Huskers Face No. 4 USC New Year's Day

The Nebraska women’s basketball team battles its second straight top-five foe when the Huskers wrap up their first Big Ten road trip by clashing with No. 4 USC New Year's Day in Los Angeles.

Tip-off between the Huskers (10-3, 1-1 Big Ten) and the Trojans (12-1, 2-0 Big Ten) at the Galen Center on Wednesday, Jan. 1, is set for 2 p.m. (CT).

Live television coverage will be provided by the Big Ten Network with Ann Schatz and Krista Blunk on the call.

Nebraska fans can listen across the Huskers Radio Network, including 107.3 FM in Lincoln and 590 AM in Omaha, the Huskers App and Huskers.com. Matt Coatney and Jeff Griesch will be on the radio call with pregame beginning at 1:30 p.m. (CT).

The Huskers will be looking to bounce back from a 91-54 loss at No. 1 UCLA on Sunday. The Huskers led 26-25 with under five minutes remaining in the second quarter before the unbeaten Bruins went on a 12-0 run to take control. The Bruins, who entered the game with nearly a plus-20 rebound margin, dominated the glass 48-18 against the Huskers. Nebraska led the Big Ten in rebound margin a year ago and entered the game as one of the Big Ten's best teams on the boards.

All-America candidate Alexis Markowski, who led Nebraska with 20 points and 10 rebounds for her fifth double-double in a setback at unbeaten Georgia Tech (Dec. 21), was held to just three points and two rebounds against Lauren Betts and the Bruins. Markowski, who was in early foul trouble at Pauley Pavilion, owns a school-record 45 career double-doubles. She has pushed her career totals to 1,546 points and 1,057 rebounds. The Naismith, Wooden and Lisa Leslie Award candidate is one of just four Huskers in history to achieve the combined career milestones of 1,500 points and 1,000 rebounds - joining only first-team All-Americans Karen Jennings (1993), Kelsey Griffin (2010) and Jordan Hooper (2014). All three of those Huskers have their jerseys retired and are in Nebraska’s Athletic Hall of Fame. Markowski, a three-time All-Big Ten choice, is averaging team bests of 15.0 points and 8.3 rebounds this season.

Big Ten Freshman of the Year candidate Britt Prince is off to a strong start, ranking second among the Huskers in scoring (12.6 ppg), assists (3.1 apg) and steals (1.6 spg) while adding 3.8 rebounds. The two-time Nebraska High School Player of the Year has put up double figures in eight of her 12 games and has scored no fewer than six points in any contest.

Fellow freshman Amiah Hargrove led Nebraska with 12 points off the bench at UCLA, after making her first career starts against Chattanooga (Dec. 15) and at unbeaten Georgia Tech. She has produced double figures four times and is averaging 5.0 points and 3.2 rebounds while trying to help the Huskers overcome the loss of 2024 Big Ten Freshman of the Year Natalie Potts to a season-ending knee injury against North Alabama (Nov. 19). Potts was Nebraska's leading scorer (17.5 ppg) and rebounder (8.0 rpg) through four games. She underwent surgery on Dec. 4 and is expected to regain the season of eligibility.

Nebraska Cornhuskers (10-3, 1-1 Big Ten)
at 4/5 USC Trojans (12-1, 2-0 Big Ten)
Wednesday, January 1, 2025, 2 p.m. (CT)
Galen Center - Los Angeles, California
Television: BTN (Ann Schatz, Krista Blunk)
Live Radio: Huskers Radio Network (1:30 p.m.)
Matt Coatney (PBP), Jeff Griesch (Analyst)
Lincoln (107.3 FM), Omaha (590 AM), Huskers.com, Huskers App
Live Stats: Huskers.com

