Huskers Shoot for Sweep of Wildcats

Nebraska Cornhuskers (15-13, 7-10 Big Ten)

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Matt Coatney (PBP), Jeff Griesch (Analyst)
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Special Events: Senior Day / Cheer Clinic

Huskers Shoot for Season Sweep of Wildcats

The Nebraska women’s basketball team closes Big Ten regular-season play when the Huskers welcome the Northwestern Wildcats to Lincoln on Sunday afternoon.

Tip-off between the Big Red (15-13, 7-10 Big Ten) and the Wildcats (9-19, 2-15 Big Ten) is set for 1 p.m. (CT) at Pinnacle Bank Arena with tickets on sale now at Huskers.com.

A live video stream will be available to subscribers of B1G+, while fans also can listen across the Huskers Radio Network, including 107.3 FM in Lincoln, 590 AM in Omaha, the Huskers App and Huskers.com as Matt Coatney and Jeff Griesch call the action.

Sunday will be Senior Day in Lincoln with Nebraska honoring Sam Haiby, Isabelle Bourne and Jaz Shelley. Haiby is completing her fifth season as a Husker and is expected to tie Nebraska’s career record for games played (136) on Sunday. Bourne and Shelley both have a season of eligibility remaining but will join Haiby on Senior Day. Haiby also was honored on Senior Day last season.

The Husker program also will recognize scout team standout and manager Lane Huebert and manager Zach Everts.

Nebraska returns home after putting together its most complete game of the season in a 90-57 pounding of No. 25 Illinois on Wednesday. The Huskers recorded their largest margin of victory in history over a top-25 opponent (33 points) and their third win this season over a top-25 foe by shooting a season-best 59 percent from the field, including 10-of-24 three-pointers (.417). It also marked the fourth time in league play that the Huskers held the opposition in the 50s, but the first time since Jan. 11.

Jaz Shelley (Moe, Australia) led five Huskers in double figures with 26 points and six three-pointers to go along with six assists and five rebounds. Shelley increased her team-leading averages to 14.1 points, 6.3 assists and 1.5 steals. It marked Shelley’s sixth straight game in double figures and her second 20-point scoring effort in that stretch, joining a 37-point performance at Minnesota (Feb. 15). Shelley has put up 20 or more points seven times this season.

Isabelle Bourne (Canberra, Australia) added a double-double with 16 points and a season-high 13 rebounds. Bourne has produced double figures in eight consecutive games, including a pair of 20-point efforts and a game-high 18 points in a 78-66 win at Northwestern (Feb. 6). She is averaging 12.4 points and 6.6 rebounds on the season.

Sam Haiby (Moorhead, Minn.) contributed 12 points, seven rebounds and four assists at Illinois. Haiby, who ranks No. 12 at Nebraska in career points (1,561), 17th in rebounding (627) and No. 7 in assists (466) is averaging 10.0 points, 5.3 and 2.9 assists on the season despite missing 10 of the first 11 games with injury. She had a season-high 17 points in Nebraska’s win at Northwestern (Feb. 6).

Alexis Markowski (Lincoln, Neb.) continued her strong sophomore season with 11 points, seven boards and a career-high four assists at Illinois. The 6-3 sophomore center is among the Lisa Leslie Award Top 10 contenders and owns 13 double-doubles on the season, including 11 points and 10 rebounds at Northwestern (Feb. 6). She is averaging a double-double with 12.3 points and 10.0 rebounds per game. Markowski (280) trails only Kendall Bostic from Illinois (282) for the Big Ten rebounding lead through 28 games.

Maddie Krull (Omaha, Neb.) rounds out Nebraska’s starting five with 6.1 points, 2.1 rebounds and 1.9 assists on the season. Krull has scored in double figures in two of the last three games, including 13 points at Minnesota (Feb. 15) and 11 points at No. 25 Illinois (Feb. 22).

Nebraska Cornhuskers (15-13, 7-10 Big Ten)

34 – Isabelle Bourne – 6-2 – Jr. – F – 12.4 ppg, 6.6 rpg

40 – Alexis Markowski – 6-3 – So. – C/F – 12.3 ppg, 10.0 rpg

1 – Jaz Shelley – 5-9 – Jr. – G – 14.1 ppg, 4.5 rpg

4 – Sam Haiby – 5-9 – Gr. – G – 10.0 ppg, 5.3 rpg

42 – Maddie Krull – 5-9 – So. – G – 6.1 ppg, 2.1 rpg

Off the Bench

21 – Annika Stewart – 6-3 – So. – F – 5.5 ppg, 3.0 rpg

14 – Callin Hake – 5-9 – Fr. – G – 4.7 ppg, 1.2 rpg

15 – Kendall Moriarty – 6-1 – So. – G – 3.2 ppg, 1.7 rpg

44 – Maggie Mendelson – 6-5 – Fr. – F/C – 2.2 ppg, 1.9 rpg

32 – Kendall Coley – 6-2 – So. – F/G – 1.8 ppg, 1.3 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 (111-97); 16th Season Overall (304-206)

