Huskers Open with Bulldogs

Nebraska opens its 2019-20 regular season by battling Alabama A&M on Wednesday, Nov. 6. Tip-off against the Bulldogs is set for noon (CT) at Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln.

• The special noon tip time follows the Nebraska Life Skills Sportsmanship Pep Rally at Pinnacle Bank Arena. Nearly 2,000 elementary and middle-grades students from 27 school districts around Nebraska will converge on the arena to hear inspirational messages from Husker student-athletes and coaches, including Nebraska Head Coach Amy Williams and Alabama A&M Head Coach Margaret Richards - a former Husker. The Sportsmanship Pep Rally starts at 9:30 a.m.

• Doors to the arena for pre-registered schools in the Pep Rally open at 8:30 a.m. Doors to the arena for the basketball game will open at 11 a.m. - just 60 minutes prior to tip-off, rather than the normal 90 minutes.

• Single-game, season, "Starting Five Pack" and the new "You Betcha Bundle" tickets are available now through the Nebraska Athletic Ticket Office at Huskers.com.

• Live radio coverage (beginning at 11:45 a.m.) can be heard in Lincoln on B107.3 FM, in Omaha on ESPN 590 AM, and across the state on select Learfield-IMG College Husker Sports Network stations. Free live audio can be found at Huskers.com, the Huskers App and on TuneIn. 

• The Huskers rolled to a 97-33 win over NCAA Division II Rogers State in their lone exhibition game at Pinnacle Bank Arena on Saturday, Nov. 2. Kate Cain, Ashtyn Veerbeek and Sam Haiby each scored 12 points while Leigha Brown added 10 points to give Nebraska four players in double figures.

• Nebraska out-rebounded the Hillcats 73-27 (+46) on the afternoon.

• Nebraska returns five starters and 10 letterwinners from last year's squad that finished 14-16 overall and 9-9 in the Big Ten Conference.

• The Huskers return their top seven scorers from a year ago, including senior starters Hannah Whitish (10.1 ppg) and Nicea Eliely (7.9 ppg). Whitish is a two-time All-Big Ten selection, and Eliely is one of the Big Ten's best defenders.

• Senior Kristian Hudson returns after missing Nebraska's final 23 games last year with an injury. Senior forward Grace Mitchell will add size and experience inside for the Huskers. 

• Junior returning starters Taylor Kissinger (8.9 ppg) and Kate Cain (7.5 ppg, 5.9 rpg, 2.6 bpg) give Nebraska more size and experience. Kissinger led the Big Ten and ranked fourth nationally in three-point percentage (.456) last season. Cain has earned her second appearance on the Lisa Leslie Award Watch List, and is on track to become Nebraska's all-time leader in blocked shots this season.

• Nebraska's four-player sophomore class of Sam Haiby (10.0 ppg), Leigha Brown (9.6 ppg), Ashtyn Veerbeek (6.9 ppg, 5.5 rpg) and Kayla Mershon (3.2 ppg) combined for the most points (893) by a Husker freshman class since 1981-82.

• Nebraska's three-player freshman class of Isabelle Bourne, Trinity Brady and Makenzie Helms take the court for the first time at Pinnacle Bank Arena on Saturday. Bourne was a key player in the Australian U19 National Team's run to a silver medal at the FIBA U19 World Championships this summer. Helms was the Connecticut Gatorade High School Player of the Year in 2018-19. Brady finished her prep career at Hamilton Heights Christian Academy in Tennessee - one of the top women's basketball academy teams in the nation. As a junior, she was one of the top high school players in the state of Indiana at Lawrence North. She was an IBCA Subway Supreme 15 Underclass All-State selection.

Nebraska Cornhuskers vs. Alabama A&M Bulldogs
Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2019, Noon (CT)
Pinnacle Bank Arena (15,000) - Lincoln
Live Video: BTN+ [Husker Sports Network Audio]
Live Radio: Husker Sports Network (11:45 a.m.)
Matt Coatney (PBP), Jeff Griesch (Analyst)
Lincoln - 107.3 FM; Omaha - ESPN 590 AM; Huskers.com, Huskers App, TuneIn

Nebraska Cornhuskers (0-0, 0-0 Big Ten)
13 - Ashtyn Veerbeek - 6-2 - So. - F - 6.9 ppg, 5.5 ppg
14 - Grace Mitchell - 6-2 - Sr. - F - 1.0 ppg, 1.0 rpg
3 - Hannah Whitish - 5-9 - Sr. - G - 10.1 ppg, 2.9 rpg
4 - Sam Haiby - 5-9 - So. - G - 10.0 ppg, 3.0 rpg
5 - Nicea Eliely - 6-1 - Sr. - G - 7.9 ppg, 3.8 rpg
Off the Bench
32 - Leigha Brown - 6-1 - So. - F - 9.6 ppg, 2.6 rpg
33 - Taylor Kissinger - 6-1 - Jr. - G - 8.9 ppg, 3.2 rpg
31 - Kate Cain - 6-5 - Jr. - C - 7.5 ppg, 5.9 rpg
44 - Kayla Mershon - 6-3 - So. - F - 3.2 ppg, 3.0 rpg
11 - Kristian Hudson - 5-5 - RSr. - G - 2.4 ppg, 1.6 rpg
34 - Isabelle Bourne - 6-2 - Fr. - F 
2 - Trinity Brady - 5-11 - Fr. - G
1 - Makenzie Helms - 5-8 - Fr. - G
Head Coach: Amy Williams (Nebraska, 1998)
Fourth Season at Nebraska (42-49); 13th Season Overall (235-158)

