Huskers Home for Clash with Hoosiers

Nebraska Cornhuskers (18-6, 7-6 Big Ten)
vs. 7/6 Indiana Hoosiers (18-3, 10-1 Big Ten)
Monday, Feb. 14, 2022, 6 p.m. (CT)
Pinnacle Bank Arena - Lincoln, Nebraska
Tickets: Huskers.com / 1-800-8-BIG-RED
Special Event: Black History Month Celebration
Live TV: BTN (Larry Punteney, Meghan McKeown)
Live Radio: Huskers Radio Network (5:45 p.m.)
Matt Coatney (PBP), Jeff Griesch (Analyst)
Lincoln (107.3 FM), Omaha (ESPN 590 AM), Huskers.com, Huskers App

Huskers Back Home to Battle Top-10 Hoosiers
Nebraska returns home from a three-game Big Ten road trip to collide with No. 7 Indiana on Valentine's Day at Pinnacle Bank Arena.

Tip-off between the Huskers (18-6, 7-6 Big Ten) and the Hoosiers (18-3, 10-1 Big Ten) is set for 6 p.m. (CT) with tickets still available at Huskers.com or by calling 1-800-8-BIG-RED. Tickets can also be purchased at the Pinnacle Bank Arena Box Office when doors open at 4:30 p.m.

Live television coverage will be provided by the Big Ten Network with Larry Punteney and Meghan McKeown on the call. Matt Coatney and Jeff Griesch will describe the action on the Huskers Radio Network (B107.3 FM, Lincoln; ESPN 590 AM, Omaha), the Huskers App and Huskers.com.

Monday's game will include a celebration of Black History Month, which will include special uniforms worn by the Huskers. The uniforms were created as part of the adidas Honoring Black Excellence (HBE) initiative, which celebrates the achievements of Black individuals and Black culture. Nebraska's cream-colored jersey features multi-color pastels along the sides, which represent the tearing down of obstacles to create something beautiful. The goldenrods on the lettering show gratitude and appreciation for the contributions of Black individuals within the program over the years. The goldenrod is the state flower of Nebraska.

The Huskers will also honor Maurtice Ivy, who was inducted into the University of Nebraska Athletic Hall of Fame last fall (Class of 2020). The Omaha Central graduate was the first 2,000-point scorer in program history and the 1988 Big Eight Player of the Year. The three-time first-team All-Big Eight choice led the Huskers to their first conference title and first NCAA Tournament appearance in 1988. Her No. 30 jersey was retired by Nebraska in 2011 and a giant banner is proudly displayed inside Pinnacle Bank Arena to honor her contributions to the Husker program.

Jaz Shelley led four Huskers in double figures with 21 points in an 82-63 road win at Illinois on Saturday. Fellow Australian Isabelle Bourne added 17 points and seven rebounds, while Bella Cravens contributed a double-double with 12 points and 11 boards.

Nebraska will be looking to avenge a 72-65 loss at Indiana on Jan. 13. Cravens missed the game with injury, but Alexis Markowski led NU with 17 points and seven rebounds, while Jaz Shelley added 15 points and nine boards. Sam Haiby had 10 points but suffered a shoulder injury early in the fourth quarter. That was the first game Indiana played without All-Big Ten center Mackenzie Holmes.

Nebraska Cornhuskers (18-6, 7-6 Big Ten)
34 - Isabelle Bourne - 6-2 - So. - F - 10.3 ppg, 4.8 rpg
40 - Alexis Markowski - 6-3 - Fr. - F/C - 12.6 ppg, 7.4 rpg
0 - Ashley Scoggin - 5-7 - RSo. - G - 8.5 ppg, 1.6 rpg
1 - Jaz Shelley - 5-9 - So. - G - 12.3 ppg, 7.3 rpg
4 - Sam Haiby - 5-9 - Jr. - G - 10.2 ppg, 4.2 rpg
Off the Bench
3 - Allison Weidner - 5-10 - Fr. - G - 6.3 ppg, 3.3 rpg
14 - Bella Cravens - 6-3 - Jr. - F - 6.2 ppg, 5.8 rpg
21 - Annika Stewart - 6-3 - Fr. - F - 5.6 ppg, 2.4 rpg
32 - Kendall Coley - 6-2 - Fr. - F/G - 2.7 ppg, 2.0 rpg
11 - Ruby Porter - 5-10 - Fr. - G - 2.6 ppg, 0.9 rpg
10 - Whitney Brown - 5-8 - Fr. - G - 2.1 ppg, 0.7 rpg
5 - MiCole Cayton - 5-9 - Gr. - G - 2.0 ppg, 0.9 rpg
15 - Kendall Moriarty - 6-1 - Fr. - G - 1.6 ppg, 0.5 rpg
Head Coach: Amy Williams (Nebraska, 1998)
Sixth Season at Nebraska (90-81); 15th Season Overall (283-190)

