The No. 5 seed Nebraska women’s basketball team will enjoy a first-round bye Wednesday before taking on the winner of No. 12 Purdue/No. 13 Northwestern at the TIAA Big Ten Tournament in Minneapolis on Thursday.
Purdue (12-17, 5-13 Big Ten) and Northwestern (9-20, 4-14 Big Ten) will face off in Wednesday’s first round at 5:30 p.m. (CT) in a game streamed live by Peacock. The Huskers (19-10, 11-7 Big Ten) will take on the winner on Thursday at approximately 2 p.m. (CT) at the Target Center in a game televised by BTN with Sloane Martin, Christy Winters Scott and Meghan McKeown on the call.
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 with Matt Coatney and Jeff Griesch calling the action. Pregame is expected to start at 1 p.m. (CT).
Nebraska will take aim at its 20th win of the season, which would give the Huskers their 19th 20-win campaign in school history. It would be the second 20-win season in the past three years under Coach Amy Williams, who also led the Big Red to a 20-win campaign in 2018.
Williams, who was the 2018 Big Ten Coach of the Year, has led Nebraska to 11 Big Ten wins in three of the past seven years. Prior to that stretch, the Huskers had amassed 11 or more league wins on only five occasions since beginning regular-season Big Eight play in 1982-83 (35 seasons).
Nebraska entered the week at No. 29 in the NCAA NET rankings and went a combined 3-0 against Purdue (2-0) and Northwestern (1-0) during the regular season.
The Huskers own 10 wins over current NET Top 75 foes, including No. 5 Iowa, at No. 21 Michigan State, No. 35 Maryland, No. 48 Illinois, a sweep of No. 51 Michigan, No. 64 Minnesota, No. 70 Georgia Tech and a sweep of No. 72 Purdue. Eight of NU’s 10 losses have come to NET Top 50 opponents.
The Huskers are led by 2024 first-team All-Big Ten center Alexis Markowski, who averaged a double-double with team highs of 15.8 points and 10.7 rebounds on the season. Markowski has produced 17 double-doubles this season, including a huge 20-point, 21-rebound effort in a win at Purdue (Feb. 17). Markowski was a second-team All-Big Ten choice in 2023 and 2022, when she was also the 2022 Big Ten Freshman of the Year.
Jaz Shelley added second-team All-Big Ten honors for the second-time in her career. The 5-9 junior from Moe, Australia averaged 12.8 points, 4.2 rebounds and team bests of 5.2 assists and 1.7 steals on the season. Shelley, who was a first-team All-Big Ten choice in 2023, also leads Nebraska with 66 three-pointers on the year.
Natalie Potts made a major impact on Nebraska’s Big Ten hardware haul by being named the 2024 Big Ten Freshman of the Year by the league coaches. The 6-2 forward from O’Fallon, Mo., ranked second among Big Ten freshmen in scoring (10.5 ppg) and free throw percentage (.859) while leading league rookies in rebounding (5.4 rpg) and field goal percentage (.520). The eight-time Big Ten Freshman of the Week started all 29 games for the Big Red and scored in double figures 18 times, including four double-doubles. She was honorable-mention All-Big Ten by league media.
Logan Nissley joined Potts on the Big Ten All-Freshman teams. The 6-0 guard from Bismarck, N.D., moved into the starting lineup over the final four games of the regular season. Over the final six contests, Nissley averaged 9.3 points and 3.2 rebounds while hitting 44.8 percent of her threes. She increased her season averages to 6.4 points, 2.1 rebounds and 1.1 assists while tying for the fifth-most threes (46) by a freshman in Husker history.