Alabama A&M Bulldogs (0-0, 0-0 SWAC)
20 - Lazurea Saunders - 6-0 - RFr. - F - 7.5 ppg, 6.0 rpg
32 - Elexis Evans - 6-4 - So. - C - 6.6 ppg, 5.5 rpg
4 - Jameica Cobb - 5-8 - Sr. - G - 5.1 ppg, 3.9 rpg
5 - Nigeria Jones - 5-7 - Jr. - G - 11.7 ppg, 3.6 rpg
23 - DeShawna Harper - 5-4 - Jr. - G - 7.5 ppg, 2.2 rpg
Off the Bench
24 - Tierra Dark - 5-7 - Jr. - G - 5.9 ppg, 3.4 rpg
21 - *Dariauna Lewis - 6-1 - So. - F - 3.6 ppg, 3.3 rpg
2 - Natalie Collins - 5-9 - Jr. - G - 3.0 ppg, 2.1 rpg
11 - Je'Naiya Davis - 5-8 - Fr. - G 
12 - Kamani Jones - 5-10 - Fr. - F
22 - Jasmine Stanley - 6-1 - Fr. - F
34 - Ariana Powe - 5-10 - Fr. - F
50 - De'Asia Thomas - 5-11 - Fr. - F
*statistics at Missouri State in 2018-19
Head Coach: Margaret Richards (Nebraska, 2003)
Fourth Season at Alabama A&M (26-60); Fourth Season Overall: (26-60)

Scouting Alabama A&M
• Former Husker Margaret Richards guides Alabama A&M into the 2019-20 season.

• Richards was a four-year letterwinner at Nebraska from 2001 through 2004. The 5-9 guard from Louisville, Ky., finished her career with 915 points, 518 rebounds and 216 assists while playing in 117 games with 69 starts.

• In Richards' first season (2016-17) at Alabama A&M, the Bulldogs went 2-25 and 0-18 in the Southwestern Athletic Conference. They were one of the nation's most improved teams in 2017-18, finishing 11-18 overall and 6-12 in the SWAC.

• The Bulldogs have improved each of Richards' three years, including a 13-17 record last season with an 8-10 SWAC mark. A&M's 13 wins were its most since going 17-12 in 2011-12.

• Alabama A&M is the preseason pick to finish seventh in the SWAC. Southern, the defending SWAC champion and a 2019 NCAA Tournament team, is the preseason pick to win the league. Southern comes to Lincoln Nov. 20.

• Sophomore Elexis Evans enters 2019-20 as a preseason first-team All-SWAC selection. The 6-4 center averaged 6.6 points and 5.5 rebounds as a freshman in 2018-19.
• Junior Nigeria Jones added preseason second-team All-SWAC honors. The 5-7 guard out of Lincoln Northeast was Alabama A&M's leading scorer a year ago, averaging 11.6 points and 3.6 rebounds per game. She also led the Bulldogs in assists (3.4 apg) and steals (1.6 spg).

• Senior guard Jameica Cobb returns to the starting backcourt with Jones, after averaging 5.1 points and 3.9 rebounds last season. She was second on the team with 3.0 assists per game.

• The Bulldogs are hoping to benefit from the return of redshirt freshman Lazurea Saunders. The 6-0 forward averaged 7.1 points and a team-best 6.0 rebounds through seven games last season before suffering a season-ending injury.

• Junior DeShawna Harper gives the Bulldogs another returning starter after averaging 7.5 points and 2.2 rebounds last season.

• Alabama A&M added another Nebraska connection this offseason with Omaha North's Dariauna Lewis. She averaged 3.6 points and 3.3 rebounds in 25 games at Missouri State last year. The Bears won the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament title and advanced to the NCAA Sweet Sixteen before Coach Kellie Harper departed for Tennessee. Lewis, a 6-1 sophomore, posted a career-high 15 points against Drake and had a career-high nine boards against Ball State.

• Wednesday's game is the first-ever meeting between Nebraska and Alabama A&M.

Huskers Tip Season with Sportsmanship Pep Rally
• The Huskers officially tip off the 2019-20 regular season on Wednesday with the Nebraska Life Skills Sportsmanship Pep Rally at Pinnacle Bank Arena prior to NU's season opener with Alabama A&M.

