Huskers to Battle Bluejays in Annual Clash

Nebraska Cornhuskers vs. Creighton Bluejays
Sunday, Dec. 18, 2 p.m. (CT)
D.J. Sokol Arena (Omaha, Neb.)
Television: NET
Larry Punteney (PBP), Rob Anderson (Analyst)
Live Radio: Husker Sports Network
Matt Coatney (PBP), Jeff Griesch (Analyst)
Lincoln - B107.3 FM, Omaha - CD105.9 FM
Free Live Audio: Huskers.com/Huskers App

Huskers to Battle Bluejays in Annual Clash
The Nebraska women’s basketball team renews its annual series with Creighton when the Huskers battle the Bluejays on Sunday in Omaha. Tip-off between the Big Red (4-6) and the Jays (4-4) at D.J. Sokol Arena is set for 2 p.m.

The game will be televised live statewide by NET with Larry Punteney and Rob Anderson on the call.

A live radio broadcast will be available from the Husker Sports Network with Matt Coatney and Jeff Griesch calling the action on B107.3 FM in Lincoln and CD 105.9 FM in Omaha. Free audio also can be found on Huskers.com and the Huskers App.

Nebraska heads to Creighton after powering its way to an 83-61 win over San Jose State on Friday, Dec. 9, at Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln. Sophomore Jessica Shepard led the Huskers with a season-high 28 points and 14 rebounds against the Spartans. It was the fifth double-double of the season for the 6-4 forward from Fremont, Neb. She owns 15 career double-doubles for the Huskers.

Shepard leads Nebraska and ranks among Big Ten leaders with 19.1 points and 11.1 rebounds per game. She also leads the Big Red with 12 three-pointers this season.

Freshman Nicea Eliely has added 8.9 points, 4.0 rebounds, 2.7 assists and a team-leading 1.6 steals per game for the Huskers. The 6-1 guard from Colorado Springs, Colo., also leads the Huskers in field goal percentage (.500) and three-point field goal percentage (.444) while starting all 10 games.

The Huskers will be looking for their first road win of the season against the Jays, who will try to bounce back after a 50-49 loss at Northern Iowa on Dec. 10. Creighton shot a dismal 27.7 percent (15-55) at UNI. The Jays outrebounded the Panthers 47-32, but were minus-seven (14-7) in the turnover department against their long-time Missouri Valley Conference rivals. Preseason All-BIG EAST selections Audrey Faber (1-9), Marissa Janning (2-10) and MC McGrory (0-7) combined to go just 3-for-26 from the floor at Northern Iowa.

The Jays will be looking to heal their shooting touches at home against the Huskers. Creighton is 3-0 at Sokol Arena this season. CU is shooting 45.8 percent (81-177) at home this season, including a sizzling 43 percent (37-86) from three-point range, while struggling to hit just 34.5 percent (96-278) of its shots, including 27.2 percent (25-92) of its threes away from home.

Nebraska Cornhuskers (4-6, 0-0 Big Ten)
32 - Jessica Shepard - 6-4 - So. - F - 19.1 ppg, 11.1 rpg
22 - Allie Havers - 6-5 - Sr. - C - 6.3 ppg, 5.5 rpg
5 - Nicea Eliely - 6-1 - Fr. - G - 8.9 ppg, 4.0 rpg
11 - Esther Ramacieri - 5-8 - Sr. - G - 3.5 ppg, 2.5 rpg
34 - Jasmine Cincore - 5-10 - Jr. - G - 6.4 ppg, 2.6 rpg
Off the Bench
3 - Hannah Whitish - 5-9 - Fr. - G - 5.3 ppg, 1.3 rpg
24 - Maddie Simon - 6-2 - So. - G - 5.0 ppg, 2.7 rpg
12 - Emily Wood - 5-5 - Jr. - G - 2.8 ppg, 1.2 rpg
2 - Rylie Cascio Jensen - 5-10 - Fr. - G - 2.4 ppg, 0.8 rpg
50 - Darrien Washington - 6-2 - So. - F - 2.0 ppg, 3.9 rpg
14 - Grace Mitchell - 6-2 - Fr. - F/G - 1.8 ppg, 1.7 rpg
Head Coach: Amy Williams (Nebraska, 1998)
First Season at Nebraska (4-6); 10th Season Overall (197-115)

