Huskers Stumble to Wolverines
Huskers.com
Lincoln -
Alexis Markowski produced her eighth double-double of the season and 48th of her career with game highs of 21 points and 11 rebounds, but visiting Michigan used a huge second quarter to run to a 78-60 victory over the Nebraska women's basketball team at Pinnacle Bank Arena on Thursday night.
With the loss, Nebraska slipped to 16-7 overall and 7-5 in the Big Ten, while Michigan improved to 16-7 and 7-5 in the league.
Markowski was a bright spot for the Huskers, while freshman
Britt Prince added 10 points, three rebounds and three assists.
Jessica Petrie pitched in six points, while
Callin Hake and
Kendall Coley each contributed five points for the Huskers.
Kendall Moriarty,
Logan Nissley and
Petra Bozan all contributed four points in a sluggish offensive effort for the Big Red.
Greta Kampschroeder led three Wolverines in double figures with 16 points, including a career-high-tying five three-pointers. Jordan Hobbs added a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds, while Syla Swords contributed 15 points, five rebounds and five assists.
The difference in the game for Michigan came largely at the three-point line, where Michigan hit 9-of-21 from beyond the arc, while the Huskers hit just 3-of-15, accounting for the 18-point margin in the game.
The Huskers hit just 37.3 percent (22-59) overall from the floor and just 13-of-21 free throws (.619). The Huskers were 19-of-38 (.500) from inside the arc, while Michigan was 19-for-39. Both teams pulled down 38 rebounds on the night, while Michigan hit 13-of-18 free throws. The Wolverines also won the turnover battle, 17-13, including a lopsided 14-4 margin in the first half.
Michigan took control by erupting on an 18-0 run during a five-minute stretch spanning the first and second quarters to build a 42-21 halftime lead.
Nebraska struggled through its roughest half of the season, committing 14 turnovers and hitting just 8-of-28 (.286) first-half shots to fall behind the Wolverines. The Huskers, who trailed 15-14 with just 30 seconds left in the first half, got outscored 24-7 in the second quarter.
Markowski led the Big Red with 10 points and four rebounds in the half, but hit just 3-of-9 shots from the field, including one of Nebraska's two three-pointers. Prince managed six points on 3-of-9 shooting of her own, but the rest of the Huskers managed just five total points.
Swords led all scorers with 12 first-half points, including 10 in the final six minutes of the half. Hobbs added eight points and Te'Yala Delfosse scored the first six points of the second quarter to give the Wolverines their first double-digit lead. Michigan had eight different players score in the first half, as the Wolverines hit 16-of-33 shots (.485), including 4-of-9 threes.
Nebraska bolted out of the locker room to start the second half, using an 8-0 run to quickly cut the lead to 42-29 with 8:05 left in the third. After a Michigan timeout, Kampschroeder calmed things down with a three-pointer, but Markowski answered with a traditional three-point play. After an Olivia Olson bucket for Michigan, Petrie, Markowski and Moriarty combined for five straight points to trim the margin to 47-37 with 5:46 left in the quarter.
Nebraska could get no closer, and a Kampschroeder three ended the scoring in the period to send the Wolverines to the fourth with a 58-42 edge.
Markowski opened the fourth with a quick bucket, but Kampschroeder dashed Nebraska's comeback hopes with back-to-back threes over the next minute to put Michigan back up by 20 points at 64-44.
Nebraska returns to Big Ten home action on Monday, when the Huskers play host to Cockeye. Tip-off between the Big Red and the Cockeyes is set for 7 p.m. (CT), with tickets available at Huskers.com. The game will be televised live by the Big Ten Network, while the Huskers Radio Network call will be available on Huskers.com.
