Story by NU Athletic Communications

After a thrilling victory over South Dakota State last Friday in the NCAA First Round, the five-seeded Nebraska soccer team (15-3-3, 7-1-2 Big Ten) will host Tennessee in NCAA Second Round action on Friday at 7 p.m. (CT). The weekend regional begins with eighth-seeded Gonzaga battling UC Irvine at 3:30 p.m. (CT) on Friday at Hibner Stadium.&nbsp;

The matches will be streamed on ESPN+ and live stats will be available on Huskers.com.&nbsp;Last Time OutSadie Waite and Sarah Weber netted two goals in the Huskers’ 5-2 win against South Dakota State in the first round of the NCAA Women’s Soccer Tournament in front of 2,044 fans on Friday night, which is the second-largest crowd to ever see a match at Barbara Hibner Stadium.

Up NextThe winner of the second round matches will square off on Sunday, Nov. 19 at 1 p.m. (CT) in the third-round match at Hibner Stadium.

Individual Milestones and Records to Watch

Story by NU Athletic CommunicationsAfter a thrilling victory over South Dakota State last Friday in the NCAA First Round, the five-seeded Nebraska soccer team (15-3-3, 7-1-2 Big Ten) will host Tennessee in NCAA Second Round action on Friday at 7 p.m. (CT). The weekend regional begins with eighth-seeded Gonzaga battling UC Irvine at 3:30 p.m. (CT) on Friday at Hibner Stadium.&nbsp;The matches will be streamed on ESPN+ and live stats will be available on Huskers.com.&nbsp;Last Time OutSadie Waite and Sarah Weber netted two goals in the Huskers’ 5-2 win against South Dakota State in the first round of the NCAA Women’s Soccer Tournament in front of 2,044 fans on Friday night, which is the second-largest crowd to ever see a match at Barbara Hibner Stadium.Up NextThe winner of the second round matches will square off on Sunday, Nov. 19 at 1 p.m. (CT) in the third-round match at Hibner Stadium.Nebraska’s NCAA Tournament History<ul>
 <li>Nebraska is making its 13th NCAA Tournament appearance in program history, and first since 2016 when the Huskers also hosted SDSU in the first round.</li><li>Nebraska holds a 18-12 record all-time in the NCAA Tournament.</li><li>NU has made it to the Sweet 16 on eight occasions and twice advanced to the Elite Eight.</li><li>Nebraska made its first NCAA Tournament appearance in 1996, which began a span of 10 consecutive appearances through the 2005 season. NU’s 12th appearance was in 2016.&nbsp;</li>
 </ul>Individual Milestones and Records to Watch<ul>
 <li>Senior Eleanor Dale earned four Big Ten Offensive Player-of-the-Week honors this season (second-most in Big Ten history), and she became the first Nebraska women’s soccer player to claim Big Ten Forward-of-the-Year honors. She leads the country in total goals (26), game-winning goals (8), goals per game (1.24) and shots per game (5.86), while also leading the conference in shots (123), shots on goal (63) and points (57). Dale’s total goals are tied for third in Big Ten history only behind 32 in 2005 and 31 in 2011.</li><li>Dale, who has tallied 10 braces this season, is second on Nebraska’s season goal scored list. She trails only Kim Engesser, who scored 27 goals in 1998. Additionally, she is tied for first in the Huskers record books in game-winning goals and her total shots this season place her at the top of the list. &nbsp;</li><li>Gretna’s Weber joins Dale as a first-team All-Big Ten honoree as Weber captured her second-straight first-team All-Big Ten status. She ranks second in the conference in shots (90), points (34), shots on goal (38) and goals (14). Nationally, Weber is seventh in shots per game (4.50), tied for ninth in total points and 10th in goals.</li><li>Junior midfielder Florence Belzile, a three-time member of the Top Drawer Soccer team, has a team-high 17 assists on the season, good for first in the conference and second nationally. In Big Ten history, she is currently tied for second-most in history only behind Jennifer Walek, Minnesota (1995) and Christie Walsh, Penn State (2001) who both had 18. In the Husker record books, her assists on the season place her tied for second with Husker great Jenny Benson (1999) and is four out of first (Brittany Timko, 2005).&nbsp;</li>
 </ul>

Huskers welcome Tennessee in NCAA Second Round

Juwan Gary matched his career high with 19 points as Nebraska shot 66 percent in the second half en route to an 84-53 win over Stony Brook Wednesday night.&nbsp;

Gary, who missed NU’s first four contests, hit 8-of-11 shots from the floor and added seven rebounds, as the Huskers improved to 4-0 for the first time since the 2018-19 season.&nbsp;

Brice Williams scored 16 of his 17 points in the second half and added a game-high nine rebounds, as Nebraska enjoyed a 45-28 advantage on the glass. Williams scored six of his points in a 13-2 Husker spurt after Stony Brook pulled to within 64-54 with 8:30 remaining.&nbsp;

Keisei Tominaga and Rienk Mast added 16 and 14 points, respectively, as the Huskers cracked the 80-point plateau for the third time in four games.&nbsp;

Leading 36-28 at the break, the Huskers hit eight of its first 10 shots from the field in the second half to pushed the margin to 53-51 after a C.J. Wilcher basket. The Seawolves responded with a 7-0 run of its own to get within 56-49 and forced a Husker timeout. 

The Seawolves were within 59-52, but the Huskers took control with a 13-2 spurt to build a 72-54 lead after a Jamarques Lawrence basket with 6:37 left. &nbsp;

After a back-and-forth opening few minutes, Keisei Tominaga scored eight points in a row for the Huskers to take a 13-9 lead with 13:12 to go in the first half. The teams were then tied at 21 with a little over six minutes to go before NU went on a 6-1 scoring run powered by a pair of layups by Mast, who had 11 points and seven rebounds in the first half.&nbsp;

Nebraska led 31-28 with under a minute left in the half before Mast closed the half on a personal 5-0 run to close the half, hitting a 3-pointer with three seconds remaining to send NU to the locker room with its largest lead of the half at 36-28.

The Huskers hit the road for the first time this season as they travel to Sioux Falls, S.D., on Saturday, Nov. 18 to take on Oregon State. The game is set for 3 p.m. (CT) and will be streamed on Peacock. To subscribe, visit Huskers.com/watch&nbsp;&nbsp;

Story by NU Athletic CommunicationsJuwan Gary matched his career high with 19 points as Nebraska shot 66 percent in the second half en route to an 84-53 win over Stony Brook Wednesday night.&nbsp;Gary, who missed NU’s first four contests, hit 8-of-11 shots from the floor and added seven rebounds, as the Huskers improved to 4-0 for the first time since the 2018-19 season.&nbsp;Brice Williams scored 16 of his 17 points in the second half and added a game-high nine rebounds, as Nebraska enjoyed a 45-28 advantage on the glass. Williams scored six of his points in a 13-2 Husker spurt after Stony Brook pulled to within 64-54 with 8:30 remaining.&nbsp;Keisei Tominaga and Rienk Mast added 16 and 14 points, respectively, as the Huskers cracked the 80-point plateau for the third time in four games.&nbsp;Leading 36-28 at the break, the Huskers hit eight of its first 10 shots from the field in the second half to pushed the margin to 53-51 after a C.J. Wilcher basket. The Seawolves responded with a 7-0 run of its own to get within 56-49 and forced a Husker timeout. The Seawolves were within 59-52, but the Huskers took control with a 13-2 spurt to build a 72-54 lead after a Jamarques Lawrence basket with 6:37 left. &nbsp;After a back-and-forth opening few minutes, Keisei Tominaga scored eight points in a row for the Huskers to take a 13-9 lead with 13:12 to go in the first half. The teams were then tied at 21 with a little over six minutes to go before NU went on a 6-1 scoring run powered by a pair of layups by Mast, who had 11 points and seven rebounds in the first half.&nbsp;Nebraska led 31-28 with under a minute left in the half before Mast closed the half on a personal 5-0 run to close the half, hitting a 3-pointer with three seconds remaining to send NU to the locker room with its largest lead of the half at 36-28.The Huskers hit the road for the first time this season as they travel to Sioux Falls, S.D., on Saturday, Nov. 18 to take on Oregon State. The game is set for 3 p.m. (CT) and will be streamed on Peacock. To subscribe, visit Huskers.com/watch&nbsp;&nbsp;

Huskers shoot past Seawolves

Story by NPCC Athletic Communications

North Platte, Neb. – Samantha Riggles had a career high 28 points and 11 rebounds in a dominating 94-39 win over Hastings College JV on Wednesday night at the McDonald-Belton Gymnasium.

Riggles tallied 15 of her 28 points in the second half for her second straight double-double. North Platte finished the night with five players in double figures, as all active players contributed to the overall point total.

The Knights quickly jumped out to an 11-2 lead in the opening 2:44 of the first quarter. The lead ballooned to 24-7, before the Broncos cut the lead to 13 at the end of the opening ten minutes.