Nebraska Cornhuskers (10-3, 1-1 Big Ten)
12 - Jessica Petrie - 6-2 - So. - F - 4.1 ppg, 2.9 rpg
40 - Alexis Markowski - 6-3 - Sr. - C/F - 14.1 ppg, 7.8 rpg
2 - Logan Nissley - 6-0 - So. - G - 6.8 ppg, 1.4 rpg
14 - Callin Hake - 5-8 - Jr. - G - 7.7 ppg, 3.2 rpg
23 - Britt Prince - 5-11 - Fr. - G - 12.6 ppg, 3.8 rpg
Off the Bench
5 - Alberte Rimdal - 5-9 - Sr. - G - 6.9 ppg, 2.4 rpg
44 - Petra Bozan - 6-3 - Fr. - F/C - 5.6 ppg, 3.5 rpg
33 - Amiah Hargrove - 6-2 - Fr. - F - 5.0 ppg, 3.2 rpg
15 - Kendall Moriarty - 6-1 - Sr. - G - 4.1 ppg, 1.8 rpg
3 - Allison Weidner - 5-10 - RJr. - G - 3.5 ppg, 3.2 rpg
32 - Kendall Coley - 6-2 - Gr. - F/G - 3.0 ppg, 1.4 rpg
22 - Natalie Potts [Out] - 6-2 - So. - F - 14.4 ppg, 7.4 rpg
4 - Kennadi Williams - 5-4 - Fr. - G - Redshirt
Head Coach: Amy Williams (Nebraska, 1998)
Ninth Season at Nebraska (147-114); 18th Season Overall (340-223)

 

4/5 USC Trojans (12-1, 2-0 Big Ten)
22 - Kiki Iriafen - 6-3 - Gr. - F - 18.5 ppg, 9.3 rpg
13 - Rayah Marshall - 6-4 - Sr. - C/F - 8.4 ppg, 8.6 rpg
11 - Kennedy Smith - 6-1 - Fr. - G - 8.8 ppg, 3.5 rpg
12 - JuJu Watkins - 6-2 - So. - G - 25.2 ppg, 5.8 rpg
55 - Talia von Oelhoffen - 5-11 - Gr. - G - 6.9 ppg, 3.3 rpg
Off the Bench
9 - Kayleigh Heckel - 5-9 - Fr. - G - 7.1 ppg, 1.7 rpg
23 - Avery Howell - 6-0 - Fr. - G - 5.6 ppg, 2.8 rpg
10 - Malia Samuels - 5-6 - So. - G - 3.2 ppg, 1.4 rpg
0 - Vivian Iwuchukwu - 6-3 - Fr. - F - 2.8 ppg, 2.3 rpg
4 - Rian Forestier - 5-11 - Fr. - G - 2.4 ppg, 0.9 rpg
34 - Clarice Akunwafo - 6-6 - Sr. - C - 1.2 ppg, 2.4 rpg
Head Coach: Lindsay Gottlieb (Brown, 1999)
Fourth Season at USC (74-33); 15th Season Overall (309-161)

Scouting the No. 4 USC Trojans
• National Player of the Year candidate JuJu Watkins leads No. 4 USC into Wednesday's game with a Big Ten-leading 25.2 points per game, while adding 5.8 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 2.5 steals per contest. The 6-2 sophomore guard is coming off a 31-point, five-rebound, seven-assist effort in USC's 78-58 win over No. 23 Michigan at the Galen Center on Sunday night. She has scored 20 or more points in 12 of 13 games this season, including a season-best 40 in a win over Cal Baptist. Watkins had 25 in a win over UConn (Dec. 21) and 21 points in a Big Ten-opening win over Oregon (Dec. 7).

• Fourth-year USC head coach Lindsay Gottlieb is hoping to push the Trojans to the Final Four after advancing to the NCAA Elite Eight a year ago. The Trojans also won the 2024 Pac-12 Tournament title.