(5) Nebraska Cornhuskers (19-10, 11-7 Big Ten)at TIAA Big Ten TournamentThursday, March 7, 2024, 2 p.m. (CT)Target Center – Minneapolis, MinnesotaTelevision: BTN / FOX Sports AppSloane Martin (PBP), Christy Winters Scott (Analyst)Live Radio: Huskers Radio Network (1 p.m.)Matt Coatney (PBP), Jeff Griesch (Analyst)B107.3 FM (Lincoln), 590 AM (Omaha), Huskers.com, Huskers AppLive Stats: Huskers.com
Nebraska Cornhuskers (19-10, 11-7 Big Ten – NCAA NET 29)22 – Natalie Potts – 6-2 – Fr. – F/G – 10.5 ppg, 5.4 rpg40 – Alexis Markowski – 6-3 – Jr. – C/F – 15.8 ppg, 10.7 rpg1 – Jaz Shelley – 5-9 – Gr. – G – 12.8 ppg, 4.2 rpg2 – Logan Nissley – 6-0 – Fr. – G – 6.4 ppg, 2.1 rpg15 – Kendall Moriarty – 6-1 – Jr. – G – 3.5 ppg, 1.3 rpgOff the Bench0 – Darian White – 5-6 – Gr. – G – 7.1 ppg, 3.7 rpg14 – Callin Hake – 5-9 – So. – G – 5.9 ppg, 2.9 rpg12 – Jessica Petrie – 6-2 – Fr. – F – 4.3 ppg, 2.2 rpg21 – Annika Stewart – 6-3 – Sr. – F – 3.5 ppg, 1.5 rpg42 – Maddie Krull – 5-9 – Gr. – G – 2.5 ppg, 1.8 rpg32 – Kendall Coley – 6-2 – Jr. – F – 2.2 ppg, 1.9 rpgHead Coach: Amy Williams (Nebraska, 1998)Eighth Season at Nebraska (133-109); 17th Season Overall (326-218)
Scouting the Purdue Boilermakers
Nebraska swept Purdue during the regular season, most recently claiming a 77-65 win over the Boilermakers in West Lafayette, Ind. (Feb. 17). NU also worked its way to a 68-54 win in Lincoln (Jan. 31).
Purdue is 1-4 in its last five games with three single-digit losses and a 24-point win at Wisconsin (Feb. 25). The Boilermakers also lost starting forward Caitlyn Harper to a season-ending knee injury in a 93-88 loss to Penn State (Feb. 28). The 6-2 graduate averaged 11.6 points and 3.9 rebounds on the year.
Harper was replaced in Purdue’s starting five by her younger sister Alaina in a 64-60 loss at Michigan (March 3). Alaina Harper had two points and four rebounds.
Fifth-year guard Abbey Ellis, who was a Cal Poly transfer prior to 2021-22, leads an experienced Purdue backcourt with 14.2 points and 3.6 rebounds. The 5-6 Australian ranks second among the Boilermakers with 43 three-pointers, while leading the team with 79 made free throws.
Fifth-year point guard Jeanae Terry, who started her career at Illinois, has joined Ellis and senior guard Madison Layden in Purdue’s starting backcourt for all 29 games. The 5-11 Terry averages 5.1 points and team bests of 7.9 rebounds and 6.2 assists while leading the team in steals with 54. Layden, a 6-1 guard, has added 10.1 points and leads Purdue in three-point shooting at 41.2 percent (61-148).
Purdue features two of the Big Ten’s top freshmen in Mary Ashley Stevenson (9.8 ppg, 4.8 rpg) and Rashunda Jones (7.7 ppg, 2.2 rpg). Stevenson, a 6-2 forward, was the media’s Big Ten Freshman of the Year, while teammate Rashunda Jones joined her on the media’s All-Freshman Team.
A third freshman, Sophie Swanson, has contributed 6.5 points with consistent three-point shooting (.382) over 22 games. Swanson, who spent the early part of the season completing her recovery from an ACL injury, is averaging nearly 11 minutes per game.
Nebraska vs. Purdue Series History
The all-time series between Nebraska and Purdue is tied, 10-10, with the Huskers winning four straight, including a 68-54 win in Lincoln (Jan. 31) and a 77-65 win in West Lafayette (Feb. 17) .
