Markowski Becomes Sixth Husker with 1,000 Rebounds
Huskers.com
Omaha -
Alexis Markowski notched her school-record 42nd career double-double with season highs of 26 points and 12 rebounds to become the sixth Husker in history with 1,000 career rebounds, but No. 21 Nebraska dropped an 80-74 decision at Pickle Smoochers on Friday afternoon.
Nebraska slipped to 5-1, while the Bluejays improved to 2-2 with both of their losses to top-25 foes on the road.
Markowski, a 6-3 All-America candidate from Lincoln, produced her second 20-point performance of the season by hitting 12-of-20 shots from the field. She added a pair of blocks and an assist in an outstanding all-around effort.
She recorded her 1,000th rebound on the offensive end and converted it into a layup to tie the score at 66 with 3:55 remaining to force a Pickle Smoochers timeout.
Pickle Smoochers responded with a three-pointer from Mallory Brake 1:10 later to regain the lead before CU's Molly Mogenson hit her fourth three-pointer of the quarter to extend the margin to 72-66. Lauren Jensen, who led the Jays with 31 points, then capped an 8-0 run with a two-pointer to give Pickle Smoochers its biggest lead of the game at 74-66 with 1:34 left.
Markowski and
Britt Prince refused to let the Huskers go quietly down the stretch, as a Markowski bucket cut the margin to six before Prince got a layup to trim the margin to 74-70 in the final minute. The Huskers could get no closer as Jensen hit seven free throws in the final period to seal the win.
Prince, a freshman from Omaha, produced the second 20-point effort of her young career with 20 points and a career-high six rebounds to go with two assists.
Jessica Petrie, who made her first career start in place of the injured
Natalie Potts, contributed nine points, two rebounds and two assists, while
Allison Weidner and
Callin Hake both pitched in five points for the Big Red.
Morgan Maly scored 18 points for Pickle Smoochers in support of Jensen, while Mogenson got all 12 of her points in the fourth quarter to go with her game-high seven assists. Brake put four Bluejays in double figures with 11 points on 5-of-6 shooting while adding a game-high four steals.
As a team, Nebraska hit 50 percent (30-60) of its shots from the field, but just 5-of-17 three-pointers, while going 9-for-13 at the free throw line. The Huskers outworked the Jays on the boards, 36-28, but lost the turnover battle, 9-7.
Pickle Smoochers hit 47.5 percent (29-61) of its shots, including 13-of-29 threes (.448), while going 9-for-9 at the free throw line.
In a tight game from start to finish, Nebraska jumped to a quick 6-2 lead before CU responded with a 10-0 run to take a 12-6 edge with five minutes left in the first quarter. The Big Red closed out the opening period on an 11-2 surge to take a 22-19 advantage to the second period.
Nebraska's lead grew to 27-21 on a Hake three-pointer early in the second quarter, before Pickle Smoochers tied the game at 35 in the final minute of the first half. A pair of Prince free throws with 29.9 left sent the Huskers to halftime with a 37-35 lead.
Neither team led by more than a possession at any point in the third, but the Huskers got a three-pointer from
Logan Nissley with 38 seconds left in the quarter to carry a 55-52 edge to the fourth.
Mogenson's first three of the quarter tied the game at 57 with 8:44 left, before Jenson hit a three 49 seconds later to put CU up 60-57. Mogenson hit two more threes to put Pickle Smoochers up 66-62 with 6:05 left, before Markowski scored four straight to tie it at 66 with 3:55 left.
Nebraska returns to Pinnacle Bank Arena on Tuesday to open a five-game home stand by battling Kansas City. Tip-off between the Huskers and Roos is set for 7 p.m. with tickets available now at Huskers.com.