Creighton Bluejays (4-4, 0-0 BIG EAST)
45 - Audrey Faber - 6-2 - So. - F - 12.8 ppg, 3.9 rpg 
50 - Brianna Rollerson - 6-0 - RSr. - F - 10.3 ppg, 7.9 rpg 
3 - MC McGrory - 5-8 - Sr. - G - 7.9 ppg, 4.1 rpg
14 - Sydney Lamberty - 5-10 - Jr. - G - 5.6 ppg, 4.8 rpg
23 - Marissa Janning - 5-8 - RSr. - G - 8.4 ppg, 3.9 rpg
Off the Bench
12 - Lauren Works - 5-7 - Sr. - G - 5.6 ppg, 2.0 rpg
2 - Myah Mellman - 5-7 - Jr. - G - 5.4 ppg, 1.2 rpg
5 - Jaylyn Agnew - 5-11 - RFr. - G - 4.0 ppg, 2.9 rpg
40 - Ali Greene - 6-1 - So. - F - 3.3 ppg, 2.6 rpg
11 - Bailey Norby - 6-2 - Jr. - F - 2.4 ppg, 1.6 rpg
4 - Aimee Rischard - 5-5 - Jr. - G - 1.0 ppg, 0.5 rpg
33 - Kylie Brown - 6-3 - Jr. - F - 0.3 ppg, 0.3 rpg
Head Coach: Jim Flanery (Creighton, 1987)
15th Season at Creighton (273-187); 15th Season Overall (273-187)

Scouting Creighton
One of the preseason picks to win the BIG EAST Conference alongside of DePaul, Creighton carries a 4-4 record into Sunday’s game with Nebraska at D.J. Sokol Arena.

Coach Jim Flanery and the Bluejays are led by Preseason All-BIG EAST selections Audrey Faber, Marissa Janning and MC McGrory. Faber, a 6-2 sophomore forward from Clive, Iowa, is averaging 12.8 points and 3.9 rebounds through Creighton’s first eight games. Faber, who averaged 13.2 points and 4.9 rebounds as a true freshman a year ago, had a game-high 22 points to go along with five rebounds, six assists and two steals in Creighton’s 65-63 loss to the Huskers at Pinnacle Bank Arena last season. Faber hit 9-of-13 shots from the field, including 4-of-5 threes against the Big Red. Faber was a member of the 2016 BIG EAST All-Freshman Team and an honorable-mention All-BIG EAST selection.

Creighton also welcomes the return of Janning after missing nearly all of last season. The fifth-year senior from Watertown, Minn., was the 2014 BIG EAST Player of the Year. The honorable-mention WBCA All-American missed all but the first six games of the 2015-16 campaign with a broken left fibula. The two-time first-team All-BIG EAST choice was also the 2013 Missouri Valley Conference Freshman of the Year and a first-team All-Valley selection. Janning is averaging 8.4 points and 3.9 rebounds so far this season.

McGrory, a 5-8 senior guard from Edina, Minn., earned a spot on the 2016 BIG EAST All-Tournament Team before being named to the preseason all-conference squad this year. McGrory had 13 points on 5-of-9 shooting with one three-pointer in the loss to the Huskers. This season, she is averaging 7.9 points and 4.1 rebounds per game after being shut out in 29 minutes in a loss at Northern Iowa on Dec. 10.

In addition to three all-conference-caliber returning players for the Jays, fifth-year senior Brianna Rollerson returns inside. The 6-0 forward out of Omaha Central High School is averaging 10.3 points and a team-best 7.9 rebounds this season. Last season, Rollerson was limited by a Jones fracture in her right foot and played in just 19 games with no starts. The previous season, Rollerson averaged 8.2 points and 7.0 rebounds with 23 starts. She did not play in last season’s game with the Huskers, but did play 18 minutes off the bench in then-No. 12 Nebraska’s 60-57 win over the Jays at Sokol Arena on Dec. 11, 2014. She managed two points against NU two seasons ago.