Alexis Markowski led Nebraska in the Feb. 17 win with 20 points and 21 rebounds. Jaz Shelley and Logan Nissley each contributed 18 points.
In the first-ever meeting between the two schools in women’s basketball, Nebraska fought its way to an epic 93-89 triple-overtime win at Mackey Arena (Feb. 2, 2012). Later that same season, Purdue defeated the Huskers 74-70 in double-overtime in the Big Ten Championship Game in Indianapolis.
The third game between the schools also went overtime, a 69-66 loss for the Huskers in Lincoln on Jan. 5, 2013. None of the other 17 games in the series have gone overtime.
After winning the series opener in 2011-12, Nebraska suffered five straight losses to Purdue. Since 2014-15, Nebraska owns a 9-5 edge in the series.
Scouting the Northwestern Wildcats
Coach Joe McKeown is in his 16th season leading Northwestern and 38th overall as a head coach. The Wildcats enter the Big Ten Tournament at 9-20 overall and 4-14 in the Big Ten. • Caroline Lau has been the only constant in the starting five this season. The 5-9 sophomore point guard has started all 29 games, averaging 7.7 points, 4.1 rebounds and a team-best 5.4 assists.
Caleigh Walsh, a 6-3 junior forward, has added 12.6 points and a team-leading 5.2 rebounds, while making 27 starts. Paige Mott, a 6-1 senior forward, has contributed 8.0 points and 4.9 rebounds while making 26 starts. Melannie Daley leads the Cats with 13.0 points and 1.5 steals per game.
Daley, Walsh, Mott and Lau combined for just 26 points, 17 rebounds and seven assists in a combined 105 minutes as starters in a 75-50 loss at Nebraska (Feb. 20).
Graduate Maggie Pina rounded out the starting five against the Huskers with a team-high 12 points on 3-of-5 three-point shooting in 31 minutes.
Hailey Weaver (8.4 ppg, 3.1 rpg) added 11 of Northwestern’s 12 bench points against the Huskers.
Casey Harter (5.5 ppg, 3.0 rpg) has started 16 games for Northwestern, while Jasmine McWilliams, has made five starts in the last 11 games.
Australian Alaina Goodchild is one of nine different starters the Cats have had this season. The 6-2 sophomore has averaged 1.8 points and made one start. Crystal Wang (1.5 ppg) and Mercy Ademusayo (1.4 ppg) also figure into Northwestern’s regular playing rotation.
Nebraska vs. Northwestern Series History
Nebraska leads the all-time series with Northwestern, 16-8, including six consecutive wins against the Cats.
The Huskers cruised to a 75-50 win over Northwestern in Lincoln (Feb. 20), as Natalie Potts (18 points, 10 rebounds) and Alexis Markowski (12 points, 10 rebounds) each put up double-doubles, while Logan Nissley added 12 points and six assists. Annika Stewart contributed 13 points and five boards off the bench, as all 11 Huskers played double-figure minutes.
Alexis Markowski owns four double-doubles in four career games against the Cats, averaging 14.8 points, 11.5 rebounds, 1.0 assist and 1.0 block.
Nebraska notched a 65-63 win at Pinnacle Bank Arena (Dec. 31, 2020) to start the six-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.
In the last six games in the series, Northwestern has produced a 125-61 (+64) turnover margin, while Nebraska has produced a dominant 287-192 (+95) 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 8-3 all-time against Northwestern in Lincoln dating back to a 65-64 win at the Devaney Center on Nov. 29, 1980.
Markowski Makes Mark with 20-20 Game at Purdue
Alexis Markowski earned her seventh spot on the Big Ten Weekly Honor Roll this season with her monster 20-point, 21-rebound performance in a win at Purdue (Feb. 17).
The 21 rebounds were not only a career high, but matched the fourth-highest total by a Husker in history. They were the most rebounds in a game by a Nebraska player since Kelly Hubert pulled down 23 boards against Wisconsin on Dec. 7, 1990. It was just the 11th 20-rebound performance in Husker women’s basketball history.
