Huskers Take Shot at No. 18 Indiana

The Nebraska women's basketball team shoots for an upset of No. 18 Indiana when the Huskers take on the Hoosiers during the annual Play4Kay Pink Day in Lincoln on Sunday. Tip-off between the Huskers (15-8, 5-7 Big Ten) and the Hoosiers (18-6, 8-4 Big Ten) is set for 2 p.m. (CT) at Pinnacle Bank Arena.

Live radio coverage of Sunday's game can be heard on B107.3 FM in Lincoln and ESPN 590 AM in Omaha beginning at 1:45 p.m. (CT). Stations across the state will also carry the broadcast on the Learfield IMG College Husker Sports Network. Free live audio can be found at Huskers.com, the Huskers App and on TuneIn.

A live video stream will be provided for BTN+ subscribers through Nebraska's Student U production.

Nebraska will be trying to snap a season-long three-game losing skid after a 76-60 loss at No. 20 Iowa on Thursday night. The Huskers opened Big Ten play with a 78-69 win over the Hawkeyes in Lincoln (Dec. 28). 

After shooting 40 percent or better in 18 of its first 19 games this season, the Huskers have struggled with their shooting strokes over the last four contests, hitting less than 34 percent in three of the last four games. Nebraska hit a season-low 32.8 percent at Iowa, resulting in a season-low 60 points. The last time out at Pinnacle Bank Arena, the Huskers hit just 33.3 percent of their shots in an overtime loss to Ohio State.

Over the last four games, Indiana native Leigha Brown has provided some bright spots by averaging 16 points per game, including 20 points at Iowa Thursday. She opened the four-game stretch with 20 points in a win at Wisconsin (Jan. 25). Brown, a leading contender for Big Ten Sixth Player of the Year, has scored in double figures in six of the last seven games.

It won't be easy for Nebraska to heat up against the Hoosiers. Indiana has held opponents to just 36.4 percent shooting on the season, including an abysmal 25.3 percent from three-point range. 

Indiana is allowing just 58.5 points per game on the season, and the Hoosiers' schedule has featured both of the nation's current No. 1 teams (South Carolina, Baylor). Indiana defeated South Carolina (71-57, Nov. 28) and all six of IU's losses this year have come to current top-25 teams.

Nebraska Cornhuskers vs. No. 18 Indiana Hoosiers
Sunday, Feb. 9, 2020, 2 p.m. (CT)
Pinnacle Bank Arena (15,000) - Lincoln, Nebraska
Tickets: Huskers.com
Special Event: Play4Kay Pink Day
Live Video: BTN+ 
Live Radio: Husker Sports Network (1:45 p.m.)
Matt Coatney (PBP), Jeff Griesch (Analyst)
Lincoln - B107.3 FM; Omaha - ESPN 590 AM
Huskers.com, Huskers App, TuneIn

Nebraska Cornhuskers (15-8, 5-7 Big Ten)
13 - Ashtyn Veerbeek - 6-2 - So. - F - 7.5 ppg, 4.8 rpg
31 - Kate Cain - 6-5 - Jr. - C - 9.3 ppg, 7.6 rpg
3 - Hannah Whitish - 5-9 - Sr. - G - 9.6 ppg, 3.3 rpg
4 - Sam Haiby - 5-9 - So. - G - 10.8 ppg, 3.8 rpg
5 - Nicea Eliely - 6-1 - Sr. - G - 8.8 ppg, 4.0 rpg
Off the Bench
32 - Leigha Brown - 6-1 - So. - F - 13.8 ppg, 3.5 rpg
34 - Isabelle Bourne - 6-2 - Fr. - F - 5.9 ppg, 4.7 rpg
2 - Trinity Brady - 5-11 - Fr. - G - 1.6 ppg, 1.2 rpg
14 - Grace Mitchell - 6-2 - Sr. - F - 1.6 ppg, 1.3 rpg
44 - Kayla Mershon - 6-3 - So. - F - 1.5 ppg, 2.2 rpg
11 - Kristian Hudson - 5-5 - RSr. - G - 1.1 ppg, 0.7 rpg
1 - Makenzie Helms - 5-8 - Fr. - G - 0.3 ppg, 0.5 rpg
Out for Season
33 - Taylor Kissinger - 6-1 - Jr. - G - 8.4 ppg, 2.8 rpg
Head Coach: Amy Williams (Nebraska, 1998)
Fourth Season at Nebraska (57-57); 13th Season Overall (250-166)

