Huskers Stumble Against No. 5 Iowa Despite Strong Individual Performances

January 27, 2024 – Women’s Basketball

The Nebraska women’s basketball team faced a tough challenge on the road, falling 92-73 to the No. 5 Iowa Hawkeyes on Saturday afternoon. Despite this setback at Carver-Hawkeye Arena, the Huskers showed resilience, with standout performances from several players. The loss moves Nebraska to a 5-4 record in the Big Ten and 13-7 overall, while Iowa boosts their impressive season to 19-2 overall and 8-1 in conference play.

Iowa started the game with an early 9-0 surge, but Nebraska quickly regrouped. Alexis Markowski and Jaz Shelley spearheaded a comeback, cutting the deficit to just three points by the end of the first quarter. The second quarter saw a fierce battle, with 10 lead changes and Nebraska seizing a brief lead before Iowa finished the half with a 9-0 run, taking a 36-31 lead into the break.

Markowski, who finished with 17 points and 11 rebounds, recorded her 13th double-double of the season. Shelley, leading the Huskers with 19 points, showcased her long-range prowess by sinking 5-of-11 three-pointers, coupled with a team-high five assists. Callin Hake supported the scoring effort with 11 points, including 2-of-3 from beyond the arc, and grabbed four rebounds.

Despite trailing by 14 points entering the fourth quarter, Nebraska managed to cut Iowa’s lead to 11 and had opportunities to further close the gap. However, Iowa’s Caitlin Clark, who scored an impressive 38 points, including six 3-pointers in the second half, helped the Hawkeyes pull away for a decisive victory.

Nebraska shot 39 percent from the field and 34.5 percent from three-point range. The Huskers were dominant on the boards, outrebounding Iowa 40-31, and showed their strength on the offensive glass with a 13-4 edge. However, turnovers proved costly for Nebraska, who lost the turnover battle 20-11.

Iowa’s shooting efficiency was a significant factor, hitting 52.5 percent from the field and 41.4 percent from the three-point line. Aside from Clark’s standout performance, Kate Martin and Sydney Affolter also scored in double figures for Iowa.

Looking ahead, Nebraska will return to Lincoln for an important two-game home stand, starting with a matchup against Purdue on Wednesday, Jan. 31. The game is set for a 7 p.m. tip-off at Pinnacle Bank Arena, with tickets available at Huskers.com. Fans can also catch the game on NPM World and B1G+ for live video streaming, along with radio coverage on the Huskers Radio Network.

Stay tuned to HuskersToday.com and Sports Nightly on Jan 29, 2024, at 6:04 PM for more updates and insights into Husker Women’s Basketball.