Led by Britt Prince’s career high 24 points, including 10 in the fourth quarter, Nebraska women’s basketball defeated Rutgers, 69-62, Sunday at Jersey Mike’s Arena in Piscataway, N.J. Prince’s effort was bolstered by Alexis Markowski’s 47th double-double of her career (an ongoing school record) and her seventh this year with 14 points and 14 rebounds. Jessica Petrie added 12 points and a career-high nine rebounds.
All that came as the Cornhuskers (13-4, 4-2 B1G) were dealing with heartbreaking injury news. Redshirt junior guard Allison Weidner sustained a serious knee injury in Nebraska’s last practice before heading east Saturday and will likely miss the rest of the season. She joins Natalie Potts, who saw a promising sophomore season derailed by a knee injury in the first month of the season.
Nebraska needed every bit they got from Prince and Markowski, as the Scarlet Knights (8-9, 0-6 B1G) were led by freshman guard Kiyomi McMiller. Back from a two-game suspension, McMiller racked up a game-high 31 points on 14-for-28 shooting, including 5-for-14 from behind the arc.
After building a two-point lead through one quarter, the Huskers took over in the second, leading 33-22 with 2:46 remaining until halftime. A late first-half surge by Rutgers cut the NU advantage to 36-31 by intermission. The Scarlet Knights owned the third quarter, tying the game at 48 going to the fourth quarter. Rutgers was able to push ahead, 57-55, with 5:45 to go in regulation, but a 9-0 Nebraska run swung control of the game back to the Huskers, and NU was able to hang on from there for victory.
It was a gritty effort for Nebraska, as the Huskers outrebounded Rutgers, 49-32. That made up for a cold shooting day for Nebraska, as NU was 3-for-22 from behind the arc. The Huskers also overcame committing 18 turnovers, compared to just 10 by the Scarlet Knights.
Nebraska now prepares to travel to No. 23 Iowa for a Thursday night matchup. Pregame coverage begins at 5:30 p.m. with tipoff at 6:00 p.m. on B-107.3.