18/22 Indiana Hoosiers (18-6, 8-4 Big Ten)
10 - Aleksa Gulbe - 6-3 - So. - F - 8.7 ppg, 5.7 rpg
50 - Brenna Wise - 6-0 - Sr. - F - 8.5 ppg, 5.8 rpg
13 - Jaelynn Penn - 5-10 - Jr. - G - 10.8 ppg, 4.2 rpg
14 - Ali Patberg - 5-11 - RJr. - G - 13.8 ppg, 4.8 rpg
34 - Grace Berger - 6-0 - So. - G - 13.5 ppg, 4.4 rpg
Off the Bench
54 - Mackenzie Holmes - 6-3 - Fr. - F - 11.8 ppg, 5.5 rpg
11 - Chanel Wilson - 5-6 - RFr. - G - 3.1 ppg, 0.9 rpg
33 - Jorie Allen - 6-1 - Fr. - F - 2.4 ppg, 2.1 rpg
2 - Keyanna Warthen - 5-10 - Jr. - G - 1.6 ppg, 0.6 rpg
51 - Hannah Noveroske - 6-5 - Fr. - C - 1.5 ppg, 1.5 rpg
3 - Grace Waggoner - 6-0 - Fr. - G - 0.8 ppg, 0.3 rpg
Head Coach: Teri Moren (Purdue, 1992)
Sixth Season at Indiana (121-72); 17th Season Overall (320-202)

Scouting The Indiana Hoosiers
• No. 18 Indiana comes to Lincoln fighting to stay in the hunt for the Big Ten regular-season title. The Hoosiers own an 18-6 overall record and an 8-4 conference mark after a Thursday night home loss (79-69) to No. 13 Maryland in Bloomington.
• The Hoosiers are in the middle of their best season in school history. Indiana has been ranked in the AP Top 25 for 14 straight weeks - the longest stretch in the history of the program.
• Indiana went 10-2 during non-conference play with its only losses to current USA today No. 1 and defending national champion Baylor (77-62, Nov. 29) and current No. 10 UCLA (68-58, Dec. 22). The Hoosiers also knocked off current AP No. 1 South Carolina (71-57, Nov. 28).
• Indiana opened Big Ten play 4-0 to improve to 14-2 on the year before suffering three straight losses to Iowa (2OT), Northwestern (OT) and at Maryland. The Hoosiers rebounded to run off four straight wins before Thursday's second loss to the Terrapins.
• National Player of the Year candidate Ali Patberg leads the Hoosiers with 13.8 points and 5.4 assists per game. The 5-11 fifth-year junior guard who transferred from Notre Dame prior to last season, is averaging 15.3 points in Big Ten play. She is shooting 48.8 percent from the field, 40.7 percent from three-point range and 81.7 percent at the free throw line in league play. Patberg had 22 points and six assists in last year's lone meeting with Nebraska.
• Sophomore Grace Berger is one of the Big Ten's most improved players. The 6-0 guard is averaging 13.5 points, 4.4 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.6 steals per game. She has hit 47.8 percent of her field goals, 35.9 percent of her threes and 76.2 percent of her free throws on the season. Last year, Berger averaged 5.5 points in 20.2 minutes per game.
• Indiana's strong starting backcourt also features junior Jaelynn Penn. The 5-10 guard is averaging 10.8 points, 4.2 rebounds and 1.8 assists. Penn, who was a second-team All-Big Ten choice last year, leads the Hoosiers with 95 straight starts and has scored 1,133 points in her Indiana career. Penn has averaged 20.5 points in two career meetings with Nebraska.
• Brenna Wise, a 6-0 forward who transferred from Pittsburgh prior to last season, has made 58 straight starts for the Hoosiers. She is averaging 8.5 points and 5.8 rebounds, after averaging 12.0 points and 6.8 rebounds in her first year at Indiana last season. Wise was an honorable-mention All-Big Ten choice a year ago.
• Sophomore Aleksa Gulbe provides the Indiana starting five with size and skill, averaging 8.7 points and 5.7 rebounds per game. The 6-3 forward is a member of Latvia's U20 National Team.
• The Hoosiers get more size and explosiveness off the bench from freshman Mackenzie Holmes. The 6-3 forward from Gorham, Maine, is averaging 11.8 points and 5.5 rebounds. She has hit 65.6 percent of her shots from the field and has not attempted a three-pointer.
• Indiana also gets regular contributions off the bench from 5-6 redshirt freshman guard Chanel Wilson (3.1 ppg), 6-1 freshman forward Jorie Allen (2.4 ppg, 2.1 rpg) and 5-10 junior guard Keyanna Warthen (1.6 ppg).
• As a team, Indiana is shooting a strong 47.4 percent from the field, including 30.7 percent from three-point range. The Hoosiers also have hit 70.6 percent of their free throws. Although they don't have a player averaging 6.0 rebounds per game, the Hoosiers own a plus-4.2 team rebounding margin. Indiana also owns a plus-1.5 team turnover margin.