The Knights defense stiffened up in the second quarter, as they only allowed two field goals for the duration of the period. A 12-0 run to open the quarter was briefly halted by a Hastings bucket, before an 8-2 spurt gave North Platte the 46-16 lead at the break.&nbsp;

North Platte continued to roll in the second half as the lead drifted to 52-18 on a layup by Reece Halley. The Knights continued to apply the defensive pressure and were rewarded with 22 points off of turnovers in the second half, as they cruised to the victory at home.

North Platte finished the night shooting 40 percent (34-85) from the field and 31.3 percent (5-16) from beyond the arc. The Knights won the rebounding battle, 70-38, while holding the Broncos to just 20.3 percent shooting from the floor.

The Knights (5-2) will return to the hardwood on Saturday in Norfolk, Neb. Tip is set for 2 p.m. against the Hawks of Northeast Community College.

Story by NPCC Athletic CommunicationsNorth Platte, Neb. – Samantha Riggles had a career high 28 points and 11 rebounds in a dominating 94-39 win over Hastings College JV on Wednesday night at the McDonald-Belton Gymnasium.Riggles tallied 15 of her 28 points in the second half for her second straight double-double. North Platte finished the night with five players in double figures, as all active players contributed to the overall point total.The Knights quickly jumped out to an 11-2 lead in the opening 2:44 of the first quarter. The lead ballooned to 24-7, before the Broncos cut the lead to 13 at the end of the opening ten minutes.The Knights defense stiffened up in the second quarter, as they only allowed two field goals for the duration of the period. A 12-0 run to open the quarter was briefly halted by a Hastings bucket, before an 8-2 spurt gave North Platte the 46-16 lead at the break.&nbsp;North Platte continued to roll in the second half as the lead drifted to 52-18 on a layup by Reece Halley. The Knights continued to apply the defensive pressure and were rewarded with 22 points off of turnovers in the second half, as they cruised to the victory at home.North Platte finished the night shooting 40 percent (34-85) from the field and 31.3 percent (5-16) from beyond the arc. The Knights won the rebounding battle, 70-38, while holding the Broncos to just 20.3 percent shooting from the floor.The Knights (5-2) will return to the hardwood on Saturday in Norfolk, Neb. Tip is set for 2 p.m. against the Hawks of Northeast Community College.

Knights dominate Broncos in midweek matchup

Post Sports Director Paxton Gordon chatted with former Husker volleyball player, current Omaha Supernovas Team Ambassador/Assistant Director of Fan Engagement Kenzie Maloney about the Supernovas and her role with the organization.&nbsp;

NORTH PLATTE - The Omaha Supernovas are the first ever professional volleyball team in the state of Nebraska and gearing up for their first season in a brand-new professional volleyball league, the Pro Volleyball Federation. The league consists of 8 teams and the league plays a 24-game regular season. Omaha will host 12 matches at the CHI Health Center. The league's first ever match will take place at CHI Health Center on January 24th, 2024, between the Supernovas and the Atlanta Vibe at 7pm.&nbsp;

Maloney is originally from Louisville, Kentucky and spent 4 years when the Nebraska Volleyball team. During her time in Nebraska, she was a two-time national champion with the Huskers. Maloney was a four-year standout at both Libro and Defensive Specialist. She was an AVCA All-America Third Team member after her senior season in 2018.&nbsp;

For the Supernovas, Maloney is the Assistant Director of Fan Engagement for the Supernovas but also one of three Team Ambassadors alongside former Husker, Kenzie Knuckles and former Creighton Bluejay,&nbsp; Jaela Zimmerman. As a Team Ambassador, Maloney puts it&nbsp;hand in hand with her current position of Assistant Director of Fan Engagement. "It's viewed as a fan engagement position, so we (team ambassadors) do a good job of spreading the word of the Pro Volleyball Federation and letting people know what it is, where they can find tickets, where they can get involved," said Kenzie Maloney.&nbsp;&nbsp;

If you would like to learn a more In-depth of the Omaha Supernovas and more about Maloney's role with the team, check out the podcast above. To learn more information about the Omaha Supernovas, <a href="https://supernovas.com/">click here.</a>&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/6/1655346441244.png" alt="<a href="https://www.npkubota.com/">Post Podcast Sponsored By North Platte Kubota</a>" />
 <figcaption><a href="https://www.npkubota.com/">Post Podcast Sponsored By North Platte Kubota</a></figcaption>
 </figure>Post Sports Director Paxton Gordon chatted with former Husker volleyball player, current Omaha Supernovas Team Ambassador/Assistant Director of Fan Engagement Kenzie Maloney about the Supernovas and her role with the organization.&nbsp;<div><iframe title="(Audio) Omaha Supernovas - Kenzie Maloney" allowtransparency="true" height="150" width="100%" style="border: none; min-width: min(100%, 430px);height:150px;" scrolling="no" data-name="pb-iframe-player" src="https://www.podbean.com/player-v2/?i=q9jxb-14f9da2-pb&from=pb6admin&share=1&download=1&rtl=1&fonts=Times%20New%20Roman&skin=1b1b1b&font-color=auto&logo_link=episode_page&btn-skin=ff6d00" loading="lazy"></iframe></div>NORTH PLATTE - The Omaha Supernovas are the first ever professional volleyball team in the state of Nebraska and gearing up for their first season in a brand-new professional volleyball league, the Pro Volleyball Federation. The league consists of 8 teams and the league plays a 24-game regular season. Omaha will host 12 matches at the CHI Health Center. The league's first ever match will take place at CHI Health Center on January 24th, 2024, between the Supernovas and the Atlanta Vibe at 7pm.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/11/1699911543262.jpeg" alt="Left to Right. Kenzie Maloney, Jaela Zimmerman, Kenzie Knuckles. Photo provided by the Omaha Supernovas." />
 <figcaption>Left to Right. Kenzie Maloney, Jaela Zimmerman, Kenzie Knuckles. Photo provided by the Omaha Supernovas.</figcaption>
 </figure>Maloney is originally from Louisville, Kentucky and spent 4 years when the Nebraska Volleyball team. During her time in Nebraska, she was a two-time national champion with the Huskers. Maloney was a four-year standout at both Libro and Defensive Specialist. She was an AVCA All-America Third Team member after her senior season in 2018.&nbsp;For the Supernovas, Maloney is the Assistant Director of Fan Engagement for the Supernovas but also one of three Team Ambassadors alongside former Husker, Kenzie Knuckles and former Creighton Bluejay,&nbsp; Jaela Zimmerman. As a Team Ambassador, Maloney puts it&nbsp;hand in hand with her current position of Assistant Director of Fan Engagement. "It's viewed as a fan engagement position, so we (team ambassadors) do a good job of spreading the word of the Pro Volleyball Federation and letting people know what it is, where they can find tickets, where they can get involved," said Kenzie Maloney.&nbsp;&nbsp;If you would like to learn a more In-depth of the Omaha Supernovas and more about Maloney's role with the team, check out the podcast above. To learn more information about the Omaha Supernovas, <a href="https://supernovas.com/">click here.</a>&nbsp;

(Audio) Omaha Supernovas - Kenzie Maloney

Lincoln&nbsp;- Alexis Markowski scored 20 points and grabbed nine rebounds to lead Nebraska to a 79-32 women's basketball win over Alcorn State on Tuesday night at Pinnacle Bank Arena.

Markowski hit 6-of-11 shots from the field and 8-of-10 free throws to post Nebraska's first individual 20-point performance of the season. Her strong play inside helped the Big Red improve to 3-0, while Alcorn State slipped to 0-2.

Callin Hake added a strong offensive performance with a season-high 14 points to go along with a career-high seven rebounds, while pitching in three steals and two assists. Hake stepped up early in the game after starting guard Jaz Shelley left with a lower leg injury less than three minutes into the contest.&nbsp;

Freshman guard Logan Nissley added the first double-figure scoring effort of her college career with 10 points on 3-of-5 shooting, including a pair of three-pointers to bolster the Big Red backcourt.

All nine Huskers who played in the game scored at least three points.&nbsp;

While Nebraska's offense was fairly efficient, its defense was suffocating from start to finish. The Huskers used back-to-back 16-0 runs in the first half to build a 49-15 first-half lead. In fact, the Huskers held the Lady Braves without a field goal for nearly 17 minutes from 7:26 left in the first quarter to 33 seconds left in the half, when Arene Iyekekpolor hit a three-pointer.

Nebraska continued to play solid defense in the second half, holding the Lady Braves to 17 points in the final 20 minutes. The 32 points allowed tied for the eighth fewest surrendered in Husker history and the lowest total in Amy Williams' eight seasons as NU's head coach.

The Huskers finished at 49 percent (24-49) from the field and 31.6 percent (6-19) from long range while hitting 25-of-36 free throw attempts and forcing 31 personal fouls on Alcorn State. Nebraska out-rebounded ASU, 52-31. Alcorn State closed at 19.7 percent (12-61), including 2-of-15 from beyond the arc (.133), while hitting just 6-of-8 free throws against a Husker team that committed just 10 fouls.

