Photo Credit: NU Athletic Communications
The Nebraska women’s basketball team closes its three-game home stand by taking on UNC Wilmington Tuesday night in Lincoln.
Tip-off between the Huskers (6-2) and the Seahawks (2-5) at Pinnacle Bank Arena is set for 7 p.m., with tickets available now at Huskers.com.
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, as Matt Coatney and Jeff Griesch team up for their 23rd season together calling the action. Pregame starts at 6:30 p.m. (CT).
B1G+ subscribers can also follow the game on the live video stream produced by Big Ten Student U with Bobby Hessling and Justice Rhody on the call.
Nebraska hopes to continue building momentum by completing a sweep of its three-game home stand. The stand began with a 77-53 win over Florida Atlantic on Wednesday, before a resounding 80-72 win over Georgia Tech on Saturday. The Big Red rallied from a 15-point third-quarter deficit by shooting 75.8 percent from the field, including 66.7 percent (8-12) from three-point range in the second half to put up 58 points after halftime.
Two-time Ann Meyers-Drysdale Award candidate Jaz Shelley led Nebraska with 22 points and eight assists. She became the 37th 1,000-point scorer in Husker history with her late shot clock, banked three-point hook shot from near the top of the key to help seal the win. She also moved into the top five on Nebraska’s career three-point list (175) and the top 10 on NU’s career assist list (395).
Two-time Lisa Leslie Award candidate Alexis Markowski (15 points, 10 rebounds) had her third consecutive double-double and fourth of the season in the win over Georgia Tech. Markowski, who is tied for fifth in Husker history with 25 career double-doubles, owns team-best averages of 17.1 points and 9.3 rebounds. She leads the Big Ten in rebounding and ranks seventh in scoring.
Two-time Big Ten Freshman-of-the-Week Natalie Potts pitched in 13 points, four rebounds and two assists against the Yellow Jackets to continue her outstanding start. Potts is averaging 12.6 points and 5.1 rebounds while hitting 79.5 percent (35-44) of her two-point field goal attempts and 80 percent (16-20) of her free throws. She leads the Big Ten in field goal percentage (.667).
Darian White, a four-year starter and three-time All-Big Sky performer at Montana State before transferring to Nebraska as a graduate student, gives Nebraska another potent weapon. The 5-6 point guard is averaging 9.5 points, 6.1 rebounds and a team-best 4.1 assists, which ranks eighth in the Big Ten.
Nebraska Cornhuskers (6-2, 0-0 Big Ten)
vs. UNC Wilmington Seahawks (2-5, 0-0 CAA)
Wednesday, Dec. 5, 2023, 7 p.m. (CT)
Pinnacle Bank Arena - Lincoln, Nebraska
Tickets: Huskers.com / 1-800-8-BIG-RED
Live Video: B1G+ (subscription)
Live Stats: Huskers.com
Live Radio: Huskers Radio Network (6:30 p.m.)
Matt Coatney (PBP), Jeff Griesch (Analyst)
Lincoln (107.3 FM), Omaha (590 AM), Huskers.com, Huskers App
Nebraska Cornhuskers (6-2, 0-0 Big Ten)
22 - Natalie Potts - 6-2 - Fr. - F/G - 12.6 ppg, 5.1 rpg
40 - Alexis Markowski - 6-3 - Jr. - C/F - 17.1 ppg, 9.3 rpg
0 - Darian White - 5-6 - Gr. - G - 9.5 ppg, 6.1 rpg
1 - Jaz Shelley - 5-9 - Gr. - G - 13.4 ppg, 2.6 rpg
42 - Maddie Krull - 5-9 - Gr. - G - 2.6 ppg, 2.0 rpg
Off the Bench
21 - Annika Stewart - 6-3 - Sr. - F - 9.0 ppg, 5.0 rpg
14 - Callin Hake - 5-9 - So. - G - 6.5 ppg, 3.4 rpg
2 - Logan Nissley - 6-0 - Fr. - G - 5.5 ppg, 1.9 rpg
12 - Jessica Petrie - 6-2 - Fr. - F - 5.0 ppg, 2.0 rpg
32 - Kendall Coley - 6-2 - Jr. - F - 2.5 ppg, 2.4 rpg
15 - Kendall Moriarty - 6-1 - Jr. - G - 2.4 ppg, 1.1 rpg
Head Coach: Amy Williams (Nebraska, 1998)
Eighth Season at Nebraska (120-101); 17th Season Overall (313-210)
UNCW Seahawks (2-5, 0-0 CAA)
4 - Lexi Jackson - 6-4 - Sr. - C - 5.1 ppg, 8.7 rpg
0 - Britany Range - 5-10 - Sr. - G - 4.7 ppg, 3.4 rpg
1 - Mary Ferrito - 5-10 - So. - G - 1.9 ppg, 3.1 rpg
2 - Taylor Henderson - 5-11 - RFr. - G - 12.9 ppg, 5.9 rpg
22 - Evan Miller - 5-11 - Sr. - G - 13.1 ppg, 4.9 rpg
Off the Bench
21 - Kylah Silver - 5-7 - Fr. - G - 11.3 ppg, 4.3 rpg
10 - McCall King - 5-10 - So. - G - 4.1 ppg, 2.4 rpg
11 - Mingaile Urmuleviciute - 6-3 - So. - F - 2.5 ppg, 1.0 rpg
13 - Corrie McLaughlin - 6-2 - Fr. - F - 2.5 ppg, 0.7 rpg
15 - Sammy Ackles - 6-3 - So. - F - 1.8 ppg, 2.3 rpg
33 - Kylie Chavis - 5-7 - Fr. - G - 1.0 ppg, 0.8 rpg
Head Coach: Nicole Woods (Belmont-Abbey, 2006)
First Season at UNCW (2-5); First Season Overall (2-5)
Scouting The UNCW Seahawks
First-year head coach Nicole Woods leads UNC Wilmington to Nebraska with a 2-5 record after suffering an 85-58 loss at Iowa State on Sunday.