• In addition to an elite player in Watkins, Gottlieb and the Trojans feature outstanding graduate forward Kiki Iriafen. The 6-3 Iriafen was the 2024 Katrina McClain Award winner at Stanford. She is averaging 18.5 points and a team-best 9.3 rebounds for the Trojans. She had 18 points and nine boards in just 20 minutes while battling foul trouble in Sunday's win over Michigan. Iriafen has produced double figures in all 13 games this year, including a season-high 30 points in a win over Saint Louis (Nov. 29). She pulled down a season-best 13 rebounds in her USC debut against Ole Miss.

• Rayah Marshall gives the Trojans more size and production on the block. The 6-4 post is averaging 8.4 points and 8.6 rebounds while shooting 51.6 percent from the field. Marshall has scored in double figures five times this season, including a season-high-tying 15 points in the win over Michigan. She owns four double-digit rebound games this year, including 14 boards in a win over Elon (Dec. 15).

• Talia von Oelhoffen gives the Trojans a second impact grad transfer from within the old Pac-12. The 5-11 von Oelhoffen starred at Oregon State before joining the Trojans. The All-Pac-12 guard averaged 11.2 points and 5.0 assists in leading the Beavers to the 2024 NCAA Sweet Sixteen, including team highs of 19 points and eight assists in a second-round win over Nebraska in Corvallis (March 24). She is averaging 6.9 points, 3.3 rebounds and 3.3 assists this season, but was held scoreless Sunday against Michigan. She has produced double-figure points six times this season.

• Freshman guard Kennedy Smith has returned to the starting five the past two games after missing seven contests following a surgical procedure. The 6-1 guard is averaging 8.8 points and 3.5 rebounds over six starts. Smith, the 2024 California Gatorade Player of the Year and a McDonald's High School All-American, scored in double figures in each of her first three games this season. She returned to action in USC's win over UConn to score nine big points. She was held to three points and two rebounds in 32 minutes in Sunday's win over Michigan in her Big Ten debut.

• Kayleigh Heckel replaced Smith in USC's starting five and provided solid contributions. The 5-9 freshman has averaged 7.1 points on 52.9 percent shooting from the field. Heckel, who joined Smith on the McDonald's All-America Team and was a teammate of Smith's on the gold-medal-winning USA Team at the FIBA U18 AmeriCup, has produced double figures three times this season. She had five points off the bench in wins over UConn and Michigan.

• Avery Howell gives USC another contributor from the freshman class. The 6-0 guard is averaging 5.6 points and 2.8 rebounds. The two-time Idaho Gatorade Player of the Year was an alternate on the 2024 Canadian Olympic Team. Howell has produced double figures three times off the bench, including a season-high 14 points in a win over Seton Hall. She scored six points in wins over UConn and Michigan, and she opened Big Ten play with seven points in a win over Oregon.

• Sophomore Malia Samuels (3.2 ppg, 1.4 rpg), a 5-6 guard, is one of seven Trojans to play in all 13 games. Senior Clarice Akunwafo (1.2 ppg, 2.4 rpg), a 6-6 senior, has made 12 appearances for USC.

• As a team, USC has produced a dominant plus-32 scoring margin (82.5-52.5 ppg) despite a 74-61 loss to current No. 3 Notre Dame (Nov. 23). The Trojans also carry a plus-11.7 rebound margin, including 14.7 offensive rebounds per game. Iriafen is averaging 4.8 offensive boards per contest. USC also carries an impressive plus-6.2 turnover margin. The Trojans have attempted 103 more field goals and 108 more free throws than their opponents.

Nebraska vs. USC Series History
• Nebraska leads the all-time series with Southern California, 5-3, including five consecutive victories.

• The Trojans have not defeated the Huskers for more than 30 years, with Nebraska's most recent win coming in a 67-54 victory on Nov. 29, 2019.

• The Big Red's five-game winning streak began with a 72-65 win over USC at the Galen Center on Nov. 26, 2006. The following season, the Huskers defeated the Trojans, 87-69, at the Devaney Center in Lincoln on Dec. 8, 2007.