Reigning Big Ten Freshman-of-the-Week Natalie Potts finished with seven points and career highs of 11 rebounds and three blocked shots, while fellow freshman forward Jessica Petrie added career highs of eight points and six rebounds.&nbsp;

Kendall Coley added five points and tied a career high with seven rebounds, while adding three assists, a block and a steal. Kendall Moriarty contributed six points and three assists, while Darian White added six points, five rebounds and three assists.

The Huskers separated themselves early, closing the first quarter by outscoring the Lady Braves, 22-2. Markowski and White each pitched in six points in the big spurt. NU forced six turnovers in the first 10 minutes and put up 11 points off turnovers, ending the quarter with a 29-8 lead.

Nebraska continued its scoring streak in the second quarter, starting the period with an 18-2 surge. Markowski put up 12 first-half points, followed by Hake's seven. At the half, the Huskers had hit 55.6 percent (15-27) of its shots from the field, including 3-of-7 threes (.429) and 16-of-20 free throws, while holding ASU to just 17.2 percent (5-29), including 1-of-9 (.111) from long range. The Huskers won the first-half rebounding battle, 27-14, and were plus-three in turnovers, 10-7.

Destiny Brown led Alcorn State in scoring with nine points, while Nakia Cheatham grabbed nine rebounds.&nbsp;

Nebraska returns home on Sunday, Nov. 19 to battle Creighton at 1 p.m (CT). Tickets are on sale now at Huskers.com. The game will be televised on the Big Ten Network and radio coverage will be provided by the Huskers Radio Network.

Story by NU Athletic CommunicationsLincoln&nbsp;- Alexis Markowski scored 20 points and grabbed nine rebounds to lead Nebraska to a 79-32 women's basketball win over Alcorn State on Tuesday night at Pinnacle Bank Arena.Markowski hit 6-of-11 shots from the field and 8-of-10 free throws to post Nebraska's first individual 20-point performance of the season. Her strong play inside helped the Big Red improve to 3-0, while Alcorn State slipped to 0-2.Callin Hake added a strong offensive performance with a season-high 14 points to go along with a career-high seven rebounds, while pitching in three steals and two assists. Hake stepped up early in the game after starting guard Jaz Shelley left with a lower leg injury less than three minutes into the contest.&nbsp;Freshman guard Logan Nissley added the first double-figure scoring effort of her college career with 10 points on 3-of-5 shooting, including a pair of three-pointers to bolster the Big Red backcourt.All nine Huskers who played in the game scored at least three points.&nbsp;While Nebraska's offense was fairly efficient, its defense was suffocating from start to finish. The Huskers used back-to-back 16-0 runs in the first half to build a 49-15 first-half lead. In fact, the Huskers held the Lady Braves without a field goal for nearly 17 minutes from 7:26 left in the first quarter to 33 seconds left in the half, when Arene Iyekekpolor hit a three-pointer.Nebraska continued to play solid defense in the second half, holding the Lady Braves to 17 points in the final 20 minutes. The 32 points allowed tied for the eighth fewest surrendered in Husker history and the lowest total in Amy Williams' eight seasons as NU's head coach.The Huskers finished at 49 percent (24-49) from the field and 31.6 percent (6-19) from long range while hitting 25-of-36 free throw attempts and forcing 31 personal fouls on Alcorn State. Nebraska out-rebounded ASU, 52-31. Alcorn State closed at 19.7 percent (12-61), including 2-of-15 from beyond the arc (.133), while hitting just 6-of-8 free throws against a Husker team that committed just 10 fouls.Reigning Big Ten Freshman-of-the-Week Natalie Potts finished with seven points and career highs of 11 rebounds and three blocked shots, while fellow freshman forward Jessica Petrie added career highs of eight points and six rebounds.&nbsp;Kendall Coley added five points and tied a career high with seven rebounds, while adding three assists, a block and a steal. Kendall Moriarty contributed six points and three assists, while Darian White added six points, five rebounds and three assists.The Huskers separated themselves early, closing the first quarter by outscoring the Lady Braves, 22-2. Markowski and White each pitched in six points in the big spurt. NU forced six turnovers in the first 10 minutes and put up 11 points off turnovers, ending the quarter with a 29-8 lead.Nebraska continued its scoring streak in the second quarter, starting the period with an 18-2 surge. Markowski put up 12 first-half points, followed by Hake's seven. At the half, the Huskers had hit 55.6 percent (15-27) of its shots from the field, including 3-of-7 threes (.429) and 16-of-20 free throws, while holding ASU to just 17.2 percent (5-29), including 1-of-9 (.111) from long range. The Huskers won the first-half rebounding battle, 27-14, and were plus-three in turnovers, 10-7.Destiny Brown led Alcorn State in scoring with nine points, while Nakia Cheatham grabbed nine rebounds.&nbsp;Nebraska returns home on Sunday, Nov. 19 to battle Creighton at 1 p.m (CT). Tickets are on sale now at Huskers.com. The game will be televised on the Big Ten Network and radio coverage will be provided by the Huskers Radio Network.

Markowski powers Huskers past Alcorn State

University of Nebraska President Ted Carter announced today that he has granted Athletic Director Trev Alberts a new contract that will keep the Huskers’ leader in Nebraska through at least 2031.

Carter pointed to a number of major achievements in Husker Athletics since Alberts took the helm in 2021, including the historic Volleyball Day in Nebraska that broke the world record for attendance at a women’s sporting event, the hiring of head football coach Matt Rhule, and a new 15-year, $300 million multimedia rights agreement with Playfly Sports that is one of the most comprehensive in the country.

Alberts is also leading the Huskers through the rapidly evolving Name, Image and Likeness landscape, is bringing the transformational Go Big project to completion, and has laid out an ambitious vision for renovation of the 100-year-old Memorial Stadium. Ten Husker teams had top-20 national finishes last year, and this year, the undefeated women’s volleyball team is currently ranked No. 1 in the country while women’s soccer will host the second and third rounds of the NCAA Women’s Soccer Championship. Nebraska student-athletes also have earned a record 95 percent graduation rate for the second straight year.

“Today’s college athletics landscape is complex and ever-changing,” Carter said. “We need exactly the right person leading Husker Athletics forward. In Trev Alberts, we have found that leader.

“Trev is a lifelong Husker and a Nebraskan in every sense – hardworking, accountable and a man of his word. He makes every decision with our fans and student-athletes at the forefront. There is no one I would trust more to lead athletics at the University of Nebraska than Trev Alberts. I have no doubt that someone of Trev’s caliber and character would be an attractive candidate anywhere, but I am thrilled to tell Husker Nation that Trev is here to stay.”

Alberts said: “My family and I are humbled by the confidence that President Carter and the Board of Regents have placed in me. It is an incredible honor and privilege to serve as the Director of Athletics at Nebraska and it is a role I don’t take for granted. Our student-athletes, coaches and staff have accomplished so much in the past two years. We have great momentum in Husker Athletics and we are excited for what is ahead. Go Big Red!”

Carter said he structured Alberts’ new contract based on a thorough review of compensation packages for other Big Ten athletic directors, with a goal of keeping Nebraska highly competitive in the market and retaining Alberts for the long term. The new contract includes:

Alberts’ new contract, like his existing one, will be funded entirely with Athletic Department funds. No taxpayer or tuition dollars will be used. Nebraska’s is one of few athletic departments in the country to operate without a university subsidy.

Board of Regents Chairman Tim Clare of Lincoln applauded the new contract, saying: “Trev Alberts has spent the past two years rebuilding a culture of excellence and accountability at Nebraska Athletics. That’s why I’m so excited about this new contract. This ensures that Trev will be here for the long term, instilling excellence and accountability across the entire Athletic Department.

“Leadership matters, plain and simple. Trev is competitive, he wants to win and he bleeds Husker Red. We appreciate his loyalty to Nebraska and we want him to be a Husker for life.”

Board of Regents Vice Chairman Rob Schafer of Beatrice added: “The leader of Husker Athletics has to be someone we trust to steward major resources, navigate complex challenges, and guide the young women and men who wear the red N. We are so fortunate to have Trev Alberts at the helm. College athletics is undergoing a sea change right now, but Nebraska is in good hands.”