The loss to the Cyclones was the second game in a four-game road swing that began with a 66-58 overtime win at Winthrop last Wednesday. The Seahawks jumped to a 15-2 lead in the first five minutes, but scored just 36 points in the next 35 minutes as the two teams went to overtime tied at 51. UNCW then outscored Winthrop 15-7 in the extra period.
The Seahawks are led by senior Evan Miller, who is averaging a team-best 13.1 points to go with 4.9 rebounds after a 19-point effort at Iowa State. The 5-11 guard leads UNCW with 10 three-pointers on the year. Miller carried the Seahawks to victory at Winthrop (Nov. 29) with a career-high 26 points on 9-of-16 shooting, including 3-of-5 from long range. She scored 18 in regulation, including a three in the right corner with five seconds left to trim the UNCW deficit to 49-48 before sinking three straight free throws with less than one second left to send the game to OT tied at 51. She added eight points in overtime to account for the final margin.
Redshirt freshman Taylor Henderson has added 12.9 points, 5.9 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 2.1 steals. The 5-11 guard is averaging six free throw attempts, but is hitting just 26.2 percent (28-107) of her shots from the field, including 4-of-25 three-pointers. Henderson had 11 points, eight rebounds, nine turnovers and five fouls in the win at Winthrop. She banked in a 30-footer from the left wing to cut the UNCW deficit to 47-45 with 12 seconds left. She had 12 points and five rebounds at ISU.
Britany Range (4.7 ppg, 3.4 rpg) and Mary Ferrito (1.9 ppg, 3.1 rpg), a Wisconsin transfer, round out a group of four starting guards for the Seahawks. Range has hit a team-best 34.8 percent (8-23) from three-point range, but Ferrito has hit just 4-of-24 shots overall from the field, including 0-of-10 threes. Ferrito is averaging a team-best 3.3 assists per game.
Freshman Kylah Silver gives UNCW a third double-figure scorer by averaging 11.3 points and 4.3 rebounds off the bench. The 5-7 guard averages more than five free throw attempts per game and is shooting 86.5 percent (32-37) at the line. She also ranks second on the team behind Henderson with 2.0 steals per game. Silver had 12 points in the loss at Iowa State.
Sophomore McCall King gives UNCW more backcourt depth with the 5-10 guard averaging 4.1 points and 2.4 rebounds per game.
Lexi Jackson, a 6-4 senior center, leads UNCW inside by averaging 5.1 points and team bests of 8.7 rebounds and 1.9 blocks.
Corrie McLaughlin, a 6-2 freshman forward, has added size and efficiency by going 7-for-7 from the field on the season. The Seahawks have more depth inside with 6-3 sophomore forwards Mingaile Urmuleviciute (2.5 ppg, 1.0 rpg) and Sammy Ackles (1.8 ppg, 2.3 rpg).
As a team, UNCW is shooting just 33.4 percent from the field, including 23.3 percent from beyond the arc. The Seahawks have hit 73.8 percent of their free throws. UNCW has been outscored by an average of 64.3-57.7, and outrebounded 39.9-38.6 on the season. The Seahawks have also been strapped by a minus-1.7 team turnover margin.
Nebraska vs. UNCW Series History
Tuesday’s game marks the first meeting in history between Nebraska and UNC Wilmington in women’s basketball.
Nebraska’s last meeting against a team from North Carolina came in 2021-22, when the Huskers ran to an 84-60 victory over then-unbeaten Wake Forest in Winston-Salem (Dec. 1, 2021). Earlier in the 2021-22 season, the Huskers rolled to a 113-58 win over North Carolina Central at Pinnacle Bank Arena (Nov. 20).
