Huskers Hungry for Shot at Spartans

Nebraska Cornhuskers (12-0, 1-0 Big Ten)
at Michigan State Spartans (7-6, 1-1 Big Ten)
Thursday, Dec. 30, 2021, 2 p.m. (CT)
Breslin Center - East Lansing, Michigan
Live TV: BTN (Mike Hall, Stephanie White)
Live Radio: Huskers Radio Network (1:45 p.m.)
Matt Coatney (PBP), Jeff Griesch (Analyst)
Lincoln (107.3 FM), Omaha (ESPN 590 AM), Huskers.com, Huskers App

Huskers Resume Big Ten Play at Michigan State 
The Nebraska women's basketball team resumes Big Ten play on Thursday when the Huskers travel to East Lansing to battle Michigan State.

Tip-off between the Huskers (12-0, 1-0 Big Ten) and the Spartans (7-6, 1-1 Big Ten) is set for 2 p.m. (CT) at the Breslin Center with live television coverage provided by the Big Ten Network and the Fox Sports App. The game also can be heard on the Huskers Radio Network (B107.3 FM, Lincoln; ESPN 590 AM, Omaha), Huskers.com and the Huskers App with Matt Coatney and Jeff Griesch on the call.

Nebraska's tip time at Michigan State moved Monday from 1 to 2 p.m. (CT), when the conference added the game to the Big Ten Network TV schedule.

The Huskers are coming off one of the best non-conference slates in school history, as the Big Red went 11-0 against non-league foes while adding a 70-67 Big Ten-opening win at Minnesota (Dec. 6).

Nebraska is one of just five remaining unbeaten teams in NCAA Division I women's basketball, joining South Carolina, North Carolina, Arizona and Colorado. NU is No. 7 in the NET rankings (Dec. 23).

The 2021-22 Huskers are just the second NU team to ever win 12 straight games, joining the 2009-10 Big Red that opened the season 30-0 on its way to the Big 12 championship.

Nebraska closed non-conference play with a 72-61 win over defending Mountain West Conference champion Wyoming. It was NU's ninth win by double digits to open the season.

Second-year Husker freshman Annika Stewart was named to the Big Ten Weekly Honor Roll after erupting for career highs of 21 points and three blocked shots in just 15 minutes off the bench in the win over the Cowgirls.

The win over Wyoming was NU's third over a 2021 conference champ, joining victories over America East champ Maine (108-50) and Colonial Athletic Association champion Drexel (65-53). It was also NU's third over a 2021 NCAA Tournament team, joining Drexel and Wake Forest (86-60).

Nebraska's win over Wyoming opened a stretch of seven consecutive games against 2021 NCAA Tournament qualifiers.

Husker head coach Amy Williams was named the National Coach of the Week by ESPN's Mechelle Voepel (Dec. 27). Williams' sister, Emily Thiesse, also has her Minnesota State-Mankato team off to an undefeated start at 11-0 in NCAA Division II.

Nebraska Cornhuskers (12-0, 1-0 Big Ten)
14 - Bella Cravens - 6-3 - Jr. - F - 7.7 ppg, 6.8 rpg
34 - Isabelle Bourne - 6-2 - So. - F - 10.6 ppg, 4.4 rpg
0 - Ashley Scoggin - 5-7 - RSo. - G - 8.9 ppg, 1.1 rpg
1 - Jaz Shelley - 5-9 - So. - G - 14.3 ppg, 6.6 rpg
4 - Sam Haiby - 5-9 - Jr. - G - 9.8 ppg, 4.0 rpg
Off the Bench
40 - Alexis Markowski - 6-3 - Fr. - F/C - 8.5 ppg, 6.4 rpg
21 - Annika Stewart - 6-3 - Fr. - F - 7.2 ppg, 2.6 rpg    
3 - Allison Weidner - 5-10 - Fr. - G - 5.1 ppg, 3.8 rpg
32 - Kendall Coley - 6-2 - Fr. - F/G - 4.0 ppg, 2.8 rpg
5 - MiCole Cayton - 5-9 - Gr. - G - 2.7 ppg, 1.0 rpg
11 - Ruby Porter - 5-10 - Fr. - G - 2.8 ppg, 0.9 rpg
15 - Kendall Moriarty - 6-1 - Fr. - G - 1.8 ppg, 0.5 rpg
10 - Whitney Brown - 5-8 - Fr. - G - 1.7 ppg, 0.7 rpg
Head Coach: Amy Williams (Nebraska, 1998)
Sixth Season at Nebraska (84-75); 15th Season Overall (277-184)