Northwestern Wildcats (9-19, 2-15 Big Ten)

10 – Caileigh Walsh – 6-3 – So. – F – 11.9 ppg, 4.7 rpg

20 – Paige Mott – 6-1 – Jr. – F – 8.5 ppg, 4.3 rpg

0 – Kaylah Rainey – 5-6 – Sr. – G – 5.2 ppg, 2.6 rpg

3 – Sydney Wood – 5-11 – Gr. – G/F – 10.7 ppg, 4.9 rpg

23 – Jasmine McWilliams – 5-11 – Jr. – G – 2.8 ppg, 2.0 rpg

Off the Bench

4 – Jillian Brown – 5-10 – So. – G – 6.6 ppg, 3.5 rpg

15 – Courtney Shaw – 6-0 – Gr. – F – 6.0 ppg, 4.6 rpg

2 – Carline Lau – 5-9 – Fr. – G – 5.5 ppg, 2.9 rpg

33 – Laya Hartman – 5-11 – Sr. – G – 2.6 ppg, 1.7 rpg

11 – Hailey Weaver – 5-11 – So. – G – 2.7 ppg, 1.4 rpg

13 – Mercy Ademusayo – 6-4 – So. – F – 1.8 ppg, 1.1 rpg

Head Coach: Joe McKeown (Kent State, 1979)

15th Season at Northwestern (250-217); 37th Season Overall (759-391)

Scouting The Northwestern Wildcats

Coach Joe McKeown brings his 15th Northwestern team into Sunday’s game hoping to spoil Senior Day for the Huskers. The Wildcats are 9-19 overall and 2-15 in the Big Ten, but they notched their second league win with a 76-62 run past Minnesota (Feb. 18), just days after the Golden Gophers defeated Nebraska 95-92 in Minneapolis (Feb. 15).

Northwestern also owns a 70-67 win at Wisconsin (Jan. 29), but the Badgers avenged that loss with a 64-57 win in Evanston on Thursday night. Wisconsin led by as many as 13 points midway through the third quarter, before Northwestern tied the game at 56 with 2:35 left. The Badgers outscored the Wildcats 8-1 in the closing minutes to secure the split of the season series.

In the first meeting with Nebraska (Feb. 6), the Wildcats won the turnover battle 24-11 and outscored the Huskers 27-11 in points off turnovers in a 78-66 Big Red win. In the last four games in the series, Northwestern owns a 94-33 (+61) turnover margin, but Nebraska is 4-0 thanks to a massive 191-133 (+58) effort on the boards, including a 49-34 advantage in Evanston earlier this month.

McKeown’s Cats have prided themselves on their defense in recent years, but they have surrendered 73.9 points in Big Ten play this season. They have also struggled on the offensive end, averaging just 61.1 points in league action in 2022-23.

Northwestern is traditionally outstanding at forcing turnovers, but the Wildcats carry a minus-1.0 turnover margin this year. A year ago, Northwestern carried a plus-4.7 turnover margin with National Defensive Player of the Year Veronica Burton. Two seasons ago, Northwestern’s turnover margin was plus-9.3.

Caileigh Walsh leads Northwestern with 11.9 points and 4.7 rebounds this season. She owns a team-best 30 three-pointers but has hit just 27.5 percent of her long-range attempts. The 6-3 forward was the only Wildcat to start each of the first 27 games this season. She surrendered her last start to senior Laya Hartman on Senior Night against Wisconsin on Thursday. Walsh had eight points on 3-of-11 shooting, including 2-of-4 threes, in the first meeting with Nebraska

Veteran Sydney Wood gives Northwestern two starters averaging in double figure, pitching in 10.7 points and 4.9 rebounds along with a team-best 2.6 steals. The graduate student has made 87career starts for the Wildcats despite missing all but four games last year with an injury. Wood had 12 points and three steals in the first meeting with Nebraska but was just 5-of-15 from the floor.

Paige Mott, a 6-1 junior forward, adds 8.5 points and 4.3 rebounds. She led Northwestern with 13 points in the first meeting with the Huskers, hitting 7-of-10 free throws, while going 3-of-5 from the field.

Kaylah Rainey and Jasmine McWilliams round out Northwestern’s probable starters. The 5-6 Rainey leads the Cats with 3.1 assists while adding 1.7 steals to her 5.2 points per game. She had eight points and hit a pair of threes in the loss to Nebraska in Evanston. McWilliams was scoreless against the Huskers and played just five minutes.

