Huskers Return Home to Battle Badgers

Nebraska Cornhuskers (13-4, 2-4 Big Ten)

vs. Wisconsin Badgers (5-13, 2-6 Big Ten)

Thursday, Jan. 27, 2022, 8 p.m. (CT)

Pinnacle Bank Arena – Lincoln, Nebraska

Tickets: Huskers.com / 1-800-8-BIG-RED
Promotion: Australia Night
Live TV: Big Ten Network (Mike Hall, Christy Winters Scott)
Live Radio: Huskers Radio Network (7:45 p.m.)
Matt Coatney (PBP), Jeff Griesch (Analyst)
Lincoln (107.3 FM), Omaha (ESPN 590 AM), Huskers.com, Huskers App

Huskers Return Home Thursday to Battle Badgers 

Following a 10-day competitive layoff due to health and safety protocols, Nebraska will return to action Thursday night to battle the Wisconsin Badgers as part of a men’s and women’s basketball double-header between the two schools at Pinnacle Bank Arena.

Tip-off between the Husker women (13-4, 2-4 Big Ten) and the Badgers (5-13, 2-6 Big Ten) is set for 8 p.m. (CT) with live coverage by the Big Ten Network. The men’s game with the Badgers, which was rescheduled after a COVID postponement (Jan. 25), will tip-off at PBA at 4 p.m.

Matt Coatney and Jeff Griesch will provide commentary for the Huskers Radio Network (B107.3 FM, Lincoln; ESPN 590 AM, Omaha), Huskers.com and the Huskers App.

Because of the rare double-header, men’s basketball ticket holders for the Wisconsin game will be able to attend the women’s game and sit in select general admission areas (sections 111-113 & 122-102) free of charge. Fans will need to exit PBA following the men’s game before re-entry at any door prior to the women’s game. Doors for the women’s game will open at 7 p.m.

The Huskers will celebrate Australia Night on Thursday with 700 fans receiving posters featuring Nebraska’s trio of Australians – Isabelle Bourne, Jaz Shelley and Ruby Porter. Australia Day is celebrated on Jan. 26 each year and marks the arrival of the First Fleet of British Ships at Port Jackson, New South Wales on that date in 1788.

Nebraska will be looking forward to the return of Jaz Shelley to the court after missing the game at Iowa (Jan. 16) because of COVID protocols. Shelley is the only Big Ten player to rank in the conference’s top in scoring (13.8 ppg), rebounding (7.5 rpg), assists (4.4 apg), blocks (1.2 bpg) and steals (1.8 spg). Her parents are expected to be in attendance for the first time on Thursday.

The Huskers are also looking forward to the return of All-Big Ten guard Sam Haiby, who missed most of the fourth quarter at No. 6 Indiana and the entire game at Iowa (Jan. 16) with a shoulder sprain. Haiby is averaging 11.0 points, 4.3 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 1.7 steals.

Freshman Alexis Markowski stepped up big while Nebraska battled injuries, including an ankle sprain from starting forward Bella Cravens, who missed four straight starts. Markowski, a four-time Big Ten Freshman of the Week, is averaging 19.5 points, 6.5 rebounds and 2.0 steals as a starter, including a career-high 27 points with a career-best six three-pointers at Iowa.

Nebraska Cornhuskers (13-4, 2-4 Big Ten)

40 – Alexis Markowski – 6-3 – Fr. – F/C – 11.2 ppg, 6.4 rpg

34 – Isabelle Bourne – 6-2 – So. – F – 10.1 ppg, 4.4 rpg

0 – Ashley Scoggin – 5-7 – RSo. – G – 9.0 ppg, 1.4 rpg

1 – Jaz Shelley – 5-9 – So. – G – 13.8 ppg, 7.5 rpg

4 – Sam Haiby – 5-9 – Jr. – G – 11.0 ppg, 4.3 rpg

Off the Bench

14 – Bella Cravens – 6-3 – Jr. – F – 7.2 ppg, 6.0 rpg

21 – Annika Stewart – 6-3 – Fr. – F – 6.4 ppg, 2.6 rpg    

3 – Allison Weidner – 5-10 – Fr. – G – 5.5 ppg, 3.6 rpg

32 – Kendall Coley – 6-2 – Fr. – F/G – 3.4 ppg, 2.5 rpg

11 – Ruby Porter – 5-10 – Fr. – G – 2.9 ppg, 0.7 rpg

5 – MiCole Cayton – 5-9 – Gr. – G – 2.0 ppg, 1.1 rpg

10 – Whitney Brown – 5-8 – Fr. – G – 2.0 ppg, 0.8 rpg

15 – Kendall Moriarty – 6-1 – Fr. – G – 1.7 ppg, 0.4 rpg

Head Coach: Amy Williams (Nebraska, 1998)

Sixth Season at Nebraska (85-79); 15th Season Overall (278-188)