Michigan State Spartans (7-6, 1-1 Big Ten)
2 - Tamara Farquhar - 6-0 - Gr. - F - 5.2 ppg, 5.9 rpg
4 - Alisia Smith - 6-3 - Gr. - F - 6.8 ppg, 4.4 rpg
0 - DeeDee Hagemann - 5-7 - Fr. - G - 8.7 ppg, 3.4 rpg
11 - Matilda Ekh - 6-0 - Fr. - G/F - 10.0 ppg, 3.6 rpg
24 - Nia Clouden - 5-8 - Sr. - G - 21.8 ppg, 4.3 rpg
Off the Bench
14 - Taiyier Parks - 6-3 - Jr. - F - 7.2 ppg, 5.7 rpg
22 - Moira Joiner - 5-10 - Jr. - G - 6.6 ppg, 4.2 rpg
12 - Isaline Alexander - 6-3 - Fr. - F - 2.0 ppg, 1.3 rpg
21 - Laurel Jaqmain - 5-8 - Gr. - G - 1.5 ppg, 1.5 rpg
10 - Lauren Walker - 6-2 - Fr. - F - 1.0 ppg, 1.0 rpg
21 - Brooklyn Rewers - 6-4 - Fr. - C - 1.0 ppg, 0.3 rpg
20 - Jayla James - 6-1 - Jr. - F - 0.8 ppg, 0.5 rpg
Head Coach: Suzy Merchant (Central Michigan, 1991)
15th Season at Michigan State (303-163); 26th Season Overall (504-283)

Nebraska Numbers to Watch
• Through games Dec. 26, the Huskers ranked among the top 10 teams nationally in win-loss percentage (1.000, 1 of 5), defensive rebounds per game (3rd, 32.3 rpg), scoring margin (4th, +28.1 ppg), field goal percentage (5th, .478), scoring offense (7th, 83.5 ppg), three-point field goal percentage (7th, .387), assists (7th, 228), field goal percentage defense (8th, .328), and assists per game (10th, 19.0 apg). Overall, Nebraska ranks among the top 25 teams in the nation in 18 statistical categories. 

• Nebraska leads the Big Ten in scoring margin (+28.1 ppg), rebound margin (+9.9 rpg), total rebounds (44.8 rpg), defensive rebounds (32.3 rpg), field goal percentage defense (.328), three-point field goal percentage defense (.249), three-pointers made (8.8 pg) and assists (19.0 apg).

• Nebraska guard Jaz Shelley ranks among the top 20 players in the Big Ten in scoring (17th, 14.3 ppg), rebounding (12th, 6.6 rpg), assists (7th, 4.8 apg), blocked shots (4th, 1.3 bpg), steals (15th, 1.6 spg), three-point field goal percentage (2nd, .523), three-pointers made per game (5th, 2.8) and assist-to-turnover ratio (3rd, 2.6).

• Huskers Jaz Shelley (5th, 2.8 pg) and Ashley Scoggin (11th, 2.0 pg) rank among the top players in the Big Ten in three-point field goals made per game. Nebraska is one of only three teams in the nation with two shooters ranked among the top 50 (Shelley, 7th; Scoggin, 42nd) in three-point percentage, joining DePaul (Lexi Held, Darrione Rogers) and Kent State (Casey Santora, Lindsey Thall).

• Nebraska's backcourt has taken care of the ball while creating opportunities. Jaz Shelley (2.6) and Sam Haiby (2.4) rank No. 3 and 5, respectively in the Big Ten in assist-to-turnover ratio based on the NCAA minimum of 3.0 assists per game. Husker reserves Allison Weidner (3.4) and Ruby Porter (3.3), who don't meet the NCAA minimums, own better assist-to-turnover ratios than Shelley (28th) and Haiby (46th), who both rank among the top 50 in the NCAA.

