiana (67-58) and at No. 14 Michigan (82-72). PSU also dropped an 86-82 overtime decision at Drexel. The Lady Lions got their first Big Ten victory with a 90-72 home win over Rutgers (Dec. 30).

Despite some recent struggles, Penn State is squarely in the hunt for an NCAA Tournament berth, if they can run off some Big Ten wins. The Lady Lions were No. 58 in the Jan. 9 NET rankings.

Senior Makenna Marisa is a dangerous offensive threat. The 5-11 All-Big Ten guard is averaging team bests of 18.7 points and 4.3 assists while shooting a sizzling 45.1 percent (37-82) from three-point range. She has added 1.9 steals per game on the year. She is coming off a 24-point, eight-rebound, six-assist performance in the win over Purdue.

In five career games against Nebraska, Marisa has averaged 20.4 points, 4.4 rebounds and 4.8 assists, including three consecutive games with 20 or more points. Last season in a loss in Lincoln, Marisa scored 27 points despite going 1-for-5 from three-point range. In two games against the Huskers last season, Marisa averaged 24.5 points and went 14-for-16 at the free throw line, but was just 3-for-13 from beyond the three-point arc.

Redshirt sophomore Leilani Kapinus adds experience and athleticism to the PSU backcourt. The 5-10 Kapinus is averaging 11.8 points and team bests of 6.1 rebounds, 3.3 steals and 0.8 blocks. In Saturday’s win over Purdue, Kapinus finished with 17 points, a  season-high 12 rebounds, four assists and seven steals. Earlier this season, Kapinus had nine steals in a win over Fairfield.

Freshman Shay Ciezki has made a significant impact on the backcourt as well. The 5-7 guard gives the Lady Lions three players averaging in double figures with 10.8 points and 2.8 assists per game. Ciezki joins Marisa as a lights-out, long-range shooter, connecting on 41 percent (32-78) of her three-pointers.

Chanaya Pinto (6.2 ppg, 4.4 rpg) has moved into the starting lineup inside for Penn State. Pinto, who played at Oregon last season after being named the NJCAA Player of the Year at Northwest Florida State in 2020-21, has started nine of PSU’s last 11 games. 

Alexa Williamson (6.6 ppg, 3.0 rpg) made her 11th start of the year at Purdue. The 6-2 graduate  forward who spent four seasons at Temple, gives Penn State a versatile and athletic option.

Ali Brigham, a 6-4 post, started three straight games prior to Williamson’s return to the lineup against Purdue. Brigham spent her freshman season at George Washington in 2020-21. She started both games against Nebraska last season but played a total of just 24 minutes, scoring eight points.

Penn State adds depth inside with graduate Johnasia Cash (3.9 ppg, 5.0 rpg) and senior Anna Camden (2.9 ppg, 1.1 rpg) who both have experience against the Huskers. In 2020-21, Cash erupted for 27 points and 19 rebounds in a win over Nebraska in University Park (Feb. 4, 2021). Less than three weeks later, she added 17 points and 13 rebounds in a loss at Nebraska. Cash did not play last season. Camden started at forward and scored nine points in Penn State’s win over NU last season in University Park. She also had nine points on a trio of three-pointers off the bench for the Lady Lions as a freshman against the Huskers in Lincoln (Feb. 13, 2020).

Penn State is strong on offense, averaging 75.6 points while hitting 45.1 percent of its shots from the field, including 37 percent of its threes. The Lady Lions own a plus-3.0 rebound margin and plus-4.6 turnover margin despite averaging 17.3 turnovers per game. Defensively, PSU is allowing 65.1 points while opponents are hitting 41 percent of their shots, including 31.1 percent of their threes.

Last season, Penn State averaged 70.6 points per game, but surrendered 74.9 points per contest.

Nebraska vs. Penn State Series History

Nebraska leads the all-time series with Penn State, 10-8, including a 76-61 victory over the Lady Lions in NU’s last home game with PSU at Pinnacle Bank Arena (Feb. 3, 2022). 

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.

The Huskers have won seven consecutive home games against Penn State at Pinnacle Bank Arena dating back to an 82-67 loss to the Lady Lions in Nebraska’s final home game at the Bob Devaney Sports Center (March 3, 2013).

Nebraska has suffered setbacks in its last two trips to University Park, including an 83-76 loss in the most recent meeting with the Lady Lions (Feb. 17, 2022).

Markowski led five Huskers in double figures with 23 points and seven rebounds in the last meeting with Penn State, but it wasn’t enough to overcome balanced scoring from nine Lady Lions including 22 points and eight assists from Marisa.

The Huskers have won nine of the last 12 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.

Nebraska is 7-2 all-time against Penn State in Lincoln, including 7-0 at Pinnacle Bank Arena. PSU owns a 5-3 advantage all-time in the series at University Park.

Thirteen of the 18 meetings in the series have been decided by double digits.

Husker Numbers to Watch

Nebraska’s Amy Williams is one win away from the 300th of her collegiate head coaching career, including 97 victories at Rogers State (NAIA, 2007-12), 96 at South Dakota (2013-16) and 106 at Nebraska (2016-present).

Isabelle Bourne is nine points away from 1,000 in her career. She is two games away from her 100th career game as a Husker. Her 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.

Jaz Shelley is 10 three-pointers away from 129 in her Husker career, which would move her into the top 10 on Nebraska’s career three-point list. Shelley has 119 made threes in just 48 games (2.5 pg) as a Husker. The only player in NU’s top 10 to hit threes at a faster clip in her career is Natalie Romeo, who connected on 155 threes in 55 games (2.8 pg) as a Husker (2014-15, 2015-16). Amy Stephens, one of the greatest shooters and scorers in Nebraska history, hit 129 threes in 57 games (2.3 pg) in the first two seasons of the three-point shot in women’s college basketball (1987-88, 1988-89). Nebraska’s all-time three-point leader, All-American and 2014 Big Ten Player of the Year Jordan Hooper, hit 295 threes in 131 career games (2.3 pg).

Jaz Shelley is 58 points away from 1,000 in her college career (646-Nebraska; 296-Oregon).

Sam Haiby is 10 points away (1,423) from matching Diane DelVigna for No. 14 on Nebraska’s all-time scoring list (1,433 points, 1978-79, 1979-80).

Kendall Moriarty has already surpassed her season point total (63-45) from a year ago while more than tripling her three-point total (10-3) and nearly tripling her season rebound total (33-12). She also has tripled her steals total (9-3), more than quadrupled her made free throws (9-2) and matched her season block total (3) from a year ago.