Nebraska Outlasts No. 20 Kansas in 3OT

The weather outside may have been frightful, but the environment inside Pinnacle Bank Arena was so delightful for Nebraska women’s basketball.

The Huskers stunned No. 20 Kansas 85-79 in triple-overtime. The loss is the first of the season for the Jayhawks.

“Lots of emotion,” Williams said. “We showed great mental toughness. The difference may have been a little bit of depth in overtime.”

The wild game started out as ugly as any game could. The teams combined to commit turnovers on the first five possessions of the game and did so on seven of the first eight possessions.

It would take most of the first quarter for both teams to settle down, but by the end of the frame Nebraska was up 15-13.

Kansas began the second quarter with a 6-0 run, but then Nebraska got hot as the Jayhawks cooled. The Huskers put together a 22-5 run over a 6:30 stretch.

KU had to claw back through the entire second-half to finally retake the lead with 3:27 to go in regulation.

Lost during that stretch was Nebraska guard Allison Weidner. The sophomore hustled back on defense to block a shot but then stumbled into a camera operator under the basket. Weidner needed helped off but was not placing any weight on her left leg.

After a nearly five minute scoring drought, Alexis Markowski and Sam Haiby combined for five points in 44 seconds. Kansas got a layup with 1:14 to go and nobody could connect in the final minute, sending the game to the first overtime tied 60-60.

Scoring was few and far between in the first OT, where the only Husker points were a pair of Markowski free throws, while Zakiyah Franklin had the only bucket for the Jayhawks.

At the buzzer, Issie Bourne got the ball in the paint but was too low and the shot was blocked by the bottom of the backboard.

The second overtime was much more active.

Franklin consistently made shots for Kansas. On the other end, Nebraska never led. A Bourne layup with 34 seconds left tied the game at 70.

Again, Nebraska had a look at the buzzer. Shelley got a wide open look at the rim but missed.

Another overtime.

Shelley started the next OT by hitting a 3. That allowed Nebraska to play from in front for the majority of the extra period.

With 1:45 to go, Markowski fouled out. Nearly 30 seconds later, Kansas would tie the game.

But with Markowski out, Maggie Mendelson took over the paint. She altered shots in the paint and grabbed a big time rebound with 50 seconds to go.

On the other end, Bourne drilled a triple.

Kansas missed their answer. Haiby made both free throws.

After another missed triple from the Jayhawks and one more free throw from Mendelson, the Huskers celebrated their upset victory.

Nebraska shot 38.4 percent for the game, including 10-of-28 from 3. The Huskers added 19 made free throws on 29 attempts.

Kansas, meanwhile, shot 33 percent, going 5-of-17 from deep. The Jayhawks attempted only 19 free throws, making 14 of them.

Despite just have two points at halftime, Shelley finished with a team-high 24 points, adding six rebounds and six assists.

Markowski notched another double-double, scoring 18 points while grabbing 10 rebounds.

In her return a multi-week injury, Bourne pitched in 10 points. Sam Haiby added 12 points.

Now through the non-conference slate in its entirety, Nebraska jumps fully into Big Ten Conference play. The Huskers host No. 19 Michigan next Wednesday to close out 2022.