Huskers Travel to Hokies for ACC/Big Ten Challenge

The Nebraska women's basketball team will square off with Virginia Tech in the 2016 ACC/Big Ten Challenge in Blacksburg, Va., on Thursday, Dec. 1.

The Huskers learned their matchup in the 10th annual conference challenge series when the Big Ten announced the pairings on Wednesday, May 25.

First-year Nebraska Coach Amy Williams will lead the Huskers in their first-ever meeting against Virginia Tech against first-year Hokie Coach Kenny Brooks. Nebraska, which finished 18-13 overall and 9-9 in the Big Ten in 2015-16, will take on the Hokies at Cassell Coliseum in Blacksburg. Virginia Tech went 18-14 overall and 5-11 in the ACC a year ago. The Hokies were 14-5 at Cassell Coliseum.

Williams led her South Dakota team to 32 victories and the Postseason WNIT title after being named the 2016 Summit League Coach of the Year. USD won the 2016 Summit regular-season title.

Brooks led his James Madison squad to its third straight NCAA Tournament berth in 2016. JMU finished 27-6, including 17-1 in the Colonial. Brooks was a four-time Colonial Coach of the Year at James Madison.

The ACC/Big Ten Challenge began in 2007-08 and is scheduled to continue at least through 2020-21. In 2016-17, the challenge will include all 14 Big Ten teams facing off against 14 ACC counterparts on Nov. 30 and Dec. 1. The last two seasons, the challenge has closed with both conferences recording seven wins in the 14-game event.

Nebraska owns a 2-3 record in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge. The Huskers rolled to an 88-67 win over NC State at Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln on Dec. 3, 2015. The Huskers also defeated Duke, 60-54, at Pinnacle Bank Arena on Dec. 3, 2014.

The Huskers are 0-2 in road ACC/Big Ten Challenge games, losing at Georgia Tech, 73-57, on Nov. 30, 2011, and at North Carolina, 75-62, on Dec. 4, 2013. The Big Red also suffered a 90-71 loss to Maryland in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge at the Bob Devaney Sports Center in Lincoln on Nov. 28, 2012.

Nebraska's game at Virginia Tech will mark the Huskers' first trip to the state of Virginia since facing Duke at Norfolk, Va., in the 2013 NCAA Sweet Sixteen.

Nebraska will be led on the court by first-team All-Big Ten forward Jessica Shepard, who was named the Big Ten Freshman of the Year after leading the Huskers with 18.5 points and 8.6 rebounds per game in 2015-16.

The 6-4 sophomore Shepard will be joined inside by 6-5 senior center Allie Havers, who returns after averaging 8.3 points and 6.6 rebounds per game in her first season as a starter in 2015-16.

The Huskers advanced to the first round of the WNIT in 2016, making their 12th postseason tournament appearance in the past 13 years.

Virginia Tech, which finished No. 124 in the final official NCAA RPI, will be led by 6-2 forward Sidney Cook, who averaged team bests with 10.7 points and 5.8 rebounds as a part-time starter in 2015-16. Fellow senior Vanessa Panousis, a 5-7 guard from Sydney, Australia, ranked third among the Hokies in scoring last year with 8.6 points per game. Panousis hit 63 three-pointers and knocked down 90 percent of her free throws.

Virginia Tech also returns sophomore Chanette Hicks. The 5-6 point guard averaged 8.5 points, 4.1 rebounds and team bests of 4.2 assists and 2.8 steals as a freshman for the Hokies.

2016 ACC/Big Ten Challenge
Wednesday, Nov. 30
Michigan State at Syracuse
Notre Dame at Iowa
Florida State at Minnesota
Purdue at Pittsburgh
Wake Forest at Illinois

Thursday, Dec. 1
Indiana at NC State
Nebraska at Virginia Tech
Duke at Rutgers
Penn State at Boston College
Maryland at Louisville
North Carolina at Wisconsin
Michigan at Georgia Tech
Virginia at Northwestern
Miami at Ohio State