Wisconsin Badgers (5-13, 2-6 Big Ten)

2 – Katie Nelson – 5-8 – Gr. – G – 6.8 ppg, 3.6 rpg

3 – Brooke Schramek – 6-0 – So. – G – 6.7 ppg, 3.7 rpg

5 – Julie Pospisilova – 6-0 – Jr. – G – 14.6 ppg, 3.6 rpg

10 – Halle Douglass – 6-1 – So. – G – 4.2 ppg, 2.8 rpg

30 – Sydney Hilliard – 5-11 – Jr. – G – 12.6 ppg, 4.6 rpg

Off the Bench

14 – Krystyna Ellew – 5-10 – Fr. – G – 7.4 ppg, 3.3 rpg

41 – Sara Stapleton – 6-3 – Jr. – F/C – 5.6 ppg, 2.9 rpg

40 – Tara Stauffacher – 5-11 – Jr. – F – 2.5 ppg, 1.7 rpg

23 – Lexi Duckett – 5-11 – RSo. – F/C – 1.2 ppg, 0.5 rpg

24 – Natalie Leuzinger – 5-8 – So. – G – 0.5 ppg, 0.2 rpg

Head Coach: Marisa Moseley (Boston U, 2004)

First Season at Wisconsin (5-13); Fourth Season Overall (50-42)

Nebraska Numbers to Watch

• Through games Jan. 23, the Huskers ranked among the top 25 teams nationally in scoring margin (6th, +19.4), scoring offense (9th, 81.4 ppg), defensive rebounds per game (13th, 30.1 rpg), assist-to-turnover (15th, 1.24), assists per game (16th, 17.6 apg), field goal percentage (18th, .459), rebounds per game (18th, 43.0 rpg), three-point field goals made per game (21st, 8.8 pg) and three-point field goal percentage (22nd, .364).  

• Nebraska leads the Big Ten in scoring margin (+19.4 ppg), total rebounds (43.0 rpg) and field goal percentage defense (.366).

• Nebraska guard Jaz Shelley ranks among the top 20 players in the Big Ten in scoring (16th, 13.8 ppg), rebounding (10th, 7.5 rpg), assists (7th, 4.4 apg), blocked shots (6th, 1.2 bpg), steals (8th, 1.8 spg), three-point field goal percentage (6th, .435), three-pointers made per game (7th, 2.5) and assist-to-turnover ratio (5th, 2.0).

• Jaz Shelley is the only Big Ten player to rank among the top 20 in the conference in all five major statistical categories: scoring (16th), rebounding (10th), assists (7th), blocks (6th), steals (8th).

• Huskers Jaz Shelley (7th, 2.5 pg) and Ashley Scoggin (11th, 2.2 pg) rank among the top players in the Big Ten in three-point field goals made per game. 

• Nebraska is the only team in the nation with two shooters (Scoggin, 15th; Shelley, 20th) ranked among the top 20 in three-point field goal percentage.

• Nebraska’s backcourt has taken care of the ball while creating opportunities. Jaz Shelley (2.0) and Sam Haiby (1.8) rank No. 5 and 11, respectively in the Big Ten in assist-to-turnover ratio based on the NCAA minimum of 3.0 assists per game. Husker reserves Ruby Porter (3.3) and Allison Weidner (2.3), who don’t meet the NCAA minimums, own better assist-to-turnover ratios.

• Nebraska ranks ninth nationally in scoring offense with 81.4 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 120 total rebounds in 462 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 19 blocked shots in 16 games. She had six blocks in 55 games over two seasons at Oregon.

• 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 1,448 games over 48 seasons. It marked the first time in history that a Husker team held a negative foul differential of greater than 17. Prior to the game, NU held a positive foul differential of 2.1 through 16 games this season.

• Nebraska has scored at least 65 points in each of its 10 home games on its way to a 9-1 record at Pinnacle Bank Arena. Wisconsin has reached 65 on the road just once in seven road games – a 79-67 loss at Milwaukee (Nov. 24). NU is averaging 88.2 points at home, while Wisconsin is averaging 54.3 points per game on the road. 

• In four career games against Wisconsin, Nebraska’s Sam Haiby has averaged 14.0 points, 4.5 rebounds, 4.8 assists and 2.3 steals. She has scored in double figures in all four meetings.

• Nebraska returns 68 of its 84 points scored in last year’s 84-68 win over Wisconsin (Haiby-24, Cravens-13, Stewart-13, Porter-12, Brown-6), while the Badgers return just 38 points (Hilliard-16, Stapleton-12, Stauffacher-6, Douglass-2, Schramek-2).

• Nebraska has hit 10 or more threes nine times in the last 24 games, including six times in 17 games in 2021-22. NU buried 14-of-28 threes against NC Central (Nov. 20), 14-of-30 threes at Iowa (Jan. 16), 12-of-29 vs. Drake (Dec. 19), 11-of-22 vs. Prairie View A&M (Nov. 11), 10-of-19 at San Diego (Nov. 27) and 10-of-28 at Wake Forest (Dec. 1).  