7/6 Indiana Hoosiers (18-3, 10-1 Big Ten)
10 - Aleksa Gulbe - 6-3 - Sr. - F - 12.5 ppg, 6.3 rpg
23 - Kiandra Browne - 6-2 - So. - F - 3.3 ppg, 3.8 rpg
4 - Nicole Cardaño-Hillary - 5-6 - Gr. - G - 11.6 ppg, 5.1 rpg
14 - Ali Patberg - 5-11 - Gr. - G - 12.2 ppg, 3.2 rpg
34 - Grace Berger - 6-0 - Sr. - G - 15.8 ppg, 6.3 rpg
Off the Bench
54 - Mackenzie Holmes - 6-2 - Jr. - F - 17.9 ppg, 8.2 rpg
22 - Chloe Moore-McNeil - 5-11 - So. - G - 4.6 ppg, 3.1 rpg
1 - Kaitlin Peterson - 5-9 - Fr. - G - 2.0 ppg, 0.6 rpg
3 - Grace Waggoner - 6-0 - Jr. - G - 0.5 ppg, 0.7 rpg
24 - Mona Zaric - 6-2 - Fr. - F - 0.0 ppg, 0.2 rpg
25 - Arielle Wisne - 6-5 - RSo. - C - 0.0 ppg, 0.3 rpg
Head Coach: Teri Moren (Purdue, 1992)
Eighth Season at Indiana (166-83); 19th Season Overall (365-213)

Nebraska Numbers to Watch
• Through games Feb. 12, the Huskers ranked among the top 25 teams nationally in total rebounds (8th, 1,034), scoring margin (10th, +16.6), scoring offense (12th, 78.5 ppg), assists (13th, 420), assists per game (14th, 17.5 apg), rebounds per game (15th, 43.1 rpg), three-point field goals made (16th, 206), assist-to-turnover ratio (17th, 1.21), defensive rebounds per game (21st, 29.3 rpg) and three-point field goals made per game (23rd, 8.6 pg).

• Nebraska leads the Big Ten in scoring margin (+16.6 ppg), total rebounds (43.1 rpg), field goal percentage defense (.371) and three-point field goal percentage defense (.268).

• Alexis Markowski is a six-time Big Ten Freshman of the Week and the USBWA National Freshman of the Week (Jan. 11).

• Nebraska guard Jaz Shelley is the only player to rank among the top 20 players in the Big Ten in scoring (20th, 12.3 ppg), rebounding (9th, 7.3 rpg), assists (6th, 4.8 apg), blocked shots (2nd, 1.3 bpg) and steals (13th, 1.7 spg).

• Huskers Jaz Shelley (11th, 2.2 pg) and Ashley Scoggin (14th, 2.2 pg) rank among the top 15 shooters in the Big Ten in three-point field goals made per game. 

• Nebraska ranks 12th nationally in scoring offense with 78.5 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 167 total rebounds in 676 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 29 blocked shots in 23 games. She had six blocks in 55 games over two seasons at Oregon.

• In 24 games in 2021-22, Nebraska has far surpassed its season steals total (120, 26 games) from a year ago. The Huskers own 184 steals this season.

• Nebraska's minus-21 foul disparity (28-7) at Iowa (Jan. 16) marked the largest foul differential in program history (by NU or opponent) in 1,452 games over 48 seasons. It marked the first time in history that a Husker team held a negative foul differential of greater than 17. In NU's other 23 games this season, the Huskers own a positive foul differential of +1.6.

• Nebraska has hit 206 threes this season, which ranks eighth in school history. NU's record for made threes came with 250 (2017-18) when the Huskers earned their last NCAA Tournament bid.

Scouting The No. 7/6 Indiana Hoosiers
• Indiana comes to Lincoln at No. 7 in the AP Poll and No. 6 in the WBCA Top 25. The 18-3 (10-1 Big Ten) Hoosiers are coming off a 76-58 home win over Michigan State in Bloomington Saturday.

• The Hoosiers and Huskers will both be playing their sixth games since Jan. 31. Indiana and Nebraska were both affected by health and safety pauses in their programs after games on Jan. 16. NU resumed action Jan. 27 vs. Wisconsin, while Indiana resumed Jan. 31 at Michigan.

• Indiana has continued its winning ways despite playing without All-Big Ten center Mackenzie Holmes (17.9 ppg, 8.2 rpg) who missed her first game with a knee injury against Nebraska (Jan. 13). Holmes underwent surgery Jan. 20. She is hopeful to return before the end of this season.

• After restarting with a 65-50 loss at Michigan (Jan. 31), the Hoosiers have reeled off four straight wins, including three at home (Minnesota, Purdue, Michigan State) along with a 93-61 pounding of Illinois in Champaign (Feb. 9).

• Grace Berger, a returning All-Big Ten senior guard and national player-of-the-year candidate, has been outstanding the last seven games capped by a career-high 29 points to go with seven rebounds and three assists in Saturday's win over Michigan State.

• Berger is averaging 19.6 points, 7.1 rebounds and 5.4 assists over the last seven games without Holmes in the lineup. Berger was averaging 13.9 points, 5.9 rebounds and 4.9 assists through Indiana's first 14 games this season. She led Indiana with 22 points in the first meeting with NU.