Story by NU Athletic CommunicationsUniversity of Nebraska President Ted Carter announced today that he has granted Athletic Director Trev Alberts a new contract that will keep the Huskers’ leader in Nebraska through at least 2031.Carter pointed to a number of major achievements in Husker Athletics since Alberts took the helm in 2021, including the historic Volleyball Day in Nebraska that broke the world record for attendance at a women’s sporting event, the hiring of head football coach Matt Rhule, and a new 15-year, $300 million multimedia rights agreement with Playfly Sports that is one of the most comprehensive in the country.Alberts is also leading the Huskers through the rapidly evolving Name, Image and Likeness landscape, is bringing the transformational Go Big project to completion, and has laid out an ambitious vision for renovation of the 100-year-old Memorial Stadium. Ten Husker teams had top-20 national finishes last year, and this year, the undefeated women’s volleyball team is currently ranked No. 1 in the country while women’s soccer will host the second and third rounds of the NCAA Women’s Soccer Championship. Nebraska student-athletes also have earned a record 95 percent graduation rate for the second straight year.“Today’s college athletics landscape is complex and ever-changing,” Carter said. “We need exactly the right person leading Husker Athletics forward. In Trev Alberts, we have found that leader.“Trev is a lifelong Husker and a Nebraskan in every sense – hardworking, accountable and a man of his word. He makes every decision with our fans and student-athletes at the forefront. There is no one I would trust more to lead athletics at the University of Nebraska than Trev Alberts. I have no doubt that someone of Trev’s caliber and character would be an attractive candidate anywhere, but I am thrilled to tell Husker Nation that Trev is here to stay.”Alberts said: “My family and I are humbled by the confidence that President Carter and the Board of Regents have placed in me. It is an incredible honor and privilege to serve as the Director of Athletics at Nebraska and it is a role I don’t take for granted. Our student-athletes, coaches and staff have accomplished so much in the past two years. We have great momentum in Husker Athletics and we are excited for what is ahead. Go Big Red!”Carter said he structured Alberts’ new contract based on a thorough review of compensation packages for other Big Ten athletic directors, with a goal of keeping Nebraska highly competitive in the market and retaining Alberts for the long term. The new contract includes:<ul>
 <li>An annual base salary of $1.7 million, increasing to $2.1 million in 2026.</li>
 </ul><ul>
 <li>Retention incentives, including an existing contractual $500,000 retention bonus if Alberts stays through September 2025, with an annual $300,000 retention bonus for every year he stays thereafter.</li>
 </ul><ul>
 <li>A $3 million completion bonus if he completes the entire eight-year agreement.</li>
 </ul><ul>
 <li>Liquidation damage buyouts that will be paid to the university if Alberts were to leave for another opportunity.</li>
 </ul>Alberts’ new contract, like his existing one, will be funded entirely with Athletic Department funds. No taxpayer or tuition dollars will be used. Nebraska’s is one of few athletic departments in the country to operate without a university subsidy.Board of Regents Chairman Tim Clare of Lincoln applauded the new contract, saying: “Trev Alberts has spent the past two years rebuilding a culture of excellence and accountability at Nebraska Athletics. That’s why I’m so excited about this new contract. This ensures that Trev will be here for the long term, instilling excellence and accountability across the entire Athletic Department.“Leadership matters, plain and simple. Trev is competitive, he wants to win and he bleeds Husker Red. We appreciate his loyalty to Nebraska and we want him to be a Husker for life.”Board of Regents Vice Chairman Rob Schafer of Beatrice added: “The leader of Husker Athletics has to be someone we trust to steward major resources, navigate complex challenges, and guide the young women and men who wear the red N. We are so fortunate to have Trev Alberts at the helm. College athletics is undergoing a sea change right now, but Nebraska is in good hands.”

Carter announces new contract for Trev Alberts

North Platte, Neb. –&nbsp;<a href="https://npccknights.com/sports/mbkb/2023-24/bios/baumann_parker_gkv3">Parker Baumann</a>&nbsp;led North Platte with 21 points, but it was not enough to upset No. 9 Barton Community College on Tuesday night, 74-71.

<a href="https://npccknights.com/sports/mbkb/2023-24/bios/cooper_michael_nw8s">Michael Cooper</a>&nbsp;chipped in 17 points on 6-of-12 shooting from the floor, while&nbsp;<a href="https://npccknights.com/sports/mbkb/2023-24/bios/evans_davion_v6ux">Davion Evans</a>&nbsp;tallied 12 points in 39 minutes of action.&nbsp;<a href="https://npccknights.com/sports/mbkb/2023-24/bios/oladeru_emmanuel_d76p">Emmanuel Oladeru</a>&nbsp;led the Knights on the glass, finishing with 10 rebounds to accompany his six points.

North Platte gave the Cougars all it could handle in the first half, as they jumped out to a 25-21 lead on a three by Baumann. Barton countered with a 10-2 run to recapture the lead with 5:02 to play in the opening half.&nbsp;<a href="https://npccknights.com/sports/mbkb/2023-24/bios/broer_landon_kasi">Landon Broer</a>&nbsp;connected on a jumper from the free throw line to ignite the Knights offense and halt the Cougars run.

In the final five minutes, Oladeru snagged a rebound and laid it in to knot the game up. The Cougars retook the lead on their next possession and never relinquished it down the stretch as they took a 41-39 lead into the break.

In the second half, Cooper drove through his defender to knot the game up on the Knights opening possession. The Knights and Cougars continued to trade blows, before a 6-0 spurt midway through the half helped the Cougars push their lead to 60-54. North Platte slowly cut into the margin before bringing fans to their feet in the final minute.

Back-to-back three pointers from Baumann and Evans cut the margin to 74-71 with six seconds remaining. A missed free throw by Barton and a quick fast break gave North Platte one opportunity to send the game into overtime. The corner three fell short as time expired to end the Knights come from behind attempt.

North Platte finished the game shooting 50 percent (30-60) from the floor, while connecting on 6-of-19 from the perimeter against the Cougars.

North Platte returns to road action on Friday against State Fair Community College. Tip is set for 7 p.m. in Sedalia, Mo.

Story by NPCC Athletic CommunicationsNorth Platte, Neb. –&nbsp;<a href="https://npccknights.com/sports/mbkb/2023-24/bios/baumann_parker_gkv3">Parker Baumann</a>&nbsp;led North Platte with 21 points, but it was not enough to upset No. 9 Barton Community College on Tuesday night, 74-71.<a href="https://npccknights.com/sports/mbkb/2023-24/bios/cooper_michael_nw8s">Michael Cooper</a>&nbsp;chipped in 17 points on 6-of-12 shooting from the floor, while&nbsp;<a href="https://npccknights.com/sports/mbkb/2023-24/bios/evans_davion_v6ux">Davion Evans</a>&nbsp;tallied 12 points in 39 minutes of action.&nbsp;<a href="https://npccknights.com/sports/mbkb/2023-24/bios/oladeru_emmanuel_d76p">Emmanuel Oladeru</a>&nbsp;led the Knights on the glass, finishing with 10 rebounds to accompany his six points.North Platte gave the Cougars all it could handle in the first half, as they jumped out to a 25-21 lead on a three by Baumann. Barton countered with a 10-2 run to recapture the lead with 5:02 to play in the opening half.&nbsp;<a href="https://npccknights.com/sports/mbkb/2023-24/bios/broer_landon_kasi">Landon Broer</a>&nbsp;connected on a jumper from the free throw line to ignite the Knights offense and halt the Cougars run.In the final five minutes, Oladeru snagged a rebound and laid it in to knot the game up. The Cougars retook the lead on their next possession and never relinquished it down the stretch as they took a 41-39 lead into the break.In the second half, Cooper drove through his defender to knot the game up on the Knights opening possession. The Knights and Cougars continued to trade blows, before a 6-0 spurt midway through the half helped the Cougars push their lead to 60-54. North Platte slowly cut into the margin before bringing fans to their feet in the final minute.Back-to-back three pointers from Baumann and Evans cut the margin to 74-71 with six seconds remaining. A missed free throw by Barton and a quick fast break gave North Platte one opportunity to send the game into overtime. The corner three fell short as time expired to end the Knights come from behind attempt.North Platte finished the game shooting 50 percent (30-60) from the floor, while connecting on 6-of-19 from the perimeter against the Cougars.North Platte returns to road action on Friday against State Fair Community College. Tip is set for 7 p.m. in Sedalia, Mo.

Knights fall to No. 9 Barton

LONDON (AP) — Police in England arrested a man Tuesday on suspicion of manslaughter in the death of American ice hockey player Adam Johnson, whose neck was cut by a skate during a game.

Johnson, 29, was playing for the Nottingham Panthers against the Sheffield Steelers on Oct. 28 when he was struck by an opponent's skate blade in the Elite Ice Hockey League game at Sheffield’s Utilita Arena.

South Yorkshire Police did not name the suspect or provide his age. He was in police custody.

Matt Petgrave, 31, who plays for Sheffield, was the other player involved in the grisly incident that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hockey-player-adam-johnson-dies-ab5b059012fe119cca2dfd12724f3156">reverberated around the hockey community</a>&nbsp;and led to moments of silence in the NHL.

Video of the incident shows Johnson skating with the puck toward the Steelers net. Petgrave skates toward Johnson and collides with another Panthers player. Petgrave's left skate kicks up as he begins to fall and the blade hits Johnson in the neck.

Both players land on the ice. Petgrave immediately got to his feet. Johnson rose more slowly and as he is helped off the ice, his jersey is covered in blood. He later died at a local hospital.

“Our investigation launched immediately following this tragedy and we have been carrying out extensive inquiries ever since to piece together the events which led to the loss of Adam in these unprecedented circumstances,” Detective Chief Superintendent Becs Horsfall said.

Fans had a moment of silence for Johnson at the Steelers next game and gave Petgrave, who didn't play in that game, a standing ovation.

Johnson was a Minnesota native who appeared in a total of 13 NHL games with the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 2018-19 and 2019-20 seasons.