• The Sportsmanship Pep Rally, which is being offered in partnership with the Nebraska High School Hall of Fame, will take place prior to Nebraska's game with Alabama A&M, which is set for a noon tip-off. The rally is scheduled to begin at approximately 9:30 a.m., with Husker student-athletes and coaches delivering inspirational and motivational messages to elementary and middle grades students.

• Nebraska women's basketball coach Amy Williams will address the students, along with Alabama A&M Coach Margaret Richards - a former Husker. Students can also expect to be entertained by Steve Max "Master of Simon Sez" who will also entertain the crowd at halftime.

• Each of the nearly 1,800 children scheduled to attend the pep rally will receive a free slice of Valentino's pizza and a beverage provided by Pinnacle Bank Arena.

• Children and sponsors from 27 school districts around the state are scheduled to attend, including Auburn, Aurora, Centennial, Central Valley, Columbus Scotus, DC West, Elba, Elmwood-Murdock, Fillmore Central, Fort Calhoun, Freeman, Heartland Community, Johnson County Central, Logan View, Lyons-Decatur Northeast, Malcolm, Nebraska Christian, North Bend Central, Palmyra, Pine Creek, Raymond Central, Southern, Sterling, Umonhon Nation, Wahoo, Weeping Water and Wilcox Hildreth. 

Husker Nuggets
• Nebraska is 42-3 all-time at home to open the season, including 5-1 at Pinnacle Bank Arena. The Huskers had a 12-game season-opening win streak snapped last season with a loss to Drake (Nov. 7, 2018). NU's only other home-opening losses came to South Dakota State (Nov. 19, 2005) and Kansas (Nov. 21, 1980).

• Hannah Whitish enters 2019-20 needing 34 points, 37 assists and five three-pointers to become the first Husker in history to reach combined milestones of 1,000 points, 400 assists and 200 threes.

• The Husker bench outscored opponent benches in 28 of 30 games in 2018-19, with the only exceptions coming in losses at Michigan (37-20, Feb. 7) and at No. 7 Maryland (22-19, Feb. 14).  

• Nebraska's bench outscored the opponent bench by double digits 21 times, including a 30-1 edge in a loss to NCAA Elite Eight qualifier Iowa (Feb. 25). 

• Overall, Nebraska's bench outscored opposition benches 950-492 (31.7-16.4 ppg) for a plus-15.3 margin.

• Nebraska's bench scored 40 or more points seven times last season, including  a season-high 45 at Arkansas.

• In Big Ten regular-season play, NU's bench outscored opponent benches 563-317 (31.3-17.6, +13.7 ppg).

• At least one freshman led the Huskers in scoring in 17 of 30 games last season (Haiby-9; Brown-6; Veerbeek-2).

• Nebraska has hit 10 or more threes 15 times in the last two seasons (62 games). Through the first 20 seasons with the three-point shot in women's basketball (1988-2007), Nebraska hit 10 threes in a game only six times (311 games).

Nebraska Streaks
• Kate Cain owns Nebraska's longest streak of consecutive starts (61).

• Nicea Eliely owns Nebraska's second-longest streak of starts (56).

• Eliely was the only Husker to score in all 30 games last season, and the only Husker to score in all of Nebraska's games against Big Ten Conference foes. She has scored in 34 consecutive games overall. She did not score in a win over Penn State on Feb. 22, 2018, the only time in the past two seasons (59 games) that Eliely was shut out.

• The Huskers have knocked down at least one three in 342 straight games dating back to a loss at UTEP on Dec. 20, 2008. Nebraska has hit at least two three-pointers in 221 consecutive games.

Regular-Season Numbers to Watch 
(1) Hannah Whitish is one steal away from 100 in her career. Nicea Eliely is one point away from 700 in her career.

(3) Kayla Mershon is three points away from 100 in her career.

(5) Hannah Whitish needs five three-pointers to become just the third Husker to hit 200 career threes, joining All-American Jordan Hooper (295) and three-time first-team All-Big 12 guard Kiera Hardy (267).

(9) Kristian Hudson needs just nine assists to reach 400 in her career (383 assists came at Florida International prior to Hudson transferring to Nebraska ahead of the 2018-19 season).

(10) Sam Haiby and Kayla Mershon each need 10 rebounds to achieve 100 in their careers.

(11) Leigha Brown needs 11 points to reach 300 in her career. Hannah Whitish is 11 rebounds away from 300 in her career.

(17) Kristian Hudson needs 17 rebounds to reach 400 in her career.

(21) Junior Kate Cain is 21 blocks away from 200 in her career. Only three other Huskers in history have achieved 200 career blocks.

(34) Hannah Whitish (966) is 34 points away from becoming the 33rd 1,000-point scorer in Nebraska women's basketball history.

(37) Hannah Whitish is 37 assists away from becoming just the eighth Husker in history with 400 career assists.