Huskers Close Stand with Red Out

Nebraska Cornhuskers (16-4, 5-4 Big Ten)
vs. Penn State Lady Lions (9-11, 3-7 Big Ten)
Thursday, Feb. 3, 2022, 7 p.m. (CT)
Pinnacle Bank Arena - Lincoln, Nebraska
Tickets: Huskers.com / 1-800-8-BIG-RED
Special Event: Red Out
Live TV: BTN (Larry Punteney, Brenda VanLengen)
Live Radio: Huskers Radio Network (6:45 p.m.)
Matt Coatney (PBP), Jeff Griesch (Analyst)
Lincoln (107.3 FM), Omaha (ESPN 590 AM), Huskers.com, Huskers App

Huskers Close Historic Home Stand With Red Out
Nebraska closes the first four-game conference home stand in school history on Thursday when the Huskers play host to Penn State at Pinnacle Bank Arena.

Tip-off between the Huskers (16-4, 5-4 Big Ten) and the Lady Lions (9-11, 3-7 Big Ten) is set for 7 p.m. (CT) with tickets available now at Huskers.com.

The Big Red, who are 3-0 on the current stand, have called for a "Red Out" with all fans encouraged to wear red to help celebrate National Girls and Women in Sports Day (Feb. 2) and National Wear Red Day (Feb. 4). The Huskers will be wearing their red uniforms.

Television coverage will be provided by the Big Ten Network with Larry Punteney and Brenda VanLengen on the call.

Matt Coatney and Jeff Griesch will provide commentary for the Huskers Radio Network (B107.3 FM, Lincoln; ESPN 590 AM, Omaha), Huskers.com and the Huskers App.

The Huskers, who will be playing their fourth game in eight days, are coming off a hard-fought 50-38 victory over Rutgers in Lincoln on Tuesday. In one of the lowest scoring games in school history, five-time Big Ten Freshman of the Week Alexis Markowski carried Nebraska inside with 16 points and a career-high 15 rebounds to produce her third double-double. Markowski is averaging 18.9 points, 8.0 rebounds and 1.9 steals in seven games as a starter in Big Ten play.

The 38 points allowed to Rutgers matched the fewest points the Huskers have ever allowed in a Big Ten game, joining a 67-38 win at Indiana (Jan. 10, 2013).

Returning All-Big Ten guard Sam Haiby added 12 points for her 13th consecutive Big Ten double-figure scoring performance. Haiby knocked down a trio of three-pointers for the second straight game, including a pair of huge fourth-quarter threes against the Scarlet Knights. Haiby is averaging 11.1 points, 4.3 rebounds and 3.7 assists on the season.

Jaz Shelley continues to lead the Huskers overall on the season as the only Big Ten player to rank in the conference's top 20 in scoring (12.7 ppg), rebounding (7.4 rpg), assists (4.8 apg), blocks (1.3 bpg) and steals (1.8 spg). Shelley owns five double-doubles this season including a triple-double in points, rebounds and assists against North Carolina Central (Nov. 20).

Penn State comes to Lincoln trying to snap a four-game losing streak dating back to a double-digit setback at Wisconsin (Jan. 23). The Lady Lions also suffered double-digit home losses to Iowa (Jan. 25), Michigan State (Jan. 27) and Maryland (Jan. 30) in a stretch of four games in eight days.

Nebraska Cornhuskers (16-4, 5-4 Big Ten)
34 - Isabelle Bourne - 6-2 - So. - F - 9.7 ppg, 4.5 rpg
40 - Alexis Markowski - 6-3 - Fr. - F/C - 12.3 ppg, 7.0 rpg
0 - Ashley Scoggin - 5-7 - RSo. - G - 8.3 ppg, 1.5 rpg
1 - Jaz Shelley - 5-9 - So. - G - 12.7 ppg, 7.4 rpg
4 - Sam Haiby - 5-9 - Jr. - G - 11.1 ppg, 4.3 rpg
Off the Bench
14 - Bella Cravens - 6-3 - Jr. - F - 6.7 ppg, 5.9 rpg
21 - Annika Stewart - 6-3 - Fr. - F - 5.9 ppg, 2.5 rpg    
3 - Allison Weidner - 5-10 - Fr. - G - 5.8 ppg, 3.6 rpg
32 - Kendall Coley - 6-2 - Fr. - F/G - 3.1 ppg, 2.3 rpg
11 - Ruby Porter - 5-10 - Fr. - G - 2.8 ppg, 0.7 rpg
10 - Whitney Brown - 5-8 - Fr. - G - 2.3 ppg, 0.8 rpg
5 - MiCole Cayton - 5-9 - Gr. - G - 2.1 ppg, 1.1 rpg
15 - Kendall Moriarty - 6-1 - Fr. - G - 1.7 ppg, 0.5 rpg
Head Coach: Amy Williams (Nebraska, 1998)
Sixth Season at Nebraska (88-79); 15th Season Overall (281-188)