• Nebraska opened another home-and-home non-conference series with USC on Nov. 18, 2011, with a 68-50 pounding of the No. 23 Trojans at the Devaney Center. The following season, the No. 23 Huskers defeated USC, 74-65, at the Galen Center on Nov. 23, 2012. That Husker team, which featured future WNBA stars Lindsey Moore and Jordan Hooper, went on to the NCAA Sweet Sixteen.

• USC's last series win over the Huskers came in the 1993 NCAA Tournament in Los Angeles, when the No. 15 Trojans defeated Nebraska and 1993 Wade Trophy winner Karen Jennings, 78-60, on March 21, 1993.

• No. 14 USC also defeated the 1988 Big Eight Champion Huskers, 100-82, in Nebraska's first-ever NCAA Tournament game on March 19, 1988.

• The first meeting in series history also featured the closest result with USC outlasting Nebraska, 72-70 in overtime in Los Angeles on Jan. 12, 1977.

Markowski in NU's 1,500-Point/1,000-Rebound Club
• Alexis Markowski has increased her career totals to 1,546 points and 1,057 rebounds. She is just the fourth Nebraska player to achieve the combined career milestones of 1,500 points and 1,000 rebounds.

• The quality of that short list is undeniable. Karen Jennings (2,405 points/1,000 rebounds, 1990-93) won the 1993 Wade Trophy, was a first-team All-American and the 1993 Big Eight Player of the Year.

• Kelsey Griffin (2,033 points/1,019 rebounds, 2006-10) won the 2010 Senior CLASS Award, was a first-round WNBA Draft pick, a first-team All-American and the 2010 Big 12 Player of the Year.

• Jordan Hooper (2,357 points/1,110 rebounds, 2011-14) was a first-team All-American, the 2014 Big Ten Player of the Year and the first pick of the second round in the 2014 WNBA Draft.

Markowski Joins Elite Rebounders in NU History
• Nebraska All-America candidate Alexis Markowski joined one of the most elite groups in Husker history by pulling down her 1,000th career rebound in the fourth quarter at Creighton (Nov. 22).

• The 6-3 center from Lincoln became just the sixth Husker women’s basketball player and just the eighth Nebraska men’s or women’s player to reach the 1,000 milestone on the boards.

• Markowski finished the game with 1,001 career boards to push past 1993 Wade Trophy winner Karen Jennings into the No. 5 spot on the Husker women’s basketball career chart.

• Markowski has pushed her career rebound total to 1,057, passing first-team All-American Kelsey Griffin at No. 4 on Nebraska’s career rebound list. Markowski enters the USC game 63 rebounds behind first-team All-American and 2014 Big Ten Player of the Year Jordan Hooper (1,110) at No. 3 on the Nebraska all-time rebound list. Hooper grabbed her rebounds in 4,030 career minutes (11.0 rp40), while Markowski’s boards have come in just 2,923 minutes (14.5 rp40).

Prince Battling for Big Ten All-Freshman Honors
• Britt Prince is off to one of the best starts by a freshman in the Big Ten Conference in 2024-25. The 5-11 point guard from Omaha ranks second among the Huskers with 12.6 points, while adding 3.8 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 1.6 steals over her first 12 games.

• The two-time Gatorade and MaxPreps Player of the Year has produced double-figure points eight times, including a career-high 23 points on 10-of-13 shooting in Nebraska’s record-setting 113-70 win over South Dakota (Nov. 16). She added four assists and two steals in front of a sellout crowd at the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls.

• She added the second 20-point effort of her career with 20 points and six rebounds in a career-high 37 minutes in the loss at Creighton (Nov. 22).

• Prince produced a game-high 19 points to go with five rebounds in a low-scoring win over Tarleton State (Dec. 11). She hit a career-high three threes against the Texans while also going a career-best 6-for-6 at the free throw line.

• Prince contributed 13 points on 4-of-5 shooting in a win over Kansas City (Nov. 26), before notching her fifth straight double-digit performance with a game-high 14 points in a win over Lindenwood (Dec. 3). She also had 13 points and a career-high six assists against North Alabama (Nov. 19) during the five-game stretch. Prince added a career-high two blocks against the Lions.