The English Ice Hockey Association, which governs the sport below the Elite League, reacted to Johnson's death by requiring all players in England to wear neck guards from the start of 2024.

LONDON (AP) — Police in England arrested a man Tuesday on suspicion of manslaughter in the death of American ice hockey player Adam Johnson, whose neck was cut by a skate during a game.Johnson, 29, was playing for the Nottingham Panthers against the Sheffield Steelers on Oct. 28 when he was struck by an opponent's skate blade in the Elite Ice Hockey League game at Sheffield’s Utilita Arena.South Yorkshire Police did not name the suspect or provide his age. He was in police custody.Matt Petgrave, 31, who plays for Sheffield, was the other player involved in the grisly incident that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hockey-player-adam-johnson-dies-ab5b059012fe119cca2dfd12724f3156">reverberated around the hockey community</a>&nbsp;and led to moments of silence in the NHL.Video of the incident shows Johnson skating with the puck toward the Steelers net. Petgrave skates toward Johnson and collides with another Panthers player. Petgrave's left skate kicks up as he begins to fall and the blade hits Johnson in the neck.Both players land on the ice. Petgrave immediately got to his feet. Johnson rose more slowly and as he is helped off the ice, his jersey is covered in blood. He later died at a local hospital.“Our investigation launched immediately following this tragedy and we have been carrying out extensive inquiries ever since to piece together the events which led to the loss of Adam in these unprecedented circumstances,” Detective Chief Superintendent Becs Horsfall said.Fans had a moment of silence for Johnson at the Steelers next game and gave Petgrave, who didn't play in that game, a standing ovation.Johnson was a Minnesota native who appeared in a total of 13 NHL games with the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 2018-19 and 2019-20 seasons.The English Ice Hockey Association, which governs the sport below the Elite League, reacted to Johnson's death by requiring all players in England to wear neck guards from the start of 2024.

Manslaughter arrest in death of hockey player whose neck was cut with skate blade during game

Steve Bischof, Elkhorn South – Girls Tennis

Jamie Brown, Papillion-La Vista – Girls Wrestling

Jonas Christensen, Lincoln Southwest – Girls Golf

Jim Clarkson, Clarkson/Leigh – Football

Chas DeVetter, Omaha Skutt Catholic – Boys Wrestling

Jason Dolliver, Pender – Girls Basketball

Jackie Eickhoff, Columbus – Unified Sports, Bowling

Jane Elam, Elkhorn South – Unified Sports, Track &amp; Field

Luke Ericson, Osceola – Girls Track &amp; Field

Jered Hellman, Omaha Westside – Boys Golf

Tom Hoover, Creighton Preparatory – Boys Soccer

Chris Jenson, Elkhorn/Elkhorn North/Elkhorn South – Boys Swimming &amp; Diving

Justin McGill, Norris – Girls Cross Country

Jim McLaughlin, Boys Basketball – Freeman

Sean McMahon, Fremont – Boys Cross Country

Andy Rider, Omaha Westside – Girls Swimming &amp; Diving

Chris Stock, Lincoln East – Boys Tennis

Katie Tarman, Papillion-La Vista South – Volleyball

Carl Zuege, Chase County – Boys Track &amp; Field

Story by NSAA CommunicationsSteve Bischof, Elkhorn South – Girls TennisJamie Brown, Papillion-La Vista – Girls WrestlingJonas Christensen, Lincoln Southwest – Girls GolfJim Clarkson, Clarkson/Leigh – FootballChas DeVetter, Omaha Skutt Catholic – Boys WrestlingJason Dolliver, Pender – Girls BasketballJackie Eickhoff, Columbus – Unified Sports, BowlingJane Elam, Elkhorn South – Unified Sports, Track &amp; FieldLuke Ericson, Osceola – Girls Track &amp; FieldHolly Fuhr, York – Boys BowlingRyan Glatter, Yutan/Mead – SoftballJered Hellman, Omaha Westside – Boys GolfTom Hoover, Creighton Preparatory – Boys SoccerChris Jenson, Elkhorn/Elkhorn North/Elkhorn South – Boys Swimming &amp; DivingJustin McGill, Norris – Girls Cross CountryJim McLaughlin, Boys Basketball – FreemanMark McKenzie, Fremont – Girls BowlingSean McMahon, Fremont – Boys Cross CountryAndy Rider, Omaha Westside – Girls Swimming &amp; DivingChris Stock, Lincoln East – Boys TennisArnold Talero, Norris – Girls SoccerKatie Tarman, Papillion-La Vista South – VolleyballZach Wehner, Malcolm – BaseballCarl Zuege, Chase County – Boys Track &amp; Field

Chase County Boys Track & Field Coach Carl Zuege announced as 2022-2023 Coach of the Year

On what he learned about the team’s fight and resilience

“Well, the biggest thing, as I told the guys, the message in the locker room was, every night, defense has to be our constant, and we’ve talked about that all year. There are going to be nights where the ball does not go in the hoop, like tonight, and you have to be able to continue to guard on that other end. You can’t drop your head. You can’t feel sorry for yourself. You gotta keep going out there and defending at a high level, and that’s exactly what our guys did. I believe it was nine minutes where we held them without a point, and Keisei hit the two threes to take the lid off the basket, and then, I think we went on a 17-0 run after that. Defensively, I was really proud of our guys for continuing to go out there and battle. It’s not easy. I'm telling you from experience. When the ball doesn’t go in the hole, to be able to have the mindset to continue to defend, continue to communicate. It's a physical team. We knew we were going to get a battle on the glass, and this team outrebounded Marquette the other night, and I thought we did a great job of hitting first, creating that rebound area and going up and finishing the possession with two hands.”

On the challenges of Rider’s defense“We saw some of it the other night in the game last week where they were swarming it,&nbsp;and we didn’t take very good care of the ball. We did a great job in our first game of limiting contested rim twos. We got back to taking those again tonight. When you are in there getting your shot blocked that’s going to fuel transition going the other way. We have to be better decision makers. We are over-penetrating. When we are getting in there our decision-making you know Rienk (Mast) tried to Magic Johnson behind the back with a behind the head pass rather than just going up and finishing and taking the layup. Those are things we need those points you know we have to get them in a close game. Every one of those matters. We need to grow and get better in those areas. Jamarques (Lawrence) made a great play in the second half that fast break layup that got us with his pace going down the floor. Those are the possessions we need. Into the paint come to a jump stop, make the right play and finish with a basket.”

On Keisei Tominaga’s threes sparking the scoring run

“That’ll show you Keisei’s confidence. You get that thing from behind the backboard in that corner over there after missing the previous four or five in a row that were open so for him to continue to hunt his shot, for guys to continue to look for him, that’s a play we put in this morning against their zone baseline out and it was good to see our guys execute it.”

On the scoring run in the last nine minutes

C.J. Wilcher:&nbsp;“I think part of it is just rotations and talking and rebounding ultimately. Thinking about that last stretch, we were able to string together a few rebounds and get out in transition and Keisei (Tominaga) hit a couple threes towards the end of his time being in the game so I think that just gave us a little spark and we just kept it going from there.”

On Wilcher’s performance when starting vs. coming off the bench

C.J. Wilcher:&nbsp;“I don’t think anything really changes. My role stays the same. Just come in, make shots and be solid on defense. Be a leader.”

On leaning on the defense when shots aren’t falling

Jamarques Lawrence:&nbsp;“We knew like tonight we didn’t shoot the ball well. That team was really solid on offense too so we were just not worried about offense, it was just a heavy defensive night for us so just really focusing on that.”

C.J. Wilcher:&nbsp;“I think a lot of it is playing on two feet. They swarm when we got into the paint. They’re very handsy and aggressive on the ball so I think it was just playing on two feet and sticking to our offensive principles like pull behind and playing off two and pump fakes, just being consistent in those things. I feel like I’m very redundant in the few words I say with being consistent and things like that but it’s really that. Coaches harp on those things.”

On preparing for a lot of games in this stretch of the season

Jamarques Lawrence:&nbsp;“I would just say staying locked in. Stony Brook, one day to prepare so just staying locked in with whoever we play. I think we just get better consistently at our principles. What can we do better? Focusing in on ourselves, I think that’s big.”

“We played a whole hell of a lot better than we played in the Marquette game the other night. Gave up some costly threes when the game was in the&nbsp;balance. I'm encouraged by our guys. I thought we battled with some calls out there that could have gone our way, hope they had gone our way. We gotta box out better because they started to go over and get some offensive rebounds which kind of blew the lead a little bit.”&nbsp;

On having a seasoned lineup and what to expect moving forward

“We just have to continue to play as a team. You know, the veterans understand what we're trying to do. We got to bring the other new guys and young guys along and again, we're gonna get better as time goes on. That's why we play these games. We’re better tonight then we were the other night. So I just want to see our guys continue to get better to get to league play.”

