Huskers Set for Rematch at Michigan Tuesday

The Nebraska women’s basketball team shoots for its first Big Ten series sweep of the season when the Huskers head to Michigan on Tuesday.

Tip-off between the Big Red (14-8, 6-5) and the Wolverines (15-8, 6-5 Big Ten) at the Crisler Center in Ann Arbor is set for 6 p.m. (CT) with a live video stream available to B1G+ subscribers. 

Fans also can listen across the Huskers Radio Network, including B107.3 FM in Lincoln and 590 AM in Omaha, the Huskers App and Huskers.com with Matt Coatney and Jeff Griesch calling the action. Pregame starts at 5:30 p.m. (CT). 

Nebraska will be looking to bounce back from a gut-wrenching 71-70 loss to Rutgers in Lincoln on Saturday. The Huskers lost to the previously Big Ten-winless Scarlet Knights despite attempting 21 more field goals and eight more free throws. Nebraska was plus-15 in the turnover department and plus-nine on the offensive glass, but Rutgers hit a blistering 59.6 percent from the floor, including 46.7 percent from three. Nebraska was a chilly 33.8 percent from the field and just 26.9 percent from long range in the loss.

Defense was the key to Nebraska’s 62-43 win over Michigan three weeks ago in Lincoln. The Huskers won the possession game against the Wolverines with a plus-18 edge on the boards and a plus-three advantage in turnovers. NU also held Michigan to just 32.6 percent shooting. Both teams enter Tuesday’s game at 6-5 in the Big Ten, but the Wolverines are coming off an 80-75 win at Penn State on Saturday.

Alexis Markowski owns a Big Ten-best 13 double-doubles, including seven in league play. The 6-3 center from Lincoln ranks fourth on Nebraska’s career list with 34 - just two behind 1993 Wade Trophy winner Karen Jennings. Markowski ranks second in the Big Ten in rebounding (10.1 rpg) and sixth in scoring (16.4 ppg) A two-time Lisa Leslie Award candidate, Markowski has scored in double figures in all 22 games this season.

First-team All-Big Ten guard Jaz Shelley has added 12.3 points, 4.2 rebounds and team bests of 5.2 assists and 1.9 steals. She owns two double-doubles this season, including 13 points and 11 assists in a win over Maryland (Dec. 31). The 5-9 guard from Moe (pronounced MOE-ee), Australia, is the first Husker in history to record multiple career triple-doubles after getting 19 points, 10 rebounds and 11 assists in a win over UNCW (Dec. 5). 

Five-time Big Ten Freshman-of-the-Week Natalie Potts has given the Big Red the biggest impact of any league freshman. The 6-2 forward from O’Fallon, Mo., is averaging 10.4 points, 5.5 rebounds and 1.0 steal per game. Potts has produced double-figure points 13 times.

Nebraska Cornhuskers (14-8, 6-5 Big Ten)
at Michigan Wolverines (15-8, 6-5 Big Ten)
Tuesday, Feb. 6, 2024, 6 p.m. (CT)
Crisler Center - Ann Arbor, Michigan
Live Video Stream: B1G+
Live Radio: Huskers Radio Network (5:30 p.m.)
Matt Coatney (PBP), Jeff Griesch (Analyst)
B107.3 FM (Lincoln), 590 AM (Omaha), Huskers.com, Huskers App
Live Stats: Huskers.com

Nebraska Cornhuskers (14-8, 6-5 Big Ten - NCAA NET 33)
22 - Natalie Potts - 6-2 - Fr. - F/G - 10.4 ppg, 5.5 rpg
40 - Alexis Markowski - 6-3 - Jr. - C/F - 16.4 ppg, 10.1 rpg
0 - Darian White - 5-6 - Gr. - G - 8.5 ppg, 4.4 rpg
1 - Jaz Shelley - 5-9 - Gr. - G - 12.3 ppg, 4.2 rpg
14 - Callin Hake - 5-9 - So. - G - 6.7 ppg, 2.8 rpg
Off the Bench
2 - Logan Nissley - 6-0 - Fr. - G - 5.7 ppg, 1.8 rpg
12 - Jessica Petrie - 6-2 - Fr. - F - 4.3 ppg, 2.2 rpg
15 - Kendall Moriarty - 6-1 - Jr. - G - 3.3 ppg, 1.2 rpg
21 - Annika Stewart - 6-3 - Sr. - F - 3.0 ppg, 1.6 rpg
42 - Maddie Krull - 5-9 - Gr. - G - 2.5 ppg, 1.9 rpg
32 - Kendall Coley - 6-2 - Jr. - F - 2.4 ppg, 2.0 rpg
Head Coach: Amy Williams (Nebraska, 1998)
Eighth Season at Nebraska (128-107); 17th Season Overall (321-216)