Markowski’s effort at Purdue was just the fifth 20-point, 20-rebound game by a women’s basketball player in Husker history.
Markowski Climbing Husker Double-Double List
Nebraska’s Alexis Markowski is producing double-doubles at one of the top rates in the nation through 29 games in 2023-24. The 6-3 junior center from Lincoln, Neb., is tied for 11th nationally and ranks third in the Big Ten with 17 double-doubles on the year, including 11 in 18 Big Ten games.
Markowski, who earned her second appearance on the Lisa Leslie Award Watch List, ranks second in the Big Ten in rebounding at 10.7 boards per game, including 11.5 in conference play. She also ranks seventh in the league in scoring at 15.8 points per game.
She produced the biggest double-double of her career with 20 points and 21 rebounds in a 77-65 road win at Purdue (Feb. 17). It was just the fifth 20-point, 20-rebound performance in Husker history. She added 12 points and 10 boards in a win over Northwestern (Feb. 20), before contributing 10 points and 12 boards in a win over Minnesota (Feb. 24).
Markowski owns 38 career double-doubles, trailing only first-team All-Americans Kelsey Griffin (2010) and Jordan Hooper (2014) who share the Nebraska school record with 40 career double-doubles.
Markowski has scored in double figures 28 times in 29 games this season, including six 20-point performances. She was held to nine points and 16 rebounds at No. 2 Ohio State (Feb. 14).
The 2022 Big Ten Freshman of the Year, Markowski earned her second straight appearance on the Lisa Leslie Award Watch List this year. Last season, as the only sophomore on the list, she advanced to the Midseason Top 10 for the award.
Markowski ranks sixth on the Nebraska career rebound list with 889.
Markowski Named First-Team All-Big TenAlexis Markowski led an impressive hardware haul by the Huskers when All-Big Ten teams were announced on Tuesday, March 5. The 6-3 center from Lincoln, Neb., captured first-team all-conference honors for the first time after claiming second-team accolades in 2023 and 2022, when she was also the Big Ten Freshman of the Year.
Markowski, who ranked second in the Big Ten in rebounding (10.7 rpg) and seventh in scoring (15.8 ppg), produced 17 double-doubles during the season, including 11 in Big Ten play. She was named to the Big Ten Weekly Honor Roll seven times in 2023-24.
Jaz Shelley, a 2023 first-team All-Big Ten selection, claimed second-team All-Big Ten honors for the second time in three seasons at Nebraska. The 5-9 guard from Moe, Australia (pronounced MO-ee) was a second-team All-Big Ten choice in 2022, when she was also a member of the media’s Big Ten All-Defensive Team.
Shelley ranks second among the Huskers in scoring (12.8 ppg), while leading the team in assists (5.2 apg), steals (1.7 spg) and made three-pointers (66). She has added 4.2 rebounds per game.
Shelley and Markowski were both preseason first-team All-Big Ten heading into the 2023-24 season, and Markowski was also preseason first-team All-Big Ten in 2022-23.
Potts Earns Big Ten Freshman-of-the-Year Award
Natalie Potts capped an outstanding first season at Nebraska by being named the Big Ten Freshman of the Year by the conference coaches on Tuesday, March 5.
The 6-2 forward from O’Fallon, Mo., claimed her eighth Big Ten Freshman-of-the-Week award (March 4), before earning NU’s third Big Ten Freshman-of-the-Year honor in the last eight years.
The Big Ten’s most consistent freshman from start to finish since earning the league’s first freshman-of-the-week honor (Nov. 13), Potts claimed at least one weekly award in all five months of the campaign. Her eight weekly honors matched teammate Alexis Markowski’s award total from her 2022 Big Ten Freshman-of-the-Year campaign.
A two-time Missouri MaxPreps High School Player of the Year, Potts averaged 14.7 points, 7.3 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.3 steals over the last two weeks of the regular season.