Northwestern gets regular contributions off the bench from Jillian Brown (6.6 ppg, 3.5 rpg), Courtney Shaw (6.0 ppg, 4.6 rpg), Caroline Lau (5.2 ppg, 2.6 rpg), and Hailey Weaver (2.7 ppg, 1.4 rpg), who have each played in all 17 Big Ten games. Shaw had 12 points and a team-high five rebounds in the first loss to Nebraska, while Lau played 35 minutes, managing five points and a team-high six assists. Brown added five points against the Huskers, while Weaver played seven minutes and hit a free throw.

The Wildcats are hitting just 37.7 percent of their shots from the field in Big Ten play, including just 27.6 percent of their three-pointers. They also have hit just 69.6 percent of their free throws, while getting out-rebounded (39.5-34.1 rpg). League opponents are hitting 43.7 percent from the field, including 33 percent from long range, while connecting on 73 percent of their free throws. The Cats have a negative scoring margin (73.9-61.1) and a negative turnover margin (16.9-16.0) in league play.

Nebraska vs. Northwestern Series History

Nebraska leads the all-time series with Northwestern, 14-8, including four consecutive wins against the Wildcats.

The Huskers led from start to finish in a 78-66 win in Evanston on Feb. 6, jumping to a quick 7-0 lead before pushing the margin to 20-3 in the first five minutes. Northwestern cut the margin to nine in the second quarter before the Huskers pushed the lead to 22 points (56-34) at the end of three periods. In the fourth, Northwestern committed 15 fouls trying to extend the game and managed to cut the Husker lead to seven (65-58) with two minutes left, before Nebraska closed out the win.

Isabelle Bourne led Nebraska with 18 points (7-9 FT), while Sam Haiby added a season-high 17 points (7-8 FT). Jaz Shelley added 12 (6-8 FT) and eight rebounds, while Alexis Markowski pitched in a double-double with 11 points and 10 boards. As a team, the Huskers hit 26-of-34 free throws (.765).

Last season, the Huskers worked their way to a 73-59 victory over Northwestern at Pinnacle Bank Arena on Senior Day in Lincoln (Feb. 27, 2022). Isabelle Bourne led three Huskers in double figures with 20 points on perfect three-point shooting (3-3), while Alexis Markowski added a double-double with 16 points and 12 rebounds and a pair of threes. Jaz Shelley added 17 points and five assists while knocking down 3-of-6 threes, as the Huskers combined to go 9-for-18 from beyond the arc.

All-American Veronica Burton led Northwestern with 16 points and four steals but went just 3-for-14 from the floor and committed five turnovers. Laya Hartman was the only other Wildcat to finish in double figures with 12 points. Northwestern went 8-for-23 from long range and 19-for-23 at the free throw line but hit just 8-of-36 (.222) two-point attempts against the Huskers.

Nebraska notched a 65-63 win at Pinnacle Bank Arena (Dec. 31, 2020) to start the four-game winning streak. Sam Haiby hit a wild putback of her own miss as time expired. The play was ESPN SportCenter’s Top Play. Haiby led the Huskers with 19 points, eight rebounds and five assists, while Isabelle Bourne added a double-double with 11 points and 10 boards. The Huskers lost the turnover battle, 24-7, but won the boards 47-35.

In the last four games in the series, Northwestern has produced a 94-33 (+61) turnover margin, while Nebraska has produced a dominant 191-133 (+58) rebounding edge.

The Huskers are 7-5 against the Cats in Evanston and raced to an 88-56 win over Northwestern at the 2012 Big Ten Tournament (March 1). Nebraska is 6-3 all-time against Northwestern in Lincoln dating back to a 65-64 win at the Devaney Center on Nov. 29, 1980.

Sunday’s game will be third Senior Day meeting between the schools in Lincoln since Nebraska joined the Big Ten (2011-12). The Huskers also defeated Northwestern, 76-67, on Senior Day, Feb. 28, 2016.

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 20 teams, including 4-Indiana (1), 9-Iowa (2), 11-Virginia Tech (1), 13-Maryland (2), 14-Ohio State (1); 18-Creighton (1); 20-Michigan (2). Solely as a comparison, Northwestern has played eight games against current NCAA NET Top 20 teams and nine 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 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 20 teams.

The Huskers have played 12 games against teams who already have secured 20 wins in 2022-23.

Husker Numbers to Watch

Sam Haiby (135) is expected to move into a tie for the top spot on Nebraska’s career games played list with 136 on Sunday, joining Janet Smith (1979-82), who has held the record for 40 seasons.

Sam Haiby (627) needs one rebound to move ahead of Cory Montgomery (627, 2007-10) into sole possession of the No. 17 spot on Nebraska’s career rebounding list. Haiby is nine rebounds away from Olympic medalist Danielle Page at No. 16 (636, 2005-08).