The Huskers are 4-0 against teams from North Carolina under Coach Amy Williams, including an 83-79 win over Duke in Lincoln (Dec. 4, 2019) and a 55-47 victory over Coastal Carolina in Daytona Beach, Fla. (Nov. 24, 2017).
Nebraska owns an eight-game winning streak overall against teams from North Carolina dating back to a 75-62 loss by the No. 15 Huskers at No. 18 North Carolina (Dec. 4, 2013). NU’s winning streak started with a 60-54 win by the No. 12 Huskers over No. 9 Duke at PBA (Dec. 3, 2014) before an 83-57 win over High Point in Lincoln (Dec. 20, 2014). In 2015-16, NU added an 88-47 win over North Carolina Central at PBA (Nov. 21, 2015) before an 88-67 victory over NC State in Lincoln (Dec. 3, 2015).
The Huskers have never lost at home to a team from North Carolina, posting a perfect 9-0 record dating back to an 82-63 win over East Carolina at the Devaney Center on Dec. 30, 2000.
Husker Nuggets
• Nebraska has never lost at home to a team from the state of North Carolina (9-0). Overall, the Huskers own an eight-game winning streak against North Carolina teams and are 4-0 against North Carolina schools under Coach Amy Williams.
• Natalie Potts earned her second Big Ten Freshman-of-the-Week award (Nov. 27). She won the inaugural weekly honor (Nov. 13). Potts leads the Big Ten in field goal percentage (.667) while ranking 23rd in the league in scoring (12.6 ppg).
• Alexis Markowski was named to the Big Ten Weekly Honor Roll three of the first four weeks of the 2023-24 season. She also earned a spot on the St. Pete Showcase All-Tournament Team after averaging 15.0 points and 9.5 rebounds over two games in Florida.
• Markowski leads the Big Ten in rebounding (9.3 rpg) while ranking seventh in the league in scoring (17.1 ppg), 11th in field goal percentage (.515) and 18th in free throw percentage (.756).
• The Huskers had six players produce double figures in points against Northwestern State, marking the first time Nebraska accomplished that feat since a 90-61 season-opening win over Oral Roberts on Dec. 4, 2020.
• The Huskers have hit at least one three in 472 straight games dating back to a loss at UTEP on Dec. 20, 2008. Nebraska has hit at least two threes in 351 consecutive games.
• Nebraska has hit 10 or more threes 30 times in the last 80 games, including three times in 2023-24. The Huskers opened 2023-24 with 10 three-pointers in a win over Northwestern State (Nov. 6), before adding 10 threes in a win over Florida Atlantic (Nov. 29). NU hit 10 more threes in the win over Georgia Tech (Dec. 2). Nebraska knocked down a 2022-23 season-high 14 threes in a season-opening win over Omaha (Nov. 7, 2022).
• 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).
Husker Numbers to Watch
• Darian White has scored in double figures 101 times in her college career (97, Montana State; 4, Nebraska) after getting a season-high 16 points against unbeaten TCU (Nov. 25).
• Jaz Shelley is five assists from 400 in her Nebraska career. She moved to No. 10 on the NU career assist list with 395 by notching eight assists in the win over Georgia Tech. She moved past All-American and two-time WNBA All-Star Anna DeForge (392) on the list.
• Jaz Shelley is 13 assists away from 500 in her college career. Only five Huskers in history have totaled 500 collegiate assists (Lindsey Moore, Meggan Yedsena, Rachel Theriot, Jina Johansen, Nicole Kubik). Darian White is 18 assists away from 500 in her career.
• Jaz Shelley is eight three-pointers from catching WNBA star Yvonne Turner (2007-10) at No. 4 on the Nebraska career three-point list (183). Shelley owns 175 threes as a Husker.
• Alexis Markowski moved into the top five on Nebraska’s career double-doubles list (25) by notching her fourth double-double of the season in the win over Georgia Tech. She needs eight double-doubles to catch Emily Cady at No. 4 (33). The Husker record for career double-doubles is 40 by first-team All-Americans Kelsey Griffin (2006-10) and Jordan Hooper (2011-14).
• Maddie Krull is one assist away from 200 in her career.
• Annika Stewart is four points away from 500 in her career.
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 is 49 points from reaching 1,000 career points.
• Markowski is 39 rebounds away from 700 in her career and just 89 rebounds from 750, which would move her into a tie for No. 10 on the Nebraska career rebound list.
• Darian White is 208 points away from 2,000 in her college career.
• Natalie Potts reached 100 career points in her eighth career game. She is in line with some of the best Husker freshmen in recent history in the pace of reaching the 100-point mark, including Jordan Hooper (6th game), Kelsey Griffin (7th), Kate Cain (10th), Sam Haiby (10th), Alexis Markowski (12th), Emily Cady (14th), Isabelle Bourne (20th).