For the season, she led all Big Ten freshmen in rebounding (5.4 rpg) and field goal percentage (.520), while ranking second in scoring (10.5 ppg) and free throw percentage (.859).
A unanimous choice by the coaches to the Big Ten All-Freshman Team, Potts produced four double-doubles, including game highs of 18 points and 10 rebounds in a win over Northwestern (Feb. 20), on her way to her seventh Big Ten weekly freshman honor.
Potts, who has started all 29 games for the Big Red, was named the No. 14 impact freshman in the nation by ESPN on Dec. 22.
Potts owns 18 double-figure scoring games on the season.
She earned her sixth Big Ten Freshman-of-the-Week award with 14 points and six rebounds in Nebraska’s 82-79 upset of No. 2 Iowa (Feb. 11). She produced eight points and five rebounds in helping the Huskers outscore the Hawkeyes 27-10 in the decisive fourth quarter. It followed a 12-point performance in a huge road win at Michigan (Feb. 6).
Potts had 11 points, six rebounds and a career-high four steals in a win over Purdue (Jan. 31).
Potts produced her third career double-double with game highs of 13 points and 10 rebounds in a win over Michigan (Jan. 17).
She posted her second double-double with 17 points and a career-high 13 rebounds in NU’s win over Maryland (Dec. 31), including 13 points and 12 boards in the second half.
Potts scored all 16 of her points in the second half in a win at Wisconsin (Jan. 4). She opened league play with 10 points, five boards and two blocks in a win at Michigan State (Dec. 9).
Potts had 11 points, eight rebounds and two blocks in 21 minutes in a win over UNCW (Dec. 5).
Potts won her second Big Ten Freshman award (Nov. 22) after averaging 14.0 points in two games at the St. Pete Showcase. She opened the week with a career-high 22 points on 9-of-10 shooting from the field, including a three-pointer, in a 75-61 win over Lamar.
She opened another strong week by notching her first double-double with 12 points and 12 rebounds in a win over Florida Atlantic (Nov. 29). She followed with 13 points, four rebounds, two assists and a steal in a win over Georgia Tech (Dec. 2).
Potts averaged 12.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, 2.0 steals and 1.0 block to earn her first Big Ten Freshman-of-the-Week award (Nov. 13).
She backed up her opening week with 11.5 points, 7.5 rebounds and 2.0 blocks in her second week, including 16 points on 6-of-9 shooting against No. 22 Creighton (Nov. 19). She had seven points, 11 rebounds and a career-high three blocks in a win over Alcorn State (Nov. 14).
Nissley Joins Potts On Big Ten All-Freshman Team
Nebraska freshman Logan Nissley made a late-season push to earn Big Ten All-Freshman honors from both the coaches and media (March 5). The 6-0 guard from Bismarck, N.D., played a major role in NU’s success in February, averaging 9.4 points, 2.4 rebounds and 2.1 assists over seven games, helping NU to a 5-2 record in the month.
Nissley joined the starting lineup the final four games of the regular season, averaging 8.8 points, 2.5 rebounds and 2.8 assists as a starter, while helping Nebraska to a 3-1 record.
In her first career start, Nissley tied a career high with 18 points to help the Huskers to a road win at Purdue (Feb. 17). She helped NU rally from a 10-point first-quarter deficit by scoring 11 first-half points and the first six points of the second half.
She added 12 points in her second start by tying her career high with four three-pointers while dishing out a career-high six assists in a win over Northwestern (Feb. 20).
Nissley’s efforts in her first two starts followed a breakout performance with 15 points and a career-high seven rebounds in 24 minutes in Nebraska’s 82-79 win over No. 2 Iowa (Feb. 11).
She owns nine double-figure scoring efforts on the season, including three in the past six games. For the season, Nissley is averaging 6.4 points, 2.1 rebounds and 1.1 assists while playing in all 29 games.