• Senior Aleksa Gulbe has also stepped up in Holmes' absence, averaging 16.6 points and 6.1 boards the last seven games. The 6-3 forward averaged 10.4 points and 6.4 rebounds through the first 14 games. She scored 17 points and hit three threes in Indiana's 72-65 win over NU (Jan. 13). Gulbe is shooting a scorching 14-of-27 (.519) from long range the last seven contests.

• Nicole Cardaño-Hillary has contributed 13.5 points and 5.3 rebounds over her last six games, after averaging 10.7 points and 4.9 rebounds over the first 14. Cardaño-Hillary has hit a team-best 34-of-80 threes (.425) on the year, including 11-of-24 (.458) her last six games. 

• Ali Patberg, a sixth-year guard and a national player-of-the-year candidate, has added 12.2 points and 3.5 assists on the year. Patberg, Berger and Gulbe have started all 21 games and all average more than 34 minutes per game. Cardaño-Hillary has started 20 (missed win at Purdue, Jan. 16).

• Kiandra Browne, a 6-2 sophomore forward has filled in as a starter for Holmes, averaging 3.3 points and 4.3 rebounds the past seven games. 

• Chloe Moore-McNeil, a 5-11 guard, has produced the most off the bench in place of Holmes, averaging 7.3 points and 3.6 boards the last seven games, after averaging just 3.0 points and 2.8 rebounds through the first 14. She had eight points and four boards as one of only six Hoosiers to play in the first meeting with Nebraska.

• Indiana is hitting 46.4 percent of its shots from the field, including 35.4 percent (109-308) of its threes and 73.5 percent of its free throws. IU owns a plus-3.7 rebound margin and a plus-2.3 turnover margin, including a plus-5.0 turnover margin over the last seven games. The Hoosiers have been out-rebounded by 2.9 boards per game without Holmes.

Nebraska vs. Indiana Series History
• Indiana leads the all-time series with Nebraska, 10-5, including six consecutive wins with four of those coming in Bloomington. The Huskers suffered a 72-65 loss at the hands of No. 6 Indiana (Jan. 13), as national player-of-the-year candidate Grace Berger led four Hoosiers in double figures with 22 points, while Aleksa Gulbe pitched in 17 points.

• Alexis Markowski scored 11 of her team-high 17 points in the fourth quarter to help Nebraska rally from a 17-point third-quarter deficit to pull within 68-65 with 24 seconds left. Jaz Shelley added 15 points and nine rebounds, while Sam Haiby pitched in 10 points but missed nearly the entire fourth quarter after suffering a shoulder injury early in the period.

• The last two games in Lincoln have gone down to the wire with Indiana holding off the Huskers, 57-53, on Feb. 9, 2020, after escaping Pinnacle Bank Arena with an 82-78 win on Feb. 3, 2019.

• Nebraska's last win in the series came with a 67-64 victory on Feb. 19, 2017 in Lincoln. NU's last win in Bloomington was also a 67-64 win on Feb. 21, 2015.

• A total of 13 of 15 meetings in the series have been as Big Ten foes, beginning with a 62-48 Husker win in Lincoln (Jan. 5, 2012). Nebraska won the first four meetings as conference opponents, including a 67-38 win in Bloomington on Jan. 10, 2013 - NU's fewest points ever allowed to a Big Ten foe in a conference game.

Markowski Making Mark as Freshman
• Alexis Markowski is making her mark as a true freshman for her hometown Huskers. The 6-3 forward/center from Lincoln leads Nebraska with 12.6 points and 7.4 rebounds per game.

• A six-time Big Ten Freshman of the Week, Markowski has increased her production to 17.3 points, 8.5 rebounds and 1.5 steals over the past 11 games as a Big Ten starter. She has hit 56.9 percent from the field and 57.1 percent (12-21) from three-point range in league play.

• Markowski has captured four of the past five Big Ten Freshman-of-the-Week awards and was named the USBWA Tamika Catchings National Freshman of the Week (Jan. 11).

Nebraska Streaks
• Isabelle Bourne and Alexis Markowski are the only Huskers to score in all 24 games in 2021-22.

• Ashley Scoggin has started a team-best 50 consecutive games.

• The Huskers have hit at least one three in 422 straight games dating back to a loss at UTEP on Dec. 20, 2008. Nebraska has hit at least two three-pointers in 301 consecutive games.

Deep Bench Boosts Big Red
• The Husker bench has outscored opponent reserves 639-350 (+12.0 ppg) through 24 games, including a 444-229 edge (+15.4 ppg) in 14 games at Pinnacle Bank Arena.

• A total of 10 Huskers are averaging better than 10.0 points per 40 minutes, including two Huskers (Alexis Markowski, 26.8 pp40, 15.7 rp40 and Annika Stewart, 22.7 pp40; 9.5 rp40) 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 29.4 minutes per game, while Braxtin Miller from Ohio State ranks 25th in the conference (30.4 mpg).