<div><iframe src="https://cdn.jwplayer.com/players/EUSPdwDU-Qhb3tgnY.html" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" scrolling="auto" title="Hoiberg Prsr 11-13 Cam 5" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>Story by NU Athletic CommunicationsPostgame Notes<ul>
 <li>Nebraska improved to 3-0 for the first time under Fred Hoiberg.</li><li>The Huskers had their longest run of the season in the second half, using a 17-0 run to pull away after Rider had cut the lead to 47-46.&nbsp;Nebraska has had double-figure scoring runs in each of its first three games (10-0 vs. Lindenwood; 12-0 vs. FAMU, 17-0 vs. Rider)</li><li>Nebraska held Rider scoreless for a 9:11 stretch in the second half. The Huskers forced the Broncs into 12 consecutive missed shots during the scoreless stretch.</li><li>The Huskers out-rebounded Rider, 47-34. Nebraska posted a +13 advantage on the glass against a Rider squad that ranked 37th&nbsp;nationally in rebounding margin last season.</li><li>Rienk Mast posted his second straight double-double with 12 points and 13 rebounds. It is his 20th&nbsp;career double-double and second straight as a Husker.</li><li>C.J. Wilcher led Nebraska with 13 points, including 11 in the first half. Wilcher also grabbed five rebounds, one shy of his career high.</li><li>Josiah Allick had 10 points, his second double-figure scoring effort in the first three games.</li><li>Keisei Tominaga scored nine points in his season debut, after he missed the Huskers’ first two games. Tominaga hit consecutive 3-pointers to trigger Nebraska’s 17-0 spurt.</li>
 </ul>Nebraska Coach&nbsp;Fred Hoiberg:Opening Statement:On what he learned about the team’s fight and resilience“Well, the biggest thing, as I told the guys, the message in the locker room was, every night, defense has to be our constant, and we’ve talked about that all year. There are going to be nights where the ball does not go in the hoop, like tonight, and you have to be able to continue to guard on that other end. You can’t drop your head. You can’t feel sorry for yourself. You gotta keep going out there and defending at a high level, and that’s exactly what our guys did. I believe it was nine minutes where we held them without a point, and Keisei hit the two threes to take the lid off the basket, and then, I think we went on a 17-0 run after that. Defensively, I was really proud of our guys for continuing to go out there and battle. It’s not easy. I'm telling you from experience. When the ball doesn’t go in the hole, to be able to have the mindset to continue to defend, continue to communicate. It's a physical team. We knew we were going to get a battle on the glass, and this team outrebounded Marquette the other night, and I thought we did a great job of hitting first, creating that rebound area and going up and finishing the possession with two hands.”On the challenges of Rider’s defense“We saw some of it the other night in the game last week where they were swarming it,&nbsp;and we didn’t take very good care of the ball. We did a great job in our first game of limiting contested rim twos. We got back to taking those again tonight. When you are in there getting your shot blocked that’s going to fuel transition going the other way. We have to be better decision makers. We are over-penetrating. When we are getting in there our decision-making you know Rienk (Mast) tried to Magic Johnson behind the back with a behind the head pass rather than just going up and finishing and taking the layup. Those are things we need those points you know we have to get them in a close game. Every one of those matters. We need to grow and get better in those areas. Jamarques (Lawrence) made a great play in the second half that fast break layup that got us with his pace going down the floor. Those are the possessions we need. Into the paint come to a jump stop, make the right play and finish with a basket.”On Keisei Tominaga’s threes sparking the scoring run“That’ll show you Keisei’s confidence. You get that thing from behind the backboard in that corner over there after missing the previous four or five in a row that were open so for him to continue to hunt his shot, for guys to continue to look for him, that’s a play we put in this morning against their zone baseline out and it was good to see our guys execute it.”Player Quotes:On the scoring run in the last nine minutesC.J. Wilcher:&nbsp;“I think part of it is just rotations and talking and rebounding ultimately. Thinking about that last stretch, we were able to string together a few rebounds and get out in transition and Keisei (Tominaga) hit a couple threes towards the end of his time being in the game so I think that just gave us a little spark and we just kept it going from there.”On Wilcher’s performance when starting vs. coming off the benchC.J. Wilcher:&nbsp;“I don’t think anything really changes. My role stays the same. Just come in, make shots and be solid on defense. Be a leader.”On leaning on the defense when shots aren’t fallingJamarques Lawrence:&nbsp;“We knew like tonight we didn’t shoot the ball well. That team was really solid on offense too so we were just not worried about offense, it was just a heavy defensive night for us so just really focusing on that.”On facing an aggressive defenseC.J. Wilcher:&nbsp;“I think a lot of it is playing on two feet. They swarm when we got into the paint. They’re very handsy and aggressive on the ball so I think it was just playing on two feet and sticking to our offensive principles like pull behind and playing off two and pump fakes, just being consistent in those things. I feel like I’m very redundant in the few words I say with being consistent and things like that but it’s really that. Coaches harp on those things.”On preparing for a lot of games in this stretch of the seasonJamarques Lawrence:&nbsp;“I would just say staying locked in. Stony Brook, one day to prepare so just staying locked in with whoever we play. I think we just get better consistently at our principles. What can we do better? Focusing in on ourselves, I think that’s big.”Rider Coach Kevin Baggett&nbsp;On initial takeaways“We played a whole hell of a lot better than we played in the Marquette game the other night. Gave up some costly threes when the game was in the&nbsp;balance. I'm encouraged by our guys. I thought we battled with some calls out there that could have gone our way, hope they had gone our way. We gotta box out better because they started to go over and get some offensive rebounds which kind of blew the lead a little bit.”&nbsp;On having a seasoned lineup and what to expect moving forward“We just have to continue to play as a team. You know, the veterans understand what we're trying to do. We got to bring the other new guys and young guys along and again, we're gonna get better as time goes on. That's why we play these games. We’re better tonight then we were the other night. So I just want to see our guys continue to get better to get to league play.”

Nebraska Men's Basketball postgame notes/quotes vs. Rider

The Nebraska men’s basketball team used a 17-0 second-half spurt to avert Rider’s upset bid in a NU’s 64-50 win Monday evening at Pinnacle Bank ArenaRider used an 8-0 run to trim Nebraska’s lead 47-46 after DJ Dudley’s basket with 10:41 remaining but could get no closer as the Huskers used timely shooting and a strong defensive effort to earn the win.

&nbsp;Keisei Tominaga ignited the rally with consecutive 3-pointers to give NU a 53-46 lead and force a Bronc timeout. From there, it was all Huskers, as Nebraska (3-0) held the visitors scoreless for over nine minutes and forced 12 consecutive missed shots.

&nbsp;Josiah Allick and Rienk Mast combined for nine straight Husker points before Jarron Coleman’s basket with 1:44 left gave NU a commanding 64-46 advantage. Mast posted his second straight double-double with 12 points and 13 rebounds while Allick added 10 points and six boards.&nbsp;

Nebraska held Rider (1-2) to just 30.4 percent shooting, including 6-of-25 from 3-point range. The Broncs shot just 23.1 percent in the second half.&nbsp;

C.J. Wilcher led the Huskers (3-0) with 13 points, including a trio of first-half three-pointers, while Tominaga had nine points in 22 minutes in his first appearance since suffering an ankle injury on Oct. 29. Brice Williams added seven points and eight boards, as Nebraska enjoyed a 47-34 advantage on the glass.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The Huskers, who improved to 3-0 for the first time since 2018-19, used a 13-2 spurt to break open a game which was tied at 17 with 8:25 left in the first half.&nbsp;&nbsp;The Huskers eventually stretched the lead to 36-24 after Wilcher’s third 3-pointer of the game and took a 38-29 lead to the locker room.

Rider, which was the preseason pick to win the MAAC, could not go away, scoring the first five points of the second half to get within 38-34 after Allen Powell’s 3-pointer with 18:05 left. Trailing 45-36 after a Coleman free throw, Rider used an 8-0 run to get within one with 10:41 remaining but could get no closer.&nbsp;

Corey McKeithan led Rider with a game-high 18 points while Mervin James added 10 points and five boards before fouling out.&nbsp;

The Huskers return to Pinnacle Bank Arena on Wednesday, Nov. 13 to take on Stony Brook at 7 p.m. (CT). The game can be streamed on B1G+ and heard across the Huskers Radio Network. Tickets are available by visiting Huskers.com/Tickets or calling the NU Athletic Ticket Office at 800-8-BIGRED.&nbsp;