Sydney Lamberty, a 5-7 junior guard from Cottage Grove, Minn., rounds out CU’s starting five. Lamberty was a member of the 2015 BIG EAST All-Freshman Team and was a Preseason All-BIG EAST choice in 2015-16. She averaged 8.7 points and 4.5 rebounds while starting 34 of CU’s 35 games last season. She managed just two points on 1-of-6 shooting as a starter in last season’s loss to the Huskers. So far this season, Lamberty is averaging 5.6 points and 4.8 boards per game.

The Jays also have a deep and experienced bench that includes Lincoln Southwest High School grad Lauren Works. The 5-7 senior guard is averaging 5.6 points and 2.0 rebounds. She scored three points in 22 minutes off the bench in last year’s loss in Lincoln. Works started Creighton’s first two games of 2016-17 against South Dakota State and Wichita State, before producing her best two games of the season with 10 points off the bench against Drake and nine points against Missouri. The Jays defeated Drake, 80-77, before falling to the Tigers, 72-63. Both common opponents with the Huskers this season.

Juniors Myah Mellman and Bailey Norby give Creighton even more significant experience. Norby, a 6-2 forward started 34 of CU’s 35 games a year ago, averaging 4.0 points and 2.8 rebounds. She had eight points on 4-of-6 shooting as a starter in last year’s loss to the Huskers.

Mellman, a 5-7 guard, played in 30 games last year and hit nearly 40 percent of her threes. So far this season, Mellman has made five appearances, including a career game by hitting 6-of-7 threes for a career-high 18 points in the win over Drake.

Kylie Brown, a 6-3 junior forward, has appeared in 65 games for the Jays in her career, while 6-1 sophomore forward Ali Greene gives the Jays even more depth inside.

Redshirt freshman Jaylyn Agnew, a 5-11 guard from Andover, Kan., also has contributed significant minutes while averaging 4.0 points and 2.9 rebounds per game. Agnew had 16 points and nine rebounds off the bench to lead the Jays in the loss at Northern Iowa on Dec. 10.

While the Jays lost only one senior off last year’s roster - Tessa Laytem - they are playing without 2015-16 starter Jade Owens this season. Owens, who underwent season-ending hip surgery on Nov. 30, replaced Janning at point guard as a starter last year and averaged 7.1 points, 4.9 rebounds and 3.5 assists. Owens had seven points and five assists as a starter in last season’s loss to the Huskers.

As a team, Creighton is averaging 63.6 points per game while shooting 38.9 percent from the field. The Jays have hit 34.8 percent (62-178) of their three-pointers and 76.2 percent (93-122) of their free throws. They own a plus-4.2 team rebound margin but a minus-1.0 team turnover margin.

The Bluejays have been at their best at home, averaging 77 points per game in wins over Drake, Kansas and Omaha. They have only allowed 57 points per game at Sokol Arena, winning their three home games by an average of 20 points per contest.

It has been a drastically different story on the road, where Creighton has averaged just 55.6 points per game, while allowing 60 points per game.

Nebraska vs. Creighton Series History
Nebraska renews its longest non-conference series in school history on Sunday when the Huskers travel to D.J. Sokol Arena in Omaha to face Creighton.

The Huskers lead the all-time series with the Bluejays 30-11, including three consecutive wins and 10 victories in the last 11 meetings.

Last season, the Big Red produced one of the greatest comebacks in school history by rallying from a 41-20 second-quarter deficit on the way to a 65-63 win. The Jays hit their first six three-pointers of the game to jump to an 18-8 lead, before finishing the first period with eight three-pointers and a 33-16 edge.

The Bluejay lead grew to 41-20 midway through the second quarter before Rachel Theriot and Jessica Shepard helped the Huskers rally. Theriot’s 25-footer at the halftime buzzer cut the margin to 43-32 at the half, although CU pushed the lead back to 16 early in the third quarter.

Nebraska refused to surrender though, outscoring the Jays 14-11 in the third quarter before putting CU away with a 19-9 fourth-quarter push. Theriot’s three-pointer from the left wing with 1:35 left gave the Huskers the lead for good at 64-62. She finished with 17 points and eight assists. Shepard led the Huskers with 19 points and seven rebounds, while fellow freshman Rachel Blackburn added six points and a game-high 10 boards.

Other than Shepard, the only player on Nebraska’s current active roster that scored a point in the game was Allie Havers, who scored eight points in 13 minutes on a perfect shooting day (3-3 FG, 2-2 FT) while adding four rebounds, an assist and a steal.