• The only other teams in the nation with two players ranked among the top 50 in assist-to-turnover are Baylor and Colorado. Neither the Bears nor the Buffs have other guards with better assist-to-turnover ratios than their ranked players.

• Nebraska ranks seventh nationally in scoring offense with 83.5 points per game. The only time in the last 25 years NU has averaged more than 75 points per game in a season came in 2009-10 (77.4 ppg). That Husker team went unbeaten in the regular season, won the Big 12 regular-season title and advanced to Nebraska's first NCAA Sweet Sixteen as a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament.    

• Sophomore point guard Jaz Shelley has pulled down 79 total rebounds in 325 minutes this season. In two seasons (971 minutes) at Oregon (2019-20, 2020-21), the 5-9 Shelley totaled 70 rebounds.

• Jaz Shelley leads Nebraska with 15 blocked shots through 12 games, nearly tripling her two-year total at Oregon (6) in 55 games with 12 starts. 

• Jaz Shelley is the only Big Ten player to rank among the top 20 in the conference in all five major statistical categories: scoring (17th), rebounding (12th), assists (7th), blocks (4th), steals (15th).

Scouting The Michigan State Spartans
• Michigan State heads into Thursday's game with a 7-6 record after dropping games to Florida Gulf Coast (85-84 2OT) and West Virginia (74-54) at the West Palm Beach Invitational, Dec. 20-21.

• Spartan senior guard Nia Clouden erupted for a Michigan State school-record 50 points in the loss to FGCU, going 17-for-28 from the field and 15-of-17 from the free throw line in 46 minutes. She added six rebounds.

• Clouden has been both dynamic and efficient this season, averaging team bests of 21.8 points, 4.4 assists and 1.3 steals while hitting 48.9 percent of her field goal attempts, including 40 percent (20-50) of her three-pointers, and 90.8 percent (89-98) of her free throws. She has added 4.3 boards.

• Michigan State has lost four of its last five games with a Big Ten home win over Illinois (75-60, Dec. 9) preceded by December losses to Notre Dame (76-71) and at Iowa (88-61). 

• Following the loss at Iowa, Spartan point guard Alyza Winston (12.2 ppg, 3.0 apg, 1.4 spg) entered the transfer portal after starting MSU's first 10 games.

• Freshman DeeDee Hagemann from Detroit has stepped into the Spartan starting five since Winston's transfer. The 5-7 guard has averaged 10.0 points, 6.3 rebounds, 5.0 assists and 2.0 steals as a starter and has averaged 8.7 points and 3.4 rebounds overall this season.

• Freshman Matilda Ekh (10.0 ppg, 3.6 rpg) and graduate Alisia Smith (6.8 ppg, 4.4 rpg) have joined Clouden in the Spartan starting five for all 13 games. Ekh leads the Spartans from long range by hitting 24 three-pointers (.453). Smith, a 6-3 forward, is shooting a solid 53.4 percent (37-73) overall from the field. Smith is in her second season at MSU after spending her first three seasons at Penn State.

• Another graduate transfer from a Big Ten school, Tamara Farquhar (Purdue) rounds out Michigan's State's probable starting five, averaging 5.2 points and 5.9 rebounds this season.

• The Spartans gain experience and production off the bench from juniors Taiyier Parks (7.2 ppg, 5.7 rpg) and Moira Joiner (6.6 ppg, 4.2 rpg).

• Michigan State lost two of its top players from 2020-21 to injury prior to the start of the season, as junior guard Julia Ayrault tore the Lisfranc ligament in the top of her foot the first week of official practice, before senior guard/forward Tory Ozment suffered an ACL tear on Oct. 9. Ayrault averaged 9.0 points and 4.9 rebounds, while leading MSU with 24 blocks last year, while Ozment added 6.9 points, 3.4 rebounds and ranked second on the team in both assists (3.3 apg) and steals (1.3 spg).

• As a team, Michigan State is averaging 76.9 points per game while shooting 46.5 percent from the field, including 37.5 percent from three-point range. The Spartans are also an excellent 78 percent from the free throw line with Clouden attempting more than 40 percent of the team's free throws.