Nebraska vs. Indiana Series History
• Indiana leads the all-time series with Nebraska, 6-5, including an 82-78 win over the Huskers at Pinnacle Bank Arena last season (Feb. 3, 2019).
• The Hoosiers have won two straight in the series, including an 83-75 victory over the Huskers in Bloomington on Feb. 17, 2018. The last meeting at Indiana was Senior Day for the Hoosiers. Nebraska also meets Indiana on Senior Day in Bloomington this season (Feb. 27, 2020).
• Since joining the Big Ten Conference in 2011-12, Nebraska leads the all-time series, 5-4.
• Last season, Sam Haiby led Nebraska with 17 points off the bench while Hannah Whitish added 16 points, including a trio of three-pointers. Ali Patberg led Indiana with 22 points, while Jaelynn Penn added 20. Kim Royster helped the Hoosiers inside with 19 points and 14 rebounds.
• In the last meeting with Indiana, Nebraska rallied from 12 points down in the third quarter to tie the game twice in the fourth, before the Hoosiers escaped with the win.
• Nebraska is 3-3 all-time against Indiana in Lincoln. Indiana owns a 3-2 series edge in Bloomington. The two teams have never met on a neutral court.
• Indiana won the first meeting in series history with an 83-80 overtime win at the Bob Devaney Sports Center in Lincoln on Nov. 26, 1994.

Nebraska Streaks
• Kate Cain owns Nebraska's longest streak of consecutive starts (84).
• Nicea Eliely owns Nebraska's second-longest streak of starts (79).
• Nicea Eliely and Leigha Brown are the only Huskers to score points in each of Nebraska's first 23 games this season.
• Kate Cain and Isabelle Bourne are the only Huskers to record at least one rebound for Nebraska in all 23 games this season.
• 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 57 consecutive games overall. She did not score in a win over Penn State on Feb. 22, 2018, the only time in the past three seasons (including 2019-20, 77 games) that Eliely was shut out.
• The Huskers have knocked down at least one three in 365 straight games dating back to a loss at UTEP on Dec. 20, 2008. Nebraska has hit at least two three-pointers in 244 consecutive games.

Numbers to Watch 
(1) Hannah Whitish's next assist will move her into a tie for sixth on the Nebraska career assist list  (444, Amy Stephens, 1986-89).
(1) Kristian Hudson needs two assists to reach 400 in her career (383 at FIU).
(14) Hannah Whitish is 14 points away from 1,200 in her career.
(14) Kate Cain needs 14 blocks to match the career total of her mother, Alison (Martinsky) Cain, during her career at Fairfield. Alison finished with 1,071 points, 768 rebounds and 268 blocks (No. 2 in Fairfield history).
(20) Kate Cain needs 20 blocks to crack the top 10 list in Big Ten Conference history.

Husker Nuggets
• Nebraska is No. 46 in the Massey Ratings (Feb. 7),  with 11 Big Ten teams in the top 64: Maryland (6), Northwestern (13), Indiana (16), Iowa (17), Michigan (31), Rutgers (35), Ohio State (36), Purdue (37), Minnesota (44), Nebraska (46) and Michigan State (61).
• In the official NCAA RPI (Feb. 7), 11 Big Ten teams are ranked in the top 100: Maryland (3), Iowa (11), Indiana (15), Northwestern (16), Ohio State (25), Purdue (36), Michigan (37), Rutgers (47), Minnesota (53), Nebraska (69), Michigan State (98).
• Through 23 games, Nebraska is allowing an average of 65.4 points per game, after allowing 70.1 points per game last season. NU's 2018 NCAA Tournament team allowed 63.6.
• Opponents are shooting 37.4 percent from the field and 31 percent from three-point range against NU. Last year, Husker foes hit 41.1 percent, including 33.4 percent from three. In 2017-18, Nebraska led the Big Ten in field goal percentage defense (.371) and three-point field goal percentage defense (.299).
• Nebraska has held eight opponents to 55 points or less this season. Last year, NU held only two foes (Radford-39, Kansas-52) to 55 or less. NU held 11 opponents to 55 or less in 2017-18.
• NU's bench has outscored opponent reserves in 19 of 23 games in 2019-20. The Husker bench has outscored opposing benches in 47 of the last 53 games, including double-digit edges 34 times.
• This season, NU's bench has outscored opposing benches 588-363 (25.6-15.8 ppg).
• Nebraska has hit 10 or more threes 19 times in the last three seasons (85 games), including four times in the last 14 contests. Through the first 20 seasons with the three-point shot in women's basketball (1988-2007), Nebraska hit 10 threes in a game just six times (311 games).