Penn State Lady Lions (9-11, 3-7 Big Ten)
1 - Ali Brigham - 6-4 - So. - F - 10.2 ppg, 4.9 rpg
5 - Leilani Kapinus - 5-10 - Fr. - G - 8.9 ppg, 5.0 rpg
20 - Makenna Marisa - 5-11 - Jr. - G - 22.0 ppg, 4.1 rpg
23 - Shay Hagans - 5-6 - Jr. - G - 6.8 ppg, 2.1 rpg
25 - Kelly Jekot - 6-0 - Gr. - G - 3.9 ppg, 1.9 rpg
Off the Bench
11 - Anna Camden - 6-3 - Jr. - F - 6.1 ppg, 5.5 rpg
4 - Niya Beverley - 5-7 - Sr. - G - 5.9 ppg, 2.4 rpg
10 - Tova Sabel - 5-10 - So. - G - 5.0 ppg, 2.9 rpg
15 - Maddie Burke - 6-0 - So. - G - 3.0 ppg, 1.7 rpg
12 - Kayla Thomas - 6-3 - Fr. - F - 1.9 ppg, 0.8 rpg
Head Coach: Carolyn Kieger (Marquette, 2006)
Third Season at Penn State (25-49); Eighth Season Overall (124-113)

Nebraska Numbers to Watch
• Sam Haiby needs four points to match Brooke Schwartz (1,243) at 18th on NU's all-time scoring list. 

• Through games Feb. 1, the Huskers ranked among the top 25 teams nationally in scoring margin (8th, +19.4), scoring offense (10th, 79.6 ppg), assists per game (13th, 17.8 apg), assist-to-turnover ratio (14th, 1.25), defensive rebounds per game (15th, 29.7 rpg), assists (15th, 355), rebounds per game (17th, 43.0 rpg), three-point field goals made (19th, 175), three-point field goals made per game (20th, 8.8 pg) and three-point field goal percentage defense.  

• Nebraska leads the Big Ten in scoring margin (+19.4 ppg), total rebounds (43.0 rpg), field goal percentage defense (.362) and three-point field goal percentage defense (.261).

• Alexis Markowski has hit 63.2 percent (12-19) of her three-point attempts as a starter, despite going 0-for-4 against Rutgers (Feb. 1).

• Nebraska guard Jaz Shelley ranks among the top 20 players in the Big Ten in scoring (18th, 12.7 ppg), rebounding (9th, 7.4 rpg), assists (7th, 4.8 apg), blocked shots (4th, 1.3 bpg), steals (6th, 1.8 spg), three-point field goal percentage (7th, .413), three-pointers made per game (11th, 2.3) and assist-to-turnover ratio (5th, 2.0).

• Jaz Shelley is the only Big Ten player to rank among the top 20 in the conference in all five major statistical categories: scoring (18th), rebounding (9th), assists (7th), blocks (4th), steals (6th).

• Huskers Jaz Shelley (11th, 2.3 pg) and Ashley Scoggin (13th, 2.1 pg) rank among the top players in the Big Ten in three-point field goals made per game. 

• Nebraska is the only team in the nation with two shooters (Scoggin, 19th; Shelley, 33rd) ranked among the top 35 in three-point field goal percentage.

• Jaz Shelley needs nine assists to reach 100 for the season.

• Nebraska's backcourt has taken care of the ball while creating opportunities. Jaz Shelley (2.0) and Sam Haiby (1.7) rank No. 5 and No. 13, respectively in the Big Ten in assist-to-turnover ratio based on the NCAA minimum of 3.0 assists per game. Husker reserves Ruby Porter (3.0) and Allison Weidner (2.0), who don't meet the NCAA minimums, also own outstanding assist-to-turnover ratios.

• Nebraska ranks 10th nationally in scoring offense with 79.6 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 152 total rebounds in 552 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 24 blocked shots in 19 games. She had six blocks in 55 games over two seasons at Oregon.

• In 20 games in 2021-22, Nebraska has far surpassed its season steals total (120, 26 games) from a year ago. The Huskers own 161 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 1,448 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 19 games this season, the Huskers own a positive foul differential of +1.9.

• In four career games against Penn State, Sam Haiby has averaged 13.5 points, 6.3 rebounds and 4.5 assists, hitting 94.4 percent (17-18) of her free throws and 58.3 percent (7-12) of her three-point attempts. As a team over those four games, the Huskers have hit 45.5 percent (35-77) of their long-range attempts.

Scouting The Penn State Lady Lions
• Penn State travels to Lincoln Thursday trying to snap a four-game losing streak following an 82-71 loss to Maryland in University Park, Pa., on Sunday. The setback to the Terrapins marked PSU's fourth straight loss by double figures, in a stretch where the Lady Lions played four games in eight days. Penn State also suffered a 21-point home loss to Michigan State (Jan. 27) and a 28-point home loss to Iowa (Jan. 25), after opening the stretch with a 12-point setback at Wisconsin (Jan. 23).