Story by NU Athletic CommunicationsThe Nebraska men’s basketball team used a 17-0 second-half spurt to avert Rider’s upset bid in a NU’s 64-50 win Monday evening at Pinnacle Bank ArenaRider used an 8-0 run to trim Nebraska’s lead 47-46 after DJ Dudley’s basket with 10:41 remaining but could get no closer as the Huskers used timely shooting and a strong defensive effort to earn the win.&nbsp;Keisei Tominaga ignited the rally with consecutive 3-pointers to give NU a 53-46 lead and force a Bronc timeout. From there, it was all Huskers, as Nebraska (3-0) held the visitors scoreless for over nine minutes and forced 12 consecutive missed shots.&nbsp;Josiah Allick and Rienk Mast combined for nine straight Husker points before Jarron Coleman’s basket with 1:44 left gave NU a commanding 64-46 advantage. Mast posted his second straight double-double with 12 points and 13 rebounds while Allick added 10 points and six boards.&nbsp;Nebraska held Rider (1-2) to just 30.4 percent shooting, including 6-of-25 from 3-point range. The Broncs shot just 23.1 percent in the second half.&nbsp;C.J. Wilcher led the Huskers (3-0) with 13 points, including a trio of first-half three-pointers, while Tominaga had nine points in 22 minutes in his first appearance since suffering an ankle injury on Oct. 29. Brice Williams added seven points and eight boards, as Nebraska enjoyed a 47-34 advantage on the glass.&nbsp;&nbsp;The Huskers, who improved to 3-0 for the first time since 2018-19, used a 13-2 spurt to break open a game which was tied at 17 with 8:25 left in the first half.&nbsp;&nbsp;The Huskers eventually stretched the lead to 36-24 after Wilcher’s third 3-pointer of the game and took a 38-29 lead to the locker room.Rider, which was the preseason pick to win the MAAC, could not go away, scoring the first five points of the second half to get within 38-34 after Allen Powell’s 3-pointer with 18:05 left. Trailing 45-36 after a Coleman free throw, Rider used an 8-0 run to get within one with 10:41 remaining but could get no closer.&nbsp;Corey McKeithan led Rider with a game-high 18 points while Mervin James added 10 points and five boards before fouling out.&nbsp;The Huskers return to Pinnacle Bank Arena on Wednesday, Nov. 13 to take on Stony Brook at 7 p.m. (CT). The game can be streamed on B1G+ and heard across the Huskers Radio Network. Tickets are available by visiting Huskers.com/Tickets or calling the NU Athletic Ticket Office at 800-8-BIGRED.&nbsp;

Huskers clamp down on Broncos, 64-50

The Huskers improved to 2-0 with an impressive 71-52 road win at Wyoming on Friday night. The Cowgirls won 23 games and advanced to the second round of the 2023 Postseason WNIT.

Alexis Markowski led the Huskers with game highs of 17 points and 13 rebounds to notch her first double-double of the season and 22nd of her career. Markowski scored the first 10 points of a decisive 19-2 Nebraska surge to close the third quarter and start the fourth, turning a four-point lead into a 21-point cushion midway through the final period. Markowski is averaging a double-double with 15.0 points and 10.5 rebounds through two games.

Fellow preseason All-Big Ten performer Jaz Shelley added 15 points and game highs of seven assists and three steals. Shelley leads the Huskers with 16.0 points, 6.5 assists and 3.0 steals to go along with 4.5 rebounds per game.&nbsp;

Freshman Natalie Potts completed a sensational opening week of her college career with 15 points of her own at Wyoming. Through two games as a starter, the two-time Missouri High School Player of the Year is averaging 12.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, 2.0 steals and 1.0 block.

Darian White contributed 11 points at Wyoming in another strong start as a newcomer to the Husker lineup. White averaged 12.0 points, 6.5 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.5 steals in the opening week of her Husker career. White was a four-year starter and three-time All-Big Sky performer at Montana State.

Through two games, Nebraska has shown explosive offense and shutdown defense. At Wyoming, the Huskers produced an 18-0 first-half run and a decisive 19-2 second-half surge to power their way to victory. In the opener, Nebraska produced runs of 16-0, 12-0 and 10-0.

Nebraska Cornhuskers (2-0, 0-0 Big Ten)vs. Alcorn State Lady Braves (0-1, 0-0 SWAC)Tuesday, Nov. 14, 2023, 7 p.m. (CT)Pinnacle Bank Arena - Lincoln, NebraskaSpecial Event:&nbsp;Military AppreciationTickets:&nbsp;Huskers.com/Tickets - 1-800-8-BIG-REDLive Video:&nbsp;B1G+ (subscription)Live Stats:&nbsp;Huskers.com (StatBroadcast)Live Radio:&nbsp;Huskers Radio Network (6:30 p.m.)Matt Coatney (PBP), Jeff Griesch (Analyst)Lincoln (107.3 FM), Omaha (590 AM),&nbsp;Huskers.com, Huskers App

Nebraska Cornhuskers&nbsp;(2-0, 0-0 Big Ten)22 - Natalie Potts - 6-2 - Fr. - F/G - 12.0 ppg, 3.5 rpg40 - Alexis Markowski - 6-3 - Jr. - C/F - 15.0 ppg, 10.5 rpg0 - Darian White - 5-6 - Gr. - G - 12.0 ppg, 6.5 rpg1 - Jaz Shelley - 5-9 - Gr. - G - 16.0 ppg, 4.5 rpg15 - Kendall Moriarty - 6-1 - Jr. - G - 1.0 ppg, 1.5 rpgOff the Bench21 - Annika Stewart - 6-3 - Sr. - F - 9.0 ppg, 5.0 rpg14 - Callin Hake - 5-9 - So. - G - 9.0 ppg, 2.5 rpg12 - Jessica Petrie - 6-2 - Fr. - F - 4.5 ppg, 3.0 rpg2 - Logan Nissley - 6-0 - Fr. - G - 1.5 ppg, 2.5 rpg32 - Kendall Coley - 6-2 - Jr. - F - 0.0 ppg, 2.5 rpgHead Coach:&nbsp;Amy Williams (Nebraska, 1998)Eighth Season at Nebraska (116-99);&nbsp;17th Season Overall (309-208)

Alcorn State Lady Braves&nbsp;(0-1, 0-0 SWAC)2 - Nakia Cheatham - 6-0 - Sr. - G/F - 8.0 ppg, 4.0 rpg5 - Destiny Brown - 6-3 - Jr. - F - 3.0 ppg, 7.0 rpg1 - Ashanti Backus - 5-4 - Sr. - G - 3.0 ppg, 0.0 rpg11 - Zy’nyia White - 5-6 - Jr. - G - 11.0 ppg, 5.0 rpg24 - Kiarra Henderson - 5-9 - Sr. - G/F - 5.0 ppg, 7.0 rpgOff the Bench21 - Akryiale Ford - 6-2 - Gr. - F - 8.0 ppg, 7.0 rpg15 - Jeanee Anderson - 5-7 - Sr. - G - 2.0 ppg, 0.0 rpg0 - Jazmine Jackson - 5-8 - So. - G - 2.0 ppg, 0.0 rpg30 - Maya Claytor - 6-0 - Fr. - F - 0.0 ppg, 0.0 rpg32 - Milia Gibson - 5-6 - Jr. - G - 0.0 ppg, 1.0 rpg14 - Arene Iyekekpolor - 6-0 - Fr. - F - 0.0 ppg, 0.0 rpgHead Coach:&nbsp;Nate Kilbert (MVSU, 1987)Fourth Season at Alcorn State (22-53);&nbsp;22nd Season Overall (201-399)

Husker Nuggets• Nebraska used an 18-0 first-half run and a decisive 19-2 second-half surge to power its way to a 71-52 victory at Wyoming (Nov. 10).

• Alexis Markowski led four Huskers in double figures with 17 points and 13 rebounds to notch her first double-double of the season. Jaz Shelley and Natalie Potts each contributed 15 points, while Darian White added 11. Those four Husker starters have produced double figures in each of Nebraska’s two wins to open the season.

• Nebraska jumped to a 46-12 halftime lead on its way to a 90-42 home-opening win over Northwestern State (Nov. 6). The 12 points allowed marked the second-fewest given up by the Big Red in a first half in school history, trailing only 10 points surrendered to Illinois in the first half in 2018. Nebraska’s 46 points scored exceeded any first half for the Huskers in 2022-23.

• The Huskers had six players produce double figures in points against Northwestern State, marking the first time Nebraska accomplished that feat since a 90-61 season-opening win over Oral Roberts on Dec. 4, 2020.

• The Huskers have hit at least one three in 466 straight games dating back to a loss at UTEP on Dec. 20, 2008. Nebraska has hit at least two threes in 345 consecutive games.

• Nebraska has hit 10 or more threes 28 times in the last 75 games, including 15 times in 2022-23. The Huskers opened 2023-24 with 10 three-pointers in a win over Northwestern State (Nov. 6, 2023). Nebraska knocked down a 2022-23 season-high 14 threes in a season-opening win over Omaha (Nov. 7, 2022).&nbsp;

• Through the first 20 seasons with the three-point shot in women’s basketball (1988-2007), Nebraska hit 10 threes in a game just six times (591 games).

Scouting The Alcorn State Lady Braves

Alcorn State returns four starters and its top four scorers from a team that finished 12-17 overall and 8-10 in the SWAC last year.&nbsp;

The Lady Braves opened this season with a 77-42 loss at Mississippi State (Nov. 6). MSU advanced to 2023 NCAA Tournament after taking a 73-65 overtime loss to Nebraska (Nov. 26, 22) in Puerto Rico.

Destiny Brown, a 6-3 junior forward and preseason All-SWAC selection, managed just three points and seven boards in the loss to the Bulldogs. Last season, Brown led the Lady Braves with 13.6 points, 8.4 rebounds and 2.3 blocks per game.