Williams vs. Creighton
Nebraska Coach Amy Williams is 2-2 head-to-head with Coach Jim Flanery, including back-to-back wins to end Creighton’s season in the 2015 and 2016 Postseason WNIT.

Last season, Williams led her WNIT champion South Dakota team to a 74-68 win over Creighton in Vermillion. The Bluejays finished with a 17-18 overall record in the first round of the WNIT, after managing an 8-10 BIG EAST mark to finish seventh in the conference.

Williams and the Coyotes also ended Creighton’s season in the first round of the 2015 WNIT, defeating the Jays 68-58 in Vermillion on March 19.

In 2013-14, Creighton defeated a Williams-led South Dakota team, 63-48 in Omaha on Nov. 26, 2013. The Jays also beat a Williams-led group of Coyotes 53-49 in Vermillion on Nov. 20, 2012. It was Williams’ third game as a Division I head coach.

In Williams’ four seasons as a letterwinner at Nebraska (1995-98, Amy Gusso), the Huskers went 3-1 against the Bluejays. As an NCAA Division I assistant coach (2001-07) at UTSA, Oklahoma State and Tulsa, none of Williams’ teams ever faced Creighton.

Husker Nuggets
• Nebraska leads the all-time series with Creighton 30-11, including a 65-63 win over the Bluejays at Pinnacle Bank Arena on Dec. 6, 2015. That Nebraska victory marked one of the largest comebacks in school history, as the Huskers rallied from a 21-point deficit (41-20, 2nd quarter) for the win. NU trailed by as many as 16 in the second half.
• The Huskers have won three straight games in the series with the Bluejays and 10 of the last 11 games overall in the series. Each of the last two Nebraska wins has been by one possession (60-57, Dec. 11, 2014, Omaha).
• Jessica Shepard leads the Huskers with averages of 19.1 points and 11.1 rebounds per game. She produced her 15th career double-double with a season-high 28 points to go along with 14 rebounds in a win over San Jose State on Dec. 9. Shepard ranks 10th in school history with 15 double-doubles.
• Shepard owns five double-doubles this season, including 23 points and a season-high 16 rebounds against Drake (Dec. 6), 25 points and 14 rebounds at Virginia Tech (Dec. 1), 24 points and 13 rebounds in a win over Colorado State (Nov. 17), and 17 points and 15 rebounds in a win over UTRGV (Nov. 12).
• Shepard owns five 20-point scoring efforts through 10 games, including a season-high 28 points against San Jose State (Dec. 9). She owns 21 career 20-plus scoring games.
• Shepard leads Nebraska in three-point field goals made (12), including a game-clinching three with one minute left in the win over Colorado State on Nov. 14, and a 60-foot heave at the first-half buzzer in the win over UTRGV on Nov. 12.
• Nebraska freshman Nicea Eliely ranks second on the team in scoring (8.9 ppg), third in rebounding (4.0 rpg), second in assists (2.7 apg) and first in steals (1.6 spg), field goal percentage (.500) and three-point field goal percentage (.444) through the first 10 games of her collegiate career.

Shepard Leads Big Red on B1G Stage
• Sophomore Jessica Shepard owns 15 career double-doubles, including five this season. Her most recent double-double came with 28 points and 14 rebounds in a win over San Jose State on Dec. 9. She had 23 points and a season-high 16 rebounds against Drake on Dec. 6. It followed a 25-point, 14-rebound performance in a loss at unbeaten Virginia Tech on Dec. 1. She also had 24 points and 13 rebounds in Nebraska’s 62-59 win over Colorado State on Nov. 17. She opened the season with 17 points and 15 rebounds in a win over UTRGV on Nov. 12.
• Through 10 games, Shepard is averaging team bests of 19.1 points and 11.1 rebounds per game. She has also hit a team-best 12 three-pointers, including a game-clinching three with one minute left against Colorado State and a 60-footer at the first-half buzzer in the win over UTRGV. The 6-4 sophomore forward had not hit a collegiate three-pointer prior to this season.
• Shepard earned Preseason All-Big Ten honors when the conference announced its preseason awards on Oct. 24. Shepard was one of two sophomores on the coaches preseason all-conference team, joining Penn State guard Teniya Page. Shepard was the lone sophomore honored by the media on its 10-player preseason team.
• Shepard became the first freshman in Nebraska history to earn first-team all-conference honors. She produced school freshman-record averages of 18.5 points and 8.6 rebounds per game in 2015-16.
• Shepard became the first Husker in history to earn conference freshman-of-the-year accolades. The 6-4 forward from Fremont, Neb., joined Emily Cady (2012) and Rachel Theriot (2013) as Huskers who earned spots on the Big Ten All-Freshman Team in Nebraska’s first five seasons in the conference.
• Shepard set a conference record by winning 10 Big Ten Freshman-of-the-Week awards.