Michigan Wolverines (15-8, 6-5 Big Ten - NCAA NET 53)
0 - Elissa Brett - 6-0 - Gr. - G - 7.8 ppg, 4.1 rpg
22 - Chyra Evans - 6-2 - So. - F - 6.3 ppg, 4.0 rpg
1 - Lauren Hansen - 5-9 - Sr. - G - 11.6 ppg, 2.0 rpg
5 - Laila Phelia - 6-0 - Jr. - G - 16.3 ppg, 3.1 rpg
10 - Jordan Hobbs - 6-3 - Jr. - G - 9.0 ppg, 3.9 rpg
Off the Bench
44 - Cameron Williams - 6-3 - Sr. - F - 5.7 ppg, 5.0 rpg
33 - Taylor Williams - 5-9 - Sr. - G - 4.5 ppg, 3.5 rpg
11 - Greta Kampschroeder - 6-1 - Jr. - G - 2.7 ppg, 1.3 rpg
30 - Elise Stuck - 6-1 - Jr. - G/F - 2.2 ppg, 2.3 rpg
21 - Taylor Woodson - 6-0 - Fr. - F - 1.9 ppg, 1.5 rpg
20 - Alyssa Crockett - 6-2 - So. - F - 2.0 ppg, 1.6 rpg
2 - Macy Brown - 6-0 - Fr. - G - 1.3 ppg, 1.1 rpg
Head Coach: Kim Barnes Arico (Montclair State, 1993)
12th Season at Michigan (256-127); 28th Season Overall (526-333)

Scouting the Michigan Wolverines

Coach Kim Barnes Arico is in her 12th season leading Michigan and her 28th year as a head coach. She brings the Wolverines into Tuesday’s game with a 15-8 record and a 6-5 Big Ten mark after an impressive 80-75 win at Penn State Saturday in State College.

The Wolverines will be looking to avenge a 72-63 loss to Nebraska in Lincoln (Jan. 17).

Michigan rebounded from that loss with back-to-back wins at Rutgers (56-50) and over Maryland in Ann Arbor (79-77 OT), before losing at Michigan State (82-61), and at home to Illinois (77-64).

At 6-5 in the Big Ten and No. 52 in the NET, Michigan is fighting with Nebraska, Michigan State and Penn State for positioning in the Big Ten standings with upcoming road games at No. 3 Iowa and No. 8 Ohio State along with a rematch against Michigan State in Ann Arbor.

Junior Laila Phelia leads Michigan with 16.3 points, including 18.5 points per game in Big Ten play. The 6-0 guard earned second-team All-Big Ten honors last year while ranking 10th in the conference in scoring at 16.7 points. The Huskers held Phelia to eight points on 1-of-8 shooting in the first meeting this season, but Phelia led five starters in double figures with a game-high 23 points at Penn State.

Missouri graduate transfer Lauren Hansen (11.6 ppg, 2.0 rpg), who started her career at Auburn, is the only other Wolverine averaging in double figures this season.The 5-9 guard is averaging 12.3 points in Big Ten play, while leading Michigan with 42 threes (.359) on the season. She had eight points on 2-of-5 three-point shooting at Nebraska, but is coming 15 points and six assists at Penn State.

Jordan Hobbs (9.0 ppg, 3.9 rpg) and Australian Chrya Evans (6.3 ppg, 4.0 rpg) have joined Phelia and Hansen in the starting five for all 11 Big Ten games. Hobbs has increased her production to 10.1 points in Big Ten play, ranking second among the Wolverines with 15 three-pointers in league play. Evans also has increased her production to 7.3 points and 4.5 rebounds in conference play, including 12 points, four rebounds and six assists at Penn State. Hobbs also showed her versatility in State College with 10 points, five rebounds and five assists.

