For a school record-tying 16th time in 2021-22, the Nebraska women’s basketball team won at home.
The Huskers (22-7, 11-7 Big Ten) held off Northwestern (16-11, 8-8 Big Ten) Sunday afternoon by a score of 73-59. The victory solidifies a No. 6 seed for Nebraska in the Big Ten Tournament later this week in Indianapolis.
Nebraska came out firing with a jumper from Issie Bourne and a 3 from Alexis Markowski, but the rest of the first half was played relatively even. The Huskers led by just three at the half.
The third quarter, though, was all Nebraska.
The Huskers used a pair of 3s from Jaz Shelley and Allison Weidner in the first minute to spark a 28-14 quarter, capped off by a Bourne triple in the closing seconds. Shelley scored 13 of her 17 points in the third quarter.
Despite Northwestern winning the fourth quarter 18-15, Nebraska cruised to the 73-59 victory in front of 6,274 fans at Pinnacle Bank Arena.
Bourne led all scorers with 20 points and was one of four Huskers to grab exactly five rebounds. The only player with more boards was Markowski, grabbing 12 to go with her 16 points.
The double-double for Markowski is her fifth of the season.
As a team, Nebraska shot 50 percent from the field, including 9-of-18 from 3.
Three Husker players were honored after the game as part of Senior Day. Mi’Cole Cayton, Bella Cravens, and Sam Haiby all put multiple seasons into the program. All three will have the option to return for an extra season of eligibility due to NCAA rules following the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic.
Nebraska is set to open their postseason run Thursday in the final game of the day, taking on the winner of Wisconsin and Illinois. A win Thursday would pit the Huskers against 3-seed Michigan on Friday.