Big Red To Battle one of Nation’s Best Schedules
• Nebraska will likely face the toughest overall schedule in school history in 2016-17. The Huskers will play 10 games against NCAA Tournament teams and 11 more regular-season games against Postseason WNIT teams in 2016-17.
• Nebraska’s appearance in the 2016 Preseason WNIT to open the year featured three games against postseason foes, including NCAA Tournament teams Missouri and Colorado State.
• Virginia, Virginia Tech, Drake and Creighton all competed in the 2016 WNIT and the Huskers will play three of those games on the road. Nebraska closes non-conference play at home against UConn, which has won four consecutive NCAA titles.
• A total of 13 of Nebraska’s 16 Big Ten Conference games will come against postseason foes, including seven games against NCAA qualifiers and six more against WNIT teams from a year ago.
• Nebraska’s 16-game regular-season home schedule will feature 13 games against postseason teams, including all eight Big Ten Conference home games.

Nebraska Streaks
• Nebraska senior Allie Havers has competed in 106 consecutive games since the first game of her freshman season in 2013-14. The Huskers own a 69-37 record in those contests over the last four years.
• Junior Jasmine Cincore owns the longest streak of consecutive starts among the Huskers with 15. Havers has made 13 straight starts, while Esther Ramacieri has started 11 consecutive games dating back to the end of last season.
• The Huskers have knocked down at least one three-pointer in 261 straight regular-season games dating back to a loss at UTEP on Dec. 20, 2008.
• Nebraska has hit at least two three-pointers in 140 consecutive games.
• Nebraska has had at least two players earn first- or second-team All-Big Ten honors in each of its first five seasons in the Big Ten.
• Nebraska finished with a 9-9 Big Ten record to mark the fifth consecutive season the Huskers have posted a .500 or better Big Ten record. Nebraska is the only Big Ten team with a .500 or better record in each of the last five seasons. In fact, no other Big Ten team has had four straight .500 marks. The only other team with three straight .500 or better Big Ten seasons is Minnesota, which went 11-7 in both 2015 and 2016 after going 8-8 in 2014.

Pump Up the Program
• Nebraska earned its fifth straight postseason tournament bid with a trip to the 2016 WNIT. The Huskers were one of only 21 Division I teams to earn four consecutive NCAA Tournament bids from 2012 through 2015.
• The Huskers have produced seven 20-win seasons in the last 10 years. Nebraska owns 16 20-win seasons in program history.
• Nebraska is the only team in the Big Ten to post a .500 or better conference mark in each of the last five years. Minnesota is the only other Big Ten team to do it each of the last three seasons.
• The Huskers, who joined the Big Ten in 2011-12, have averaged 10.6 conference wins per season since joining the conference. The Big Red have added eight Big Ten Tournament wins for 61 total victories over Big Ten foes during the past five years (12.2 wins per season).
• Nebraska has ranked among the top 12 schools nationally in average home attendance in each of the Huskers’ first three seasons at Pinnacle Bank Arena. The Big Red have ranked among the top 10 nationally in total home attendance in each of the first three seasons at the arena, including 102,682 fans in 2015-16.
• Nebraska set a season ticket sales record with 4,032 season tickets sold as of Jan. 31, 2016. It marked the first time in school history the Huskers sold 4,000 season tickets. Nebraska’s season ticket number for 2016-17 was 3,947 as of Nov. 1, 2016.
• Nebraska featured six first-team academic All-Big Ten selections in 2015-16, including returning Huskers Jasmine Cincore, Allie Havers and Emily Wood.