Nissley, who has hit 46-of-116 three-pointers, has tied two-time WNBA All-Star Anna DeForge at No. 5 in Nebraska history in made threes by a freshman. Nissley’s .397 three-point percentage also ranks fourth among freshmen in Husker history.
Nebraska’s 20-Win Seasons
• Nebraska shoots for its third 20-win season under Coach Amy Williams and its second in the past three years when the Huskers travel to the Big Ten Tournament Thursday.
• The Huskers own 18 20-win seasons in school history, including a top victory total of 32 in 2009-10. Nebraska owns seven 20-win campaigns from 2009-10 to 2022-23.
• The Nebraska men’s basketball program already owns a 20-win season in 2023-24, and a win for the women would give the two teams 20-win seasons in the same year for the first time since 2017-18, when the men finished 22-11, and the women went 21-11.
Husker Numbers to Watch
• Alexis Markowski is three rebounds from 900 in her career. Only five players in Husker history have recorded 900 career rebounds: Janet Smith (1,280, 1979-82), Emily Cady (1,114, 2012-15), Jordan Hooper (1,110, 2011-14), Kelsey Griffin (1,019, 2006-10) and Karen Jennings (1,000, 1990-93).
• Markowski (310) needs four rebounds to match Carol Garey at No. 7 on the NU season rebounding list, and seven rebounds to catch Karen Jennings at No. 6 (317). Markowski is 12 rebounds from matching her season total (322) from a year ago, which is the fifth-best mark in the NU record book. She is one of five Huskers in history to record two 300-rebound seasons.
• Markowski’s next double-double will be the 39th of her career, which would move her within one of Nebraska’s school record of 40 shared by first-team All-Americans Kelsey Griffin (2006-10) and Jordan Hooper (2011-14).
• Freshman Logan Nissley is 13 points away from 200 on the year.
• Jaz Shelley is expected to play in her 150th career collegiate game on Thursday.
• Kendall Coley is expected to play in her 100th career collegiate game on Thursday.
Nebraska Notables
• Jaz Shelley (610) and Darian White (526) both own 500 assists in their college careers. Only five previous Huskers in history had totaled 500 collegiate assists (Lindsey Moore, Meggan Yedsena, Rachel Theriot, Jina Johansen, Nicole Kubik).
• Darian White has scored in double figures 105 times in her college career (97, Montana State; 8, Nebraska). She scored a season-high 16 points against TCU (Nov. 25).
• Nebraska features one of the Big Ten’s best freshman classes with Natalie Potts (304/156), Logan Nissley (187/61) and Jessica Petrie (125/64) combining for 616 points and 281 rebounds. All three freshmen have played in all 29 games for the Big Red and all three are averaging double-figure minutes.
Husker Nuggets• Natalie Potts earned eighth Big Ten Freshman-of-the-Week awards in 2023-24. No other league freshman won more than three awards. Potts won conference honors Nov. 13, Nov. 27, Dec. 11, Jan. 8, Jan. 15, Feb. 12, Feb. 26 and March 3.
• Alexis Markowski was named to the Big Ten Weekly Honor Roll seven times in 2023-24. She also earned a spot on the St. Pete Showcase All-Tournament Team (Nov. 25). She ranks second in the Big Ten in rebounding (10.7 rpg) and seventh in scoring (15.8 ppg).
• The Huskers have hit at least one three in 493 straight games dating back to a loss at UTEP on Dec. 20, 2008. Nebraska has hit at least two threes in 372 consecutive games.
• Nebraska has hit 10 or more threes 37 times in the last 101 games, including 10 times in 2023-24. The Huskers hit a season-high 16 threes against UNCW (Dec. 5), and sank 12 triples vs. Southern (Dec. 17). NU hit 11 threes vs. Minnesota (Feb. 24), along with 10 threes vs. Northwestern State (Nov. 6), Florida Atlantic (Nov. 29), Georgia Tech (Dec. 2), Michigan State (Dec. 9), Maryland (Dec. 31) and both games vs. Iowa (Jan. 27/Feb. 11).