Australian Elissa Brett, a four-year starter at Bowling Green, was a part-time starter for the Wolverines early in the season before suffering a leg injury in the third quarter against Minnesota (Jan. 9). She did not play in the loss at Nebraska (Jan. 17). The 6-0 graduate transfer is averaging 7.8 points and 4.1 rebounds on the season after getting 12 points at Penn State. In five games since returning from injury, Brett is 9-for-43 from the field (.209) including 4-for-26 (.154) from three-point range.

Cameron Williams, who is one of Michigan’s most experienced players, has returned to a reserve role after starting in place of Brett. The 6-3 senior is averaging 5.7 points and 5.0 rebounds, including eight points at Penn State. She has accounted for all 20 of Michigan’s bench points the last two games.

Over the last six games, Michigan’s bench has managed just 9.2 points per game. Taylor Williams, a five-year player and four-year starter at Western Michigan, has been a part-time starter for the Wolverines this year and is averaging 4.5 points and 3.5 rebounds. She has not scored since getting two points off the bench in the loss at Nebraska.

Oregon State transfer Greta Kampschroeder (2.7 ppg, 1.3 ppg) has just five points over the past six games, including two in Lincoln. Junior Elise Stuck (2.2 ppg, 2.3 rpg) has totaled nine points in the span, including two against the Huskers, while freshman Taylor Woodson (1.9 ppg, 1.5 rpg) has just one point and sophomore Alyssa Crockett (2.0 ppg, 1.6 rpg) is scoreless the last six games.

In Big Ten play, Michigan is averaging 67 points and allowing 67.7 points per game. Michigan is hitting 41.6 percent from the field, including 33.7  percent from long range. The Wolverines have hit just 68.2 percent of their free throws. The normally tenacious rebounders have been beaten on the boards, 33.2-31.7. However, they do own a plus-3.3 turnover margin.

Nebraska vs. Michigan Series History

Nebraska owns a 17-9 edge in the all-time series with Michigan, including a 62-43 win in Lincoln (Jan. 17). Natalie Potts led four Huskers in double figures with 13 points and 10 rebounds. Darian White added 13 points and five boards, while Alexis Markowski pitched in 10 points and seven rebounds. Kendall Moriarty was huge for the Huskers off the bench, contributing a career-high 11 points and two steals in 18 minutes. Nebraska rolled to victory despite going just 3-for-17 from three-point range by posting a 46-28 edge on the boards.

The Huskers will be looking for their first win in Ann Arbor since the 2015-16 season, a 93-81 victory (Jan. 24, 2016). Nebraska is 0-4 in its last four trips to the Crisler Center, including a 64-62 loss in 2021 and an 80-75 setback to then-No. 12 Michigan last season (Feb. 12, 2023). Alexis Markowski led the Big Red with 18 points and 18 rebounds last year in Ann Arbor, while Jaz Shelley added a double-double of her own with 14 points and 10 assists.

In 2021-22, Nebraska swept a pair of games with a top-10 Michigan team, including a 76-73 win over the No. 10 Wolverines in the Big Ten Tournament quarterfinals in Indianapolis (March 4, 2022). The Huskers sprinted to a 79-58 victory over No. 8 Michigan (Jan. 4, 2022) in Lincoln, for the largest victory margin in school history over a top-10 opponent. Alexis Markowski made her first career start in the win in Lincoln, putting up 20 points and pulling down seven rebounds. Jaz Shelley added a double-double with 12 points and 12 rebounds. 

NU is 9-4 all-time against Michigan in Lincoln. The Huskers are 8-5 all-time against the Wolverines away from home, including 6-4 in Ann Arbor and 2-1 at the Big Ten Tournament.

The series has been evenly matched as Big Ten foes, with Nebraska owning an 11-9 edge since joining the conference in 2011-12. 