Shepard Shoots For More As Sophomore
• Jessica Shepard has her sophomore season off to a strong start averaging 19.1 points and 11.1 rebounds per game. She has produced five double-doubles, including 28 points and 14 rebounds against San Jose State (Dec. 9), 23 points and a season-high 16 rebounds against Drake (Dec. 6), 25 points and 14 rebounds at Virginia Tech (Dec. 1), 24 points and 13 rebounds in a win over Colorado State (Nov. 17), and 17 points and 15 boards in a win over UTRGV (Nov. 12).
• Shepard owns 15 career double-doubles to rank 10th on Nebraska’s career chart in that category.
• Shepard has five 20-point efforts this season, including a season-high 28 points in the win over San Jose State (Dec. 9). She had 25 points at Virginia Tech (Dec. 1) and against Washington State (Nov. 25). She scored 24 points against Colorado State (Nov. 17), before going for 23 points, including 22 in the second half, against Drake (Dec. 6). Shepard owns 21 career 20-point games in her first 41 games as a Husker.
• Shepard leads the Huskers with 12 three-pointers on the season, including a game-clinching three in the win over Colorado State and a buzzer-beating 60-footer to close the first half in the win over UTRGV. Shepard did not hit a three-pointer as a freshman.
• Nebraska’s first Big Ten Freshman of the Year, Shepard became the first Husker in history to earn first-team all-conference honors as a freshman in 2015-16. During the season, she set a conference record by winning 10 Big Ten Freshman-of-the-Week awards. She was also a two-time Big Ten Player of the Week (Dec. 21, Jan. 25).
• One of only two freshmen on the Naismith Trophy Midseason Top 30 in 2015-16 (joining Cal’s Kristine Anigwe), Shepard was the USBWA National Freshman of the Week (Dec. 22, 2015; Jan. 26, 2016). Shepard was the espnW and College Sports Madness National Player of the Week (Jan. 25).
• Shepard finished 10th overall in the Big Ten in scoring (18.5 ppg) and fifth in rebounding (8.6 rpg), including fourth on the offensive glass (3.1 rpg) and 10th on the defensive boards (5.5 rpg). She ranked 13th in conference field goal percentage (.510).
• The 6-4 forward from Fremont, Neb., finished with Nebraska freshman record averages of 18.5 points and 8.6 rebounds per game. Her 574 total points were a Nebraska freshman record, while her 266 rebounds ranked second among freshmen in Husker history.
• She amassed 16 games with 20 or more points as a freshman, including 11 in Big Ten play. She produced the first of two 35-point performances against Northern Arizona Dec. 19, 2015. She added 35 points at Michigan, Jan. 24. She scored in double figures 25 times.
• Shepard averaged just 4.5 points and 6.0 rebounds in 20 minutes per game over the final two games of 2015-16 as she battled a stress reaction in her foot. She did not practice March 1-17, while she rested the injury.
• Shepard was not cleared for her first full practice until Oct. 27, 2015, after suffering an ACL tear as a high school senior on Dec. 29, 2014. On Nov. 1, she had 29 points and 12 rebounds against Nebraska-Kearney in NU’s exhibition opener. She added 42 points and 12 rebounds in just 25 minutes in a second exhibition against Winona State on Nov. 8.
• She was the top recruit in Nebraska history, as the No. 1 post and No. 3 overall recruit in the nation by ESPN. A first-team Parade All-American as a high school senior despite missing nearly all of her final year (ACL tear, Dec. 29, 2014), Shepard was the 2013 and 2014 Nebraska High School Player of the Year. Shepard averaged 12.8 points and 3.8 rebounds while helping the USA Basketball U18 Team to a 5-0 record and a gold medal at the 2014 FIBA Americas Championship.