• She became the first Husker freshman point guard in history to reach 100 points through her first eight games, when she put up seven points and a career-high seven rebounds in a win over Minnesota (Dec. 8). The only other Husker point guard to score 100 points in 10 or fewer games was Nicole Kubik (10 games, 1996-97).

• One of Nebraska’s most efficient players, Prince is shooting 50.5 percent from the field, including 42.1 percent (16-38) from three-point range, and 88.5 percent (23-26) at the free throw line.

• Prince, who won four consecutive Nebraska Class B state high school championships at PBA while playing for her mother, Ann Prince at Elkhorn North (2021-22-23-24), was the No. 16 recruit in the country according to Prospects Nation and No. 28 according to ESPN.

• An honorable-mention high school All-American last year by the Naismith award and MaxPreps, Prince produced one of the best senior seasons in Nebraska high school history in 2023-24. She averaged 27.0 points, 10.3 rebounds, 6.3 assists and 2.9 steals. She led the state in both scoring and assists as a senior on her way to finishing with a Class B record 2,491 points, surpassing Husker All-American Jordan Hooper’s previous mark of 2,078.

• Prince also matched Hooper for No. 2 in state tournament history with 271 career points.

• In addition to being a four-time Super-State selection in basketball, Prince was a six-time gold medalist and two-time silver medalist at the Nebraska State Track & Field Championships.

• She was the 2024 Nebraska Girls Athlete of the Year across all sports.

• Prince missed Nebraska’s win over Southeastern Louisiana (Nov. 9) with a lower leg injury, but returned for six points, four assists and three steals as a starter in a win over Southern (Nov. 12).

Husker Freshmen Featuring Efficiency
• Britt Prince is the leader of a talented freshman trio for Nebraska. While Prince has earned headlines by starting at point guard and putting up some of the best numbers in history by a Big Red rookie, fellow freshmen Amiah Hargrove and Petra Bozan have been dynamic inside.

• Hargrove erupted for a career-high 13-point effort in a career-high 21 minutes in the win over Tarleton State (Dec. 11). Hargrove hit 5-of-6 shots from the floor, including a three-pointer, while adding three rebounds and a steal. Most recently, she led Nebraska with 12 points on 4-of-6 shooting at No. 1 UCLA (Dec. 29). It was Hargrove’s fourth double-digit scoring effort, including a 10-point performance that included a career-high eight rebounds in a Big Ten-opening win over previously unbeaten Minnesota (Dec. 8). The 6-1 forward from Christopher, Ill., added 10 points and seven rebounds in a win over Kansas City (Nov. 26). She made back-to-back starts against Chattanooga (Dec. 15) and No. 17 Georgia Tech (Dec. 21).

• Bozan, a 6-5 center from Croatia, also owns three-double digit scoring efforts early this season, including 12 in an opening-day win over Omaha and 11 against Southeastern Louisiana (Nov. 9). She went a combined 9-for-11 from the field, including 4-for-4 from three-point range in those two games. Bozan added 10 points on 5-of-7 shooting in a win over Lindenwood (Dec. 3), before getting nine points and five rebounds in her Big Ten debut against Minnesota (Dec. 8). She added seven points at UCLA (Dec. 29), as the Husker freshmen provided three of NU's top four scorers against the top-ranked Bruins.

• On the season, Bozan has produced per 40 minute averages of 17.4 points and 11.0 rebounds while hitting 50 percent of her shots from the field, including 38.5 percent (5-13) of her threes.

 

Big Red Spread Scoring
• Nebraska has put at least five players in double figures in four of the first 13 games. In three other games, NU has put four players in double figures with the fifth-highest scorer adding nine points.

• Perhaps the most amazing part of the double-figure scoring performances for the Big Red through 12 games, is that all four games have featured a different group of scorers that have ultimately included all 12 players on the active roster at the start of the season.