Nebraska was 6-0 against Michigan as non-conference foes dating back to the first meeting between the two teams on Nov. 28, 1980 at the Bob Devaney Sports Center in Lincoln. The Huskers won 118-92 in the highest scoring game in Nebraska women’s basketball history.

Markowski Climbing Husker Double-Double List

Nebraska’s Alexis Markowski is producing double-doubles at one of the top rates in the nation through 22 games in 2023-24. The 6-3 junior center from Lincoln, Neb., has recorded a Big Ten-leading 13 double-doubles on the year, including seven through the first 11 Big Ten Conference games for the Big Red.

Markowski, who earned her second appearance on the Lisa Leslie Award Watch List, ranks second in the Big Ten in rebounding at 10.1 boards per game, including 11.1 in conference play. She also ranks sixth in the league in scoring at 16.4 points per game.

With her next double-double, Markowski will move into a tie for fifth on Nebraska’s single-season double-double chart alongside Jordan Hooper (2012 & 2014) and Emily Cady (2014), who both notched 14 double-doubles. Last season, Markowski recorded 15 double-doubles in 33 games.

Markowski owns 34 career double-doubles, putting her just two behind 1993 Nebraska Wade Trophy winner Karen Jennings (36). First-team All-Americans Kelsey Griffin (2010) and Jordan Hooper (2014) share the Husker school record with 40 career double-doubles. Griffin owns the Nebraska single-season school record with 20 double-doubles in 2009-10.

Markowski has scored in double figures in all 22 games this season, including five 20-point performances.

The 2022 Big Ten Freshman of the Year, Markowski earned her second straight appearance on the Lisa Leslie Award Watch List this year. Last season, as the only sophomore on the list, she advanced to the Midseason Top 10 for the award.

Markowski ranks seventh on the Nebraska career rebound list with 810, after passing two-time WNBA All-Star Anna DeForge at No. 7 on the Nebraska career list with 804 in last Wednesday’s win over Purdue. Rutgers held Markowski to just five rebounds on Saturday, one of just four games this season with five or fewer rebounds for Markowski this season.

Potts Claims Five Big Ten Freshman Awards

Two-time Missouri MaxPreps High School Player of the Year Natalie Potts has made an instant impact on Nebraska’s lineup. The 6-2 forward from O’Fallon, Mo., has claimed five of the first 12 Big Ten Freshman-of-the-Week awards with the most recent coming on Jan. 15.

In addition to her conference honors, Potts was named the No. 14 impact freshman in the nation by ESPN on Dec. 22. She ranks among the top Big Ten freshmen in scoring (10.4 ppg) and rebounding (5.5 rpg) while also leading the Huskers with 15 blocks through the first 22 games of her career. 

Potts leads Big Ten freshmen in rebounding (5.5 rpg), field goal percentage (.539) and free throw percentage (.854), while ranking second in scoring (10.4 ppg).

Potts produced her 13th double-figure scoring effort of the season with 11 points, six rebounds and a career-high four steals in the win over Purdue (Jan. 31). In a head-to-head matchup with Purdue’s Mary Ashley Stevenson, the Boilermaker starting freshman managed just two points and one rebound before fouling out. Purdue’s other outstanding freshman, Rashunda Jones, managed four points and five rebounds, as Potts matched their rebounding production and nearly doubled their scoring production in approximately half their total minutes.

Potts produced her third career double-double with game highs of 13 points and 10 rebounds in a win over Michigan (Jan. 17). She ranks third among the Huskers in scoring (10.1 ppg) and second in rebounding (5.5 rpg) in league play. She also ranks second on the team with 1.3 steals in conference action.

She posted her second double-double with 17 points and a career-high 13 rebounds in NU’s win over Maryland (Dec. 31), including 13 points and 12 boards in the second half. 

Potts scored 16 in a win at Wisconsin (Jan. 4) when she got all 16 in the second half. 

She opened Big Ten play with 10 points, five rebounds and two blocks in the win over NCAA NET No. 8 Michigan State (Dec. 9). 

Potts produced 10 points and six rebounds at Minnesota (Jan. 14), while Gopher freshman Grace Grochalski was held scoreless while managing just two rebounds.

Potts had 11 points, eight rebounds and two blocks in 21 minutes in a win over UNCW (Dec. 5). 