Home-Grown Huskers at Heart of Nebraska
• Nebraska’s 11-player active roster features a trio of Huskers who combined forces to win the last four Nebraska Gatorade High School Player-of-the-Year honors. Sophomore Jessica Shepard claimed state high school honors in 2013 and 2014, before fellow Husker sophomore Maddie Simon earned state player-of-the-year accolades as a senior at Lincoln Pius X High School in 2015. Shepard’s high school teammate, freshman Rylie Cascio Jensen, was named the state player of the year at Fremont High School in 2016.
• Shepard, a two-time state high school player of the year (2013, 2014), earned Big Ten Freshman-of-the-Year honors as a Husker in 2015-16. The graduate of Fremont High School started 29 games for the Big Red as a freshman and averaged team highs and Husker freshman records of 18.5 points and 8.6 rebounds per game.
• Simon opened 2016-17 with six points and a career-high matching seven rebounds off the bench in Nebraska’s win over UTRGV on Nov. 12. She is averaging 5.0 points and 2.7 rebounds in 11.3 minutes per game off the bench early this season. Simon had a season-high 11 points against California on Dec. 4.
• She started Nebraska’s final four regular-season games in 2015-16, before missing the Postseason WNIT with a severe ankle sprain suffered in practice on March 14. The 6-2 guard out of Pius X High School in Lincoln also started the season opener for the Huskers on Nov. 14. In five games as a starter, Simon averaged 7.0 points, 3.4 rebounds and 1.8 assists in 23.8 minutes per game. For the season, she averaged 5.0 points, 1.4 rebounds and 1.0 assist in 14.2 minutes over 21 contests.
• In her last two games of 2015-16, Simon averaged 12.5 points, 5.5 rebounds and 1.0 assist, while hitting 9-of-16 shots from the floor, including 4-of-9 threes. She had career highs of 16 points and seven rebounds in Nebraska’s win over Northwestern on Feb. 28. She also hit a career-high three three-pointers against the Wildcats. Simon notched three double-figure scoring performances on the season.
• Over her last seven games of 2015-16, Simon hit 8-of-19 (.421) of her three-point attempts, finishing at 12-for-35 (.343) on the season.
• Simon missed 10 games, primarily because of injuries, in 2015-16. She suffered a broken left (non-shooting) arm in a non-basketball accident on Dec. 7, 2015. She also suffered a strain in her right arm in the same fall, and a severe ankle sprain in practice before the 2016 Postseason WNIT.
• The 2015 Nebraska High School Player of the Year, Simon was a two-time first-team Super-State selection while leading Lincoln Pius X to the 2015 Class B state championship. She was the No. 149 player in the nation according to Blue Star and the No. 22 guard by ESPN in 2015. A tremendous all-around athlete, Simon won the Class A 100- and 300-meter hurdles championships at the 2015 Nebraska State Track & Field Championships.
• Her mother, Nicole Ali Simon, was a CoSIDA Academic All-American as a member of Coach Gary Pepin’s national champion Huskers in 1983 and 1984.
• Cascio Jensen scored the first points of her collegiate career with a pair of three-pointers in Nebraska’s win over Omaha on Nov. 22. She is averaging 2.4 points and 1.3 assists off the bench through her first 10 games as a freshman.
• Cascio Jensen averaged 22.0 points, 7.4 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 2.6 steals to lead Fremont High School to the Class A quarterfinals as a senior in 2015-16. The 5-10 guard hit 40.7 percent of her three-point attempts and 78.2 percent of her free throws, including a Class A state record 34 straight free throws as a senior.
• As a junior in 2014-15, Cascio Jensen averaged 19.0 points, 4.5 rebounds and 4.2 assists. She led Fremont to the district final despite the loss of Shepard in December to an ACL tear. At the time of her injury, Shepard was averaging 33.0 points and 14.3 rebounds per game.

Freshmen Contributing Early
Rylie Cascio Jensen, 5-10, Guard, Fremont, Neb.
• Nebraska’s four-player freshman class of Rylie Cascio Jensen, Nicea Eliely, Grace Mitchell and Hannah Whitish have been looked to for immediate contributions on the Huskers’ 11-player active roster.
• Cascio Jensen, a 5-10 guard from Fremont High School, was the 2016 Nebraska High School Player of the Year. She averaged 22.0 points, 7.4 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 2.6 steals per game for the Tigers.
• She is averaging 2.4 points and 1.3 assists in 13.3 minutes per game this season.
• Cascio Jensen had season highs with six points and two three-pointers in wins over both Omaha (Nov. 22) and San Jose State (Dec. 9).