• MSU, which is 6-1 at home this season, owns positive rebound (+3.5) and turnover (+1.3) margins.

Nebraska vs. Michigan State Series History
• Nebraska leads the all-time series with Michigan State 9-4 with all 13 meetings as Big Ten foes. The Huskers fought to a 68-64 win over the then-No. 23 Spartans in East Lansing on Jan. 10, 2021.

• Isabelle Bourne led all players with 18 points, despite suffering an ankle injury in the closing seconds. Sam Haiby added a double-double with 11 points and a career-high 12 rebounds. Bella Cravens pitched in nine points, nine rebounds and three blocks, while Ruby Porter had a breakout game with nine points on three three-pointers. 

• Nia Clouden led three Spartans in double figures with 14 points before fouling out late in the game. Tory Ozment added 11 points and Alyza Winston pitched in 10. 

• Nebraska went 6-for-14 from three-point range while the Spartans went just 5-for-25. The Huskers led 39-30 at the half, but Michigan State took a 48-47 lead to the fourth quarter.

• The Huskers are 3-4 against Michigan State all-time in East Lansing. The Huskers are 5-0 against MSU in Lincoln, including an 82-71 win over the Spartans on Feb. 17, 2019, at Pinnacle Bank Arena. Last season, Michigan State chose not to play on NU's Senior Day (Feb. 27), despite traveling to Lincoln.

• Three of Nebraska's five home wins have been decided by seven points or less.

• Five of Nebraska's nine wins have been by 10 points or less, while NU's most lopsided win in the series came with an 86-58 victory over the Spartans in the Big Ten Tournament semifinals on March 8, 2014 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.

• Michigan State's first three series wins in East Lansing were all by double digits, including a 73-53 victory in the first-ever meeting on Feb. 23, 2012. Two years later, the Spartans worked their way to a 70-57 win on Jan. 9, 2014, before rolling to a 93-73 victory over the Huskers on Jan. 7, 2017.

Nebraska Streaks
• Nebraska heads into Thursday's game at Michigan State on a 12-game winning streak, marking just the second time in school history the Huskers have opened a season 12-0, joining NU's 2009-10 squad that started 30-0, won the Big 12 title and earned a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament.

• Nebraska's last 12-game winning streak came from games No. 19 through No. 30 in 2009-10.

• The Huskers own a nine-game home winning streak, dating back to an 87-72 victory over Penn State in last year's regular-season home finale at Pinnacle Bank Arena on Feb. 21, 2021. 

• The last time Nebraska had a nine-game home winning streak came in 2015-16.

• Nebraska has won three consecutive true road games and four straight games away from Pinnacle Bank Arena.

• NU's game with Michigan State will be the second of seven scheduled games against 2021 NCAA Tournament qualifiers for the Huskers. It will be third of eight consecutive games versus 2021 postseason tournament qualifiers.

• The Huskers have knocked down at least one three in 410 straight games dating back to a loss at UTEP on Dec. 20, 2008. Nebraska has hit at least two three-pointers in 289 consecutive games.

Marginal Differences
• Nebraska enters the game against Michigan State with a combined 12-game victory margin of 337 points - the largest of any 12-game opening stretch in school history, surpassing the 317-point margin by NU's 2009-10 team.

• The current stretch also matches the largest combined cumulative margin of any 12-game stretch in school history, which came with 337 total points in Games 2-13 in 2009-10.

Deep Bench Boosts Big Red
• The Husker bench has outscored opponent reserves 401-198 (+16.9 ppg) through 12 games, including a 310-152 edge (+19.8 ppg) in eight games at Pinnacle Bank Arena

• A total of 11 Huskers are averaging better than 10.0 points per 40 minutes, including four Huskers (Annika Stewart, 30.2 pp40; Alexis Markowski, 24.3 pp40; Isabelle Bourne, 21.3 pp40; and Jaz Shelley, 21.1 pp40) who are averaging better than 20 points per 40 minutes. 

• No Husker ranks among the top 25 players in the conference in minutes per game. Jaz Shelley leads Nebraska with 27.1 minutes per game, while McKenna Warnock from Iowa ranks 25th in the conference (29.6 mpg).