Potts won her second Big Ten Freshman award (Nov. 22) after averaging 14.0 points in two games at the St. Pete Showcase. She opened the week with a career-high 22 points on 9-of-10 shooting from the field, including a three-pointer, in a 75-61 win over Lamar.

She opened another strong week by notching her first double-double with 12 points and 12 rebounds in a win over Florida Atlantic (Nov. 29). She followed with 13 points, four rebounds, two assists and a steal in a win over Georgia Tech (Dec. 2).

Potts averaged 12.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, 2.0 steals and 1.0 block to earn her first Big Ten Freshman-of-the-Week award (Nov. 13).

In Nebraska’s 71-52 road win at Wyoming, Potts was a catalyst at both ends of the court, erupting for 15 points on 6-of-7 shooting, while adding two steals and a blocked shot. Potts was a menace defensively, creating easy offensive opportunities with deflections at the front of Nebraska’s press to help turn an early Husker deficit into a double-digit road victory over the Cowgirls.

In her regular-season collegiate debut, Potts had 10 points, five rebounds, an assist, two steals and a block while hitting 5-of-7 shots from the field in a 90-42 win over Northwestern State (Nov. 6).

She backed up her opening-week efforts by averaging 11.5 points, 7.5 rebounds and 2.0 blocks in her second week. Potts capped the week with 16 points on 6-of-9 shooting against No. 22 Creighton (Nov. 19), after getting seven points and career highs of 11 rebounds and three blocks in a win over Alcorn State (Nov. 14).

Through 22 games, Potts has hit 80-of-123 (.650) two-point field goal attempts and 41-of-48 (.854) free throws.

White Shines in Starting Role for Huskers

Nebraska has received an immediate boost in the backcourt from three-time first-team All-Big Sky guard Darian White.

Through 22 games, White is averaging 8.5 points, 4.4 rebounds and 3.3 assists after scoring. She has produced double figures three times in the past five games with 14 points, four rebounds and four assists in a win over Purdue (Jan. 31). It was her eighth double-figure scoring effort of the season.

She scored a season-high 16 points against TCU (Nov. 25). 

White opened her recent five-game stretch with 13 points and five rebounds in a win over Michigan (Jan. 17). She added 12 points and three assists at Penn State (Jan. 21), before getting seven points, four rebounds and three assists in just 14 minutes at No. 5 Iowa (Jan. 27). She is averaging 10.4 points over the past five games.

The 5-6 graduate student transferred into the Husker program during the summer after averaging 14.3 points, 5.1 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 2.2 steals over 120 starts in four seasons at Montana State. 

The No. 2 scorer in Montana State history, White finished with 1,716 points, 612 rebounds, 449 assists and 260 steals.

White was the 2022 Big Sky Tournament MVP, leading the Bobcats to the conference title and a trip to the 2022 NCAA Tournament.

She was also a two-time Big Sky Defensive Player of the Year (2021, 2022) and the 2020 Big Sky Freshman of the Year.

White was the 2019 Idaho Gatorade High School Player of the Year and joins three-time North Dakota Gatorade Player of the Year Logan Nissley, two-time Missouri MaxPreps Player of the Year Natalie Potts and Australian National Program forward Jessica Petrie in Nebraska’s group of four newcomers for 2023-24.

White produced her first Husker double-double with season highs of 13 points and 10 rebounds against No. 22 Creighton (Nov. 19).

In her Nebraska regular-season debut, White scored 13 points, including six in a 16-0 run to start the game, while adding game highs of nine rebounds and three steals to go along with four assists in Nebraska’s 90-42 win over Northwestern State (Nov. 6).

She was strong in all phases of her first road game as a Husker, contributing 11 points, four rebounds and two assists in a 71-52 victory at Wyoming.

White had 11 points, four rebounds, six assists and two steals in 20 minutes in the win over UNCW (Dec. 5). 

She made her Big Ten debut with nine points, six rebounds, five assists and her first blocked shot of the season in an 80-74 win at NCAA NET No. 8 Michigan State (Dec. 9).

White took the court for the first time at Pinnacle Bank Arena in Nebraska’s exhibition win over Dakota Wesleyan (Oct. 29), producing 13 points, seven rebounds and game highs of eight assists and four steals.