Nicea Eliely, 6-1, Guard, Colorado Springs, Colo.
• Eliely, a 6-1 guard out of Rampart High School in Colorado Springs, has started all 10 games and is averaging 8.9 points, 4.0 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.6 steals per game.
• Eliely produced a career-high 19-point performance in a loss to California on Dec. 4. She hit 8-of-13 shots from the field including 2-of-3 three-pointers against the Bears. She added two rebounds, two assists and two steals.
• She added her second career double-figure scoring effort with 13 points to go along with seven rebounds, four assists, a steal and a block in a win over San Jose State on Dec. 9. She hit 6-of-9 shots from the field against the Spartans.
• She earned her first career start in Nebraska’s season-opening win over UTRGV on Nov. 12. Eliely performed well with nine points, two rebounds, four assists and two steals against the Vaqueros, while also drawing the primary defensive assignment on 2016 WAC Player-of-the-Year Shawnte’ Goff.
• Eliely played Nebraska’s best all-around game in the loss to No. 25 Missouri on Nov. 14. She finished with eight points, eight rebounds, two assists and a steal against the Tigers. She also hit her first career three-pointer against the Tigers.
• She was even better in Nebraska’s win over Colorado State, contributing six points, six rebounds and a career-high six assists to go along with three steals. She also helped frustrate and foul out 2016 Mountain West Conference Player of the Year Ellen Nystrom.
• Eliely added nine points, six rebounds, two assists and a career-high four steals in Nebraska’s win over Omaha on Nov. 22. She scored nine more points while adding three rebounds, a block and a steal at Virginia Tech on Dec. 1.
• Eliely was a Colorado Class 5A performer as a senior in 2015-16. Ranked as the No. 25 guard in the nation by ESPN and the No. 143 player in the nation by Blue Star, Eliely averaged 21.4 points, 7.6 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 3.4 steals and 2.0 blocks per game as a senior for the Rams.

Hannah Whitish, 5-9, Guard, Barneveld, Wis.
• Whitish, a 5-9 guard from Barneveld, Wis., was the Wisconsin Gatorade Player of the Year after averaging 24.2 points, 5.2 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 4.5 steals as a senior. The five-time first-team All-Wisconsin selection led Barneveld High School to four consecutive state championship game appearances including a pair of state titles. She led her team to a 110-4 record in her career, while ranking among the top 10 in Wisconsin High School history in career points with well over 2,000.
• Whitish has been Nebraska’s top contributor off the bench through 10 games with 5.3 points, 1.3 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 17.1 minutes per contest.
• In her Husker debut, Whitish scored seven points on 3-of-4 shooting with a three-pointer, while adding two assists, one steal and no turnovers in the win over UTRGV on Nov. 12.
• After struggling against Missouri, Whitish played a huge role in Nebraska’s win over Colorado State, finishing with her first career double-figure scoring performance. Her 10-point effort in the win over the Rams included a career-high three three-pointers with the final triple coming on a cast from the deep left wing with one second on the shot clock to give Nebraska a 58-55 lead with 1:48 left. She added a free throw with 18 seconds left to seal the 62-59 win.
• Whitish added her second straight double-figure scoring performance with 10 points and career highs of five assists and two steals in Nebraska’s win over Omaha on Nov. 22.

Grace Mitchell, 6-2, Forward/Guard, Wellington, Kan.
• Mitchell, a 6-2 forward/guard, was the Kansas Player of the Year as selected by USA Today High School Sports. She averaged 21.7 points, 7.4 rebounds and 2.7 blocks as a senior at Wellington High School. She also hit 48 percent of her three-pointers while setting a single-season school record with 533 points on her way to Kansas Class 4A Player-of-the-Year honors. She was ranked as the No. 51 wing in the nation by ESPN.
• Mitchell has averaged 1.8 points and 1.7 rebounds in 9.7 minutes per game this season. She produced a career-high seven-point effort against Drake on Dec. 6. Mitchell scored five points and had the first two steals of her career during a 15-5 Husker surge in the second quarter that helped send the Big Red to halftime with a 33-32 lead over the Bulldogs.
• Mitchell hit the first three-pointer of her career in the second quarter against Drake.
• She scored two points and grabbed two rebounds off the bench in her Husker debut against UTRGV, and added an important putback in Nebraska’s 62-59 win over Colorado State on Nov. 17.