• In the opener with Omaha (Nov. 4), six Huskers produced double-digit points, including Alexis Markowski-14, Natalie Potts-14, Petra Bozan-12, Logan Nissley-12, Allison Weidner-11 and Britt Prince-10.

• In a win over South Dakota in Sioux Falls (Nov. 16), five Huskers finished in double figures, including Britt Prince-23, Natalie Potts-22, Alexis Markowski-14, Kendall Moriarty-13 and Kendall Coley-12.

• In a victory over North Alabama (Nov. 19), five Huskers scored in double figures, including Callin Hake-17, Jessica Petrie-14, Britt Prince-13, Alberte Rimdal-13 and Alexis Markowski-10.

• Nebraska put five players in double figures in its second straight home game in a win over Kansas City (Nov. 22), including Callin Hake-16, Alberte Rimdal-15, Britt Prince-13, Alexis Markowski-10 and Amiah Hargrove-10.

• The only Huskers to score in double figures in each of the four games with at least five players in double figures were Alexis Markowski and Britt Prince.

Markowski Named to Naismith, Wooden Watch Lists
• Nebraska’s Alexis Markowski was among the 50 women’s college basketball players named to the Jersey Mike’s Naismith Trophy Watch List, announced by the Atlanta Tipoff Club (Oct. 28) and the Wooden Award Watch List by the Los Angeles Athletic Club (Nov. 7).

• Markowski, a 6-3 center out of Lincoln Pius X High School, earned her third consecutive appearance on the Naismith Trophy preseason list.

• A three-time preseason first-team All-Big Ten selection, Markowski earned first-team All-Big Ten honors a year ago after averaging 15.7 points and 10.5 rebounds in 2023-24. She also earned a spot on the Big Ten All-Tournament Team after powering the Big Red to the Big Ten Championship Game.

• A three-time Lisa Leslie Center-of-the-Year Award candidate, Markowski was a second-team All-Big Ten choice as a freshman and sophomore. She was also the 2022 Big Ten Freshman of the Year.

Markowski Earns Preseason All-Big Ten Honors
• Nebraska’s Alexis Markowski captured Preseason All-Big Ten honors for the third consecutive season when the conference announced its annual awards on Sept. 26.

• The 6-3 center from Lincoln, Neb., was one of 10 players across the conference’s 18 teams to earn preseason recognition from both the Big Ten coaches and media. She also earned preseason All-Big Ten honors as a junior in 2023-24 and as a sophomore in 2022-23, after being named the Big Ten Freshman of the Year following the 2021-22 season.

• A three-time Lisa Leslie Award candidate, Markowski claimed first-team All-Big Ten honors at the conclusion of a 2023-24 season when she led Nebraska to an appearance in the Big Ten Championship Game and a trip to the second round of the NCAA Tournament.

• Markowski, who led Nebraska with team-best averages of 15.7 points and 10.5 rebounds while starting all 35 games for the 23-12 Huskers in 2023-24, produced 19 double-doubles a year ago.

• She earned a spot on the 2024 Big Ten All-Tournament Team by averaging 16.5 points, 11.3 rebounds and 3.8 assists over four games, including 23 points, 13 rebounds and five assists in the Big Ten Championship Game.

• Markowski enters the USC game with 1,057 career rebounds. She is 223 rebounds away from Janet Smith’s more than 40-year-old Nebraska career rebound record (1,280).

• Markowski, who earned second-team All-Big Ten honors as a sophomore in 2022-23, owns 1,546 career points to rank 13th all-time in scoring at Nebraska.

• USC’s JuJu Watkins was the only unanimous choice of the coaches and media to earn preseason All-Big Ten honors. The sophomore was the preseason Big Ten Player of the Year by both.

• The coaches and media were also in agreement on the top five teams in preseason voting, beginning with No. 1 USC, No. 2 UCLA, No. 3 Ohio State, No. 4 Maryland and No. 5 Indiana.