Husker Numbers to Watch

• Alexis Markowski is eight points (1,175) from catching Nebraska’s first career 1,000-point scorer, Jan Crouch, at No. 22 (1,183 points) on the Husker career scoring list. 

• Jaz Shelley (1,166) is 17 points away from Crouch, while sitting nine points behind Markowski on Nebraska’s career scoring list.

• Jaz Shelley (1,462) is 38 points away from 1,500 in her college career (1,166-Nebraska; 296-Oregon).

• Jaz Shelley is expected to make her 99th collegiate start at Michigan on Tuesday (86-Nebraska; 12-Oregon).

Nebraska Notables

• Two-time All-Big Ten center Alexis Markowski (Lincoln, Neb.) was the Big Ten’s top rebounder with 322 rebounds in 2022-23. She was the only Big Ten player to average a double-double (12.4 ppg, 10.2 rpg) during regular-season conference play.

• Alexis Markowski ranks No. 4 on Nebraska’s career double-doubles list (34) after notching her 13th double-double of the season with 15 points and 11 rebounds at No. 5 Iowa (Jan. 27). The Husker record for career double-doubles is 40 by first-team All-Americans Kelsey Griffin (2006-10) and Jordan Hooper (2011-14). Nebraska’s 1993 Wade Trophy winner Karen Jennings (1990-93) ranks third at NU with 36 career double-doubles.

•  Jaz Shelley (572) and Darian White (521) both own 500 assists in their college careers. Only five previous Huskers in history had totaled 500 collegiate assists (Lindsey Moore, Meggan Yedsena, Rachel Theriot, Jina Johansen, Nicole Kubik). 

• Jaz Shelley recorded the 200th steal of her college career (Nebraska-155; Oregon-45) in the game with Rutgers (Feb. 3).

• Darian White is 96 points away from 2,000 in her college career.

• Darian White has scored in double figures 105 times in her college career (97, Montana State; 8, Nebraska). She scored a season-high 16 points against TCU (Nov. 25).

Husker Nuggets
• Natalie Potts earned her conference-leading fifth Big Ten Freshman-of-the-Week award on Jan. 15. No other league freshman has won more than two awards. Potts won the first weekly honor Nov. 13, before adding awards Nov. 27, Dec. 11, Jan. 8 and Jan. 15. Potts ranks among the top Big Ten freshmen in scoring (10.4 ppg) and rebounding (5.5 rpg). 

• Alexis Markowski has been named to the Big Ten Weekly Honor Roll six times in 12 weeks in 2023-24, including Jan. 15. She also earned a spot on the St. Pete Showcase All-Tournament Team (Nov. 25). She ranks second in the Big Ten in rebounding (10.1 rpg) and sixth in scoring (16.4 ppg).

• The Huskers had seven players produce double figures in points against UNCW, which is believed to be the first time that has been accomplished in school history. It is the second time this season the Huskers have had six players score in double figures in a game (Northwestern State, Nov. 6).

• Three Huskers (Alexis Markowski, Natalie Potts, Jaz Shelley) recorded double-doubles in the win over Maryland (Dec. 31), which is the first time a Husker trio notched doubles in the same game since Jordan Hooper (23 points, 11 rebounds), Emily Cady (15 points, 11 rebounds) and Rachel Theriot (10 points, 12 assists) did it in an NCAA first-round win over Fresno State in Los Angeles on March 22, 2014.
 
• The Huskers have hit at least one three in 486 straight games dating back to a loss at UTEP on Dec. 20, 2008. Nebraska has hit at least two threes in 365 consecutive games.

• Nebraska has hit 10 or more threes 35 times in the last 94 games, including eight times in 2023-24. The Huskers hit a season-high 16 threes against UNCW (Dec. 5), and sank 12 triples vs. Southern (Dec. 17). NU hit 10 threes vs. Northwestern State (Nov. 6), Florida Atlantic (Nov. 29), Georgia Tech (Dec. 2), Michigan State (Dec. 9), Maryland (Dec. 31) at Iowa (Jan. 27).

• 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 (591 games).