Sam Haiby (466) needs four assists to match former teammate Hannah Whitish at No. 6 (470, 2017-20) on Nebraska’s career assist list.

With a season-high 13 rebounds at Illinois, Isabelle Bourne (611) moved into a tie for 20th with Pyra Aarden (611, 1993-96) on the Nebraska career rebound list. Bourne needs six boards to climb to No. 19 on the NU career chart with Carol Garey (617, 1979-80).

Alexis Markowski’s 13 double-doubles this season are tied for the seventh most by a Husker in a season in school history. Her next double-double will move her into a tie for fourth on NU’s season double-double list with 14 (Jordan Hooper, 2011-12 & 2013-14; Emily Cady, 2013-14).

Alexis Markowski needs one more double-double to become just the 10th Husker in history to amass 20 or more career double-doubles.

Alexis Markowski (545) needs one rebound to take sole possession of the No. 25 spot on the Nebraska career rebound list, ahead of Ann Halsne (545, 1988-91). Markowski is five rebounds from 24th (550, Jessica Shepard, 2016-17).

Alexis Markowski (280) needs four rebounds to move into a tie for fourth on the Nebraska sophomore season rebound list with 284 (Jessica Shepard, 2016-17).

Jaz Shelley (998) needs two minutes played to become the first Husker under Coach Amy Williams to play 1,000 minutes in a season. The last Husker to play more than 1,000 minutes was Natalie Romeo (1,089, 2015-16).

Jaz Shelley (336) needs six assists to catch Amy Beiriger (342, 1979-81) in 11th on Nebraska’s career assist list.

Jaz Shelley (176) is six assists from tying Rachel Theriot (182, 2015-16) for eighth on the Nebraska single-season assist chart. Shelley needs seven assists to match No. 7 Lindsey Moore (183, 2010-11) and 10 assists to catch No. 6 Nicole Kubik (186, 1998-99).

Jaz Shelley (65) is six 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 (147) is eight 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.

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 (1,152) and 500 rebounds (611) joining teammate Sam Haiby (1,561 points, 627 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, 1,561), rebounds (17th, 627) and assists (7th, 466). 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 10.0 boards to go along with her 12.3 points per contest. The 6-3 center has moved into a tie with Iowa’s Caitlin Clark atop the Big Ten double-doubles list with 13 this season, which is tied for 19th nationally.

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).

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.

Bourne Earns Latimer Family Scholarship

Nebraska forward Isabelle Bourne was selected as the recipient of the Latimer Family Women’s Basketball Scholarship for the second consecutive year. The award will be presented for the second time during Sunday’s game with Northwestern at Pinnacle Bank Arena.

The Latimer Family Women’s Basketball Scholarship recognizes a Husker who combines a high level of academic and athletic achievement, effective leadership skills, integrity and commitment to excellence in all endeavors.

Bourne, a 6-2 forward from Canberra, Australia, has been one of Nebraska’s top performers on the court and in the classroom in her four seasons for the Huskers. The three-time team captain ranks among the top 25 players in school history in both scoring and rebounding. She is a two-time honorable-mention All-Big Ten selection (2021, 2022) and was recently chosen as a College Sports Communicators Academic All-District honoree.

A member of the Australian National Team program, Bourne was chosen Nebraska’s Offensive Player of the Year in 2021 and the team’s Husker Award winner in 2021 and 2022. She was a Big Ten Distinguished Scholar in 2021 and an Academic All-Big Ten selection in 2021 and 2022. She is also a two-time Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholar Award winner and a seven-time member of the Nebraska Scholar-Athlete Honor Roll.

The Latimer Family Women’s Basketball Scholarship is the first endowed scholarship for the program in school history. Longtime women’s basketball fans and season ticket holders Gary and Janet Latimer made the scholarship possible through their generous support. The Latimer family has previously endowed a scholarship for volleyball, and continues to demonstrate tremendous support of Nebraska women’s athletics.

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. 12 nationally in average home attendance (5,794) through 14 games in 2022-23. It is an increase of 1,305 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 157 all-time home games at Pinnacle Bank Arena, the Huskers own a 114-43 record (.726 winning percentage).

In 146 games with attendance allowed (excludes games during COVID pandemic in 2020-21), the Huskers have averaged 5,062 fans per game (739,041 total fans/146 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.

Injuries Altering Nebraska’s Season

While Nebraska is trying to stay 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 20 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 15 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 28 contests this season are Jaz Shelley and Alexis Markowski, despite Markowski battling multiple nagging injuries from preseason to the present. Shelley leads the Big Ten with 35.6 minutes played per game. Shelley is less than two minutes away from becoming the first Husker player under Coach Amy Williams to play 1,000 minutes in a season.