• Penn State's struggles the past 10 days followed back-to-back wins over Illinois and Northwestern.

• The Lady Lions are 9-11 overall and 3-7 in the Big Ten under third-year coach Carolyn Kieger. Last season, Penn State finished with a 9-15 overall mark that included a 6-13 Big Ten record.

• Offensively, Penn State is averaging 71.3 points per game. The Lady Lions are powered by the conference's second-leading scorer, Makenna Marisa, a 5-11 junior guard averaging 22 points per game. Marissa has hit 48 threes (.375) and is an 81.7 percent free throw shooter. She also leads PSU with 4.2 assists per game.

• Ali Brigham, a 6-4 sophomore forward has added 10.2 points and 4.9 rebounds while shooting a team-best 57.6 percent from the field.

• Freshman Leilani Kapinus has added 8.9 points and 5.0 rebounds. The 5-10 guard also leads PSU with 1.3 blocks per game.

• Junior guard Shay Hagans (6.8 ppg, 2.1 rpg, 2.1 apg, 1.9 spg) and graduate guard Kelly Jekot (3.9 ppg, 1.9 rpg) round out Penn State's probable starting five.

• Penn State also gets regular contributions off the bench from Tova Sabel (5.0 ppg, 2.9 rpg) and Maddie Burke (3.0 ppg, 1.7) while fifth-year guard and former Wisconsin Badger Niya Beverley (5.9 ppg, 2.4 rpg) has been a part-time starter for the Lady Lions. Beverley has had several big games against Nebraska, including 11 points, five assists and five steals in Penn State's 87-72 loss to the Huskers at Pinnacle Bank Arena on Feb. 21, 2021.

• While Penn State ranks in the middle of the pack offensively in the Big Ten, the Lady Lions rank last in defense, surrendering 73.6 points per game. Opponents are hitting 43.3 percent of their field goal attempts, including a whopping 36.9 percent of their three-pointers. Over the last four games, PSU foes have knocked down 44.2 percent (38-86) of their three-point tries and 51 percent of their overall field goals while averaging 84.3 points per game.

• The Lady Lions also have struggled on the glass, ranking 13th in the Big Ten in rebounding margin (-5.7 rpg) including a minus-8.9 margin in conference play (38.4-29.5) and a minus-13.5 margin during their four-game losing streak (38.5-25.0).

• PSU owns a plus-0.8 turnover margin in 2021-22, but a minus-1.7 turnover margin in Big Ten play.

Nebraska vs. Penn State Series History
• Nebraska leads the all-time series with Penn State, 9-7, including an 87-72 victory over the Lady Lions in the last meeting between the two schools at Pinnacle Bank Arena on Feb. 21, 2021. 

• Isabelle Bourne led the Big Red with 22 points and 11 rebounds, while Sam Haiby and Ashley Scoggin each pitched in 18 points and hit four three-pointers apiece. Haiby added eight rebounds and six assists. Annika Stewart contributed 10 points and a pair of threes off the bench, as the Big Red buried 13-of-24 threes in the game.

• Makenna Marisa (21) and Maddie Burke (20) combined for 41 points and 10 rebounds on 9-of-18 three-point shooting for the Lady Lions, while Johnasia Cash added 17 points and 13 boards. Niya Beverley pitched in 11 points and five assists but the other six Lady Lions combined for just three points in the loss. PSU hit 11-of-32 threes overall as the teams combined to hit 24-of-56 threes.

• Nebraska's win avenged an 85-74 loss at Penn State (Feb. 4), when Cash went off for 27 points and 19 rebounds, while Marisa (17), Burke (13) and Shay Hagans (10) added double figures.

• The Huskers have won eight of the last 10 in the series with Penn State.

• Penn State won five of the first six all-time meetings, dating back to a 102-66 win over the Huskers in University Park on Jan. 2, 1993.

• Twelve of the 16 meetings in the series have been decided by double digits.

Nebraska Streaks
• Sam Haiby has produced double figures in her last 13 Big Ten games, including all eight she has played this season. She has scored double digits in all four of her previous games against Penn State.

• Alexis Markowski has produced double figures in eight straight games.

• Ashley Scoggin has started a team-best 46 consecutive games.

• The Huskers have knocked down at least one three in 418 straight games dating back to a loss at UTEP on Dec. 20, 2008. Nebraska has hit at least two three-pointers in 297 consecutive games.

Deep Bench Boosts Big Red
• The Husker bench has outscored opponent reserves 563-279 (+14.2 ppg) through 20 games, including a 422-215 edge (+15.9 ppg) in 13 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, 27.8 pp40, 15.8 rp40 and Annika Stewart, 23.4 pp40; 9.8 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 29.1 minutes per game, while Ashley Owusu from Maryland ranks 25th in the conference (30.6 mpg).