Scouting The Wisconsin Badgers

• Marisa Moseley brings her first Wisconsin team to Lincoln to face Nebraska. Moseley has guided the Badgers to a 5-13 overall record and a 2-6 Big Ten mark after notching  a strong 69-57 win over Penn State in Madison (Jan. 23). 

• The Badgers have won two of their past three Big Ten games, including their first road win with a 49-45 victory at Rutgers (Jan. 16).

• Wisconsin has struggled to score throughout the season, averaging just 58.6 points per game, but the Badgers have been solid defensively, surrendering just 66.4 points per game. UW is shooting 40 percent from the field as a team, including just 30.6 percent (105-343) from three-point range while hitting just 5.8 threes per contest. However, the Badgers buried 10-of-22 three-pointers in Sunday’s victory over Penn State.

• UW has been solid at the free throw line (.716) but the Badgers have committed more fouls (298)than their opponents (282) and have been outscored by 2.8 points per game at the stripe. The Badgers own a negative-5.7 rebound margin and a negative-0.7 turnover margin, but posted a plus-six (23-17) turnover margin in the victory over Penn State.

• Julie Pospisilova has led the Badgers with 14.6 points per game. The 6-0 junior guard from the Czech Republic leads Wisconsin with 28 three-pointers (.292) while adding 3.6 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 1.6 steals per game. She scored 23 points and hit two threes in the win over Penn State.

• Fellow junior guard Sydney Hilliard has added 12.6 points and a team-leading 4.6 rebounds per game. Hilliard is shooting a team-best 54.2 percent from the field but has not attempted a three-pointer. She also has knocked down just 64.7 percent of her free throws. She leads Wisconsin with 2.1 steals per game.

• Sophomore Brooke Schramek, a teammate of Nebraska’s Kendall Moriarty at Benet Academy, adds 6.7 points and 3.7 rebounds per game, including 13 points with three threes and eight rebounds in the win over Penn State.  

• Graduate transfer Katie Nelson (6.8 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 3.3 apg, 1.6 spg) is the only Badger to start all 18 games. She also leads UW with 39.1 percent (25-64) shooting from three-point range. Nelson erupted for a season-high 24 points including four three-pointers in the win over Penn State.

• Sophomore Halle Douglass (4.2 ppg, 2.8 rpg) has moved into the starting five recently. Freshman Krystyna Ellew (7.4 ppg, 3.3 rpg) and junior Sara Stapeleton (5.6 ppg, 2.9 rpg) also have been starters for UW at times this season.

Nebraska vs. Wisconsin Series History

• Nebraska leads the all-time series with Wisconsin 12-7, including a three-game winning streak. Last season, NU rolled to an 84-68 victory over the Badgers at Pinnacle Bank Arena on Jan. 28, 2021.

• Sam Haiby led five Huskers in double figures against the Badgers, scoring 18 of her game-high 24 points in the first half. Bella Cravens added a double-double with 13 points and 11 rebounds, while Annika Stewart pitched in 13 points and five rebounds off the bench. Ruby Porter also contributed 12 points, two rebounds, two assists and two steals in a starting role.

• Nebraska scored 84 points against UW last season despite going just 5-for-21 from three-point range. Sydney Hilliard had 16 points and six rebounds for Wisconsin, while former Badger Imani Lewis had 19 points and 13 rebounds.

• The Huskers have won seven consecutive home games against the Badgers in a streak that started at the Bob Devaney Sports Center with a 68-59 win on Feb. 19, 2012. Nebraska is 12-2 against Wisconsin as Big Ten foes.

• Wisconsin won the first five meetings in series history, dating back to a 79-74 win over the Huskers in Madison, Wis., on Jan. 5, 1979.

• Nebraska’s first series win came with a 75-69 victory at Madison on Jan. 12, 2012.

Nebraska Streaks

• Sam Haiby has produced double figures in her last 10 Big Ten games, including all five contests she has played in this season.

• Alexis Markowski has produced double figures in five straight games including each of her four Big Ten starts.

• Ashley Scoggin has started a team-best 43 consecutive games since joining the Huskers for the 2020-21 season.

• The Huskers have knocked down at least one three in 415 straight games dating back to a loss at UTEP on Dec. 20, 2008. Nebraska has hit at least two three-pointers in 294 consecutive games.

Deep Bench Boosts Big Red

• The Husker bench has outscored opponent reserves 490-230 (+15.3 ppg) through 17 games, including a 349-166 edge (+18.3 ppg) in 10 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, 27.5 pp40, 15.7 rp40 and Annika Stewart, 23.9 pp40; 10.0 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 28.9 minutes per game, while Courtney Shaw from Northwestern ranks 25th in the conference (30.3 mpg).