ASU was led in the opener by 5-6 junior guard, Zy’nyia White, who had 11 points and five rebounds. White averaged 9.5 points and 2.9 rebounds a year ago as a starter.

Nakia Cheatham, a 6-0 senior guard/forward, added eight points and four boards. Cheatham averaged 7.1 points and 6.0 rebounds as a regular starter last season.

Kiarra Henderson, a 5-9 senior starter, pitched in five points and seven rebounds. She averaged 5.1 points and 4.4 boards primarily off the bench last season.

Senior guard Ashanti Backus rounded out the Alcorn State starting five with three points. She made six starts last season but averaged just 2.1 points per game.

Akryiale Ford contributed eight points and seven rebounds off the bench. The 6-2 graduate forward is in her third season with ASU. She averaged 3.3 points and 2.3 rebounds a year ago.

Senior Jeanee Anderson and sophomore Jazmine Jackson were the only other Lady Braves to find the scoring column against Mississippi State.

Returning starter Tyginae Wright (8.1 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 2.4 apg, 2022-23) did not play in the opening loss to Mississippi State.

The only regular starter lost from last year’s Alcorn State squad is Cayla Obillo, who averaged 6.9 points, 2.8 rebounds and team bests of 3.6 assists and 1.9 steals per game.

Nebraska vs. Alcorn State Series History

No. 16 Nebraska defeated Alcorn State 83-49 (Nov. 16, 2014) in the only previous meeting between the two schools.

Long-time head coach Nate Kilbert returns to Lincoln for his fifth game as head coach with a third school, when he brings the Alcorn State Lady Braves to Pinnacle Bank Arena on Tuesday. Kilbert, who is in his 22nd season as an NCAA Division I women’s basketball coach, made his first trip to Lincoln as the coach of Mississippi Valley State for a 99-53 loss to the Huskers at the Devaney Center on Nov. 15, 2011. He went on to be the 2012 SWAC Coach of the Year in his final season leading the Delta Devilettes.

Kilbert returned to Lincoln two years later as the head coach of Arkansas Pine Bluff on Nov. 21, 2013, for Nebraska’s third home game at Pinnacle Bank Arena. The eventual Big Ten Tournament champion and No. 11 Huskers defeated UAPB 78-55. Kilbert had captured his second straight SWAC Coach of the Year award in his first year at Pine Bluff in 2012-13.

He was back at Pinnacle Bank Arena two years later with UAPB in a 96-46 loss to the Huskers on Nov. 14, 2015, before leading the Lady Lions back to PBA for a 73-52 loss on Dec. 2, 2017 against the eventual NCAA Tournament-qualifying Huskers.

Freshman Potts Smoking Hot in Opening Week

Two-time Missouri MaxPreps High School Player of the Year Natalie Potts has made an instant impact on Nebraska’s lineup. The 6-2 forward from O’Fallon, Mo., averaged 12.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, 2.0 steals and 1.0 block in her opening week of the regular season.

In Nebraska’s 71-52 road win at Wyoming, Potts was a catalyst at both ends of the court, erupting for 15 points on 6-of-7 shooting, while adding two steals and a blocked shot. Potts was a menace defensively, creating easy offensive opportunities with deflections at the front of Nebraska’s press to help turn an early Husker deficit into a double-digit road victory over the Cowgirls.

In her regular-season collegiate debut, Potts added 10 points, five rebounds, an assist, two steals and a block while hitting 5-of-7 shots from the field in a 90-42 win over Northwestern State (Nov. 6).

Through two games, Potts has hit 10-of-11 (.909) two-point field goal attempts and 1-of-3 three-point tries.

White Shines in Husker Starting Debuts

Nebraska has received an immediate boost in the backcourt from three-time first-team All-Big Sky guard Darian White.

The 5-6 graduate student transferred into the Husker program during the summer after averaging 14.3 points, 5.1 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 2.2 steals over 120 starts in four seasons at Montana State.&nbsp;

The No. 2 scorer in Montana State history, White finished with 1,716 points, 612 rebounds, 449 assists and 260 steals.

White was the 2022 Big Sky Tournament MVP, leading the Bobcats to the conference title and a trip to the 2022 NCAA Tournament.

She was also a two-time Big Sky Defensive Player of the Year (2021, 2022) and the 2020 Big Sky Freshman of the Year.

White was the 2019 Idaho Gatorade High School Player of the Year and joins three-time North Dakota Gatorade Player of the Year Logan Nissley, two-time Missouri MaxPreps Player of the Year Natalie Potts and Australian National Program forward Jessica Petrie in Nebraska’s group of four newcomers for 2023-24.

In her Nebraska regular-season debut, White scored 13 points, including six in a 16-0 run to start the game, while adding game highs of nine rebounds and three steals to go along with four assists in Nebraska’s 90-42 win over Northwestern State (Nov. 6).

She was strong in all phases of her first road game as a Husker, contributing 11 points, four rebounds and two assists in a 71-52 victory at Wyoming.

Through two games, White is averaging 12.0 points, 6.5 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.5 steals.

White took the court for the first time at Pinnacle Bank Arena in Nebraska’s exhibition win over Dakota Wesleyan (Oct. 29), producing 13 points, seven rebounds and game highs of eight assists and four steals.

• Darian White has scored in double figures 99 times in her college career (97, Montana State; 2, Nebraska), including each of her last 10 games.

•&nbsp; Jaz Shelley is 13 assists from joining the top 10 at Nebraska in career assists. Shelley heads into the Alcorn State game with 379 assists in two-plus years at Nebraska. All-American and two-time WNBA All-Star Anna DeForge ranks 10th in school history with 392.&nbsp;&nbsp;

•&nbsp; Jaz Shelley is 29 assists away from 500 in her college career. Only five Huskers in history have totaled 500 collegiate assists (Lindsey Moore, Meggan Yedsena, Rachel Theriot, Jina Johansen, Nicole Kubik).

• Jaz Shelley needs nine three-pointers to climb to No. 5 on the Nebraska career three-point list, matching Lindsey Moore (173, 2010-13).&nbsp;

• Alexis Markowski needs two double-doubles to climb into a tie for sixth in Nebraska history with Nafeesah Brown (24, 1992-94). Markowski is currently tied for seventh with Janet Smith (22, 1979-82).

• Annika Stewart needs four points to reach 500 in her career.

• Two-time All-Big Ten center Alexis Markowski (Lincoln, Neb.) was the Big Ten’s top rebounder with 322 rebounds in 2022-23. She was the only Big Ten player to average a double-double (12.4 ppg, 10.2 rpg) during regular-season conference play.

• Jaz Shelley is 72 points away from becoming the 37th 1,000-point scorer in Nebraska history. Alexis Markowski is 156 points from reaching 1,000 career points.

The Huskers improved to 2-0 with an impressive 71-52 road win at Wyoming on Friday night. The Cowgirls won 23 games and advanced to the second round of the 2023 Postseason WNIT.Alexis Markowski led the Huskers with game highs of 17 points and 13 rebounds to notch her first double-double of the season and 22nd of her career. Markowski scored the first 10 points of a decisive 19-2 Nebraska surge to close the third quarter and start the fourth, turning a four-point lead into a 21-point cushion midway through the final period. Markowski is averaging a double-double with 15.0 points and 10.5 rebounds through two games.Fellow preseason All-Big Ten performer Jaz Shelley added 15 points and game highs of seven assists and three steals. Shelley leads the Huskers with 16.0 points, 6.5 assists and 3.0 steals to go along with 4.5 rebounds per game.&nbsp;Freshman Natalie Potts completed a sensational opening week of her college career with 15 points of her own at Wyoming. Through two games as a starter, the two-time Missouri High School Player of the Year is averaging 12.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, 2.0 steals and 1.0 block.Darian White contributed 11 points at Wyoming in another strong start as a newcomer to the Husker lineup. White averaged 12.0 points, 6.5 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.5 steals in the opening week of her Husker career. White was a four-year starter and three-time All-Big Sky performer at Montana State.Through two games, Nebraska has shown explosive offense and shutdown defense. At Wyoming, the Huskers produced an 18-0 first-half run and a decisive 19-2 second-half surge to power their way to victory. In the opener, Nebraska produced runs of 16-0, 12-0 and 10-0.Nebraska Cornhuskers (2-0, 0-0 Big Ten)vs. Alcorn State Lady Braves (0-1, 0-0 SWAC)Tuesday, Nov. 14, 2023, 7 p.m. (CT)Pinnacle Bank Arena - Lincoln, NebraskaSpecial Event:&nbsp;Military AppreciationTickets:&nbsp;Huskers.com/Tickets - 1-800-8-BIG-REDLive Video:&nbsp;B1G+ (subscription)Live Stats:&nbsp;Huskers.com (StatBroadcast)Live Radio:&nbsp;Huskers Radio Network (6:30 p.m.)Matt Coatney (PBP), Jeff Griesch (Analyst)Lincoln (107.3 FM), Omaha (590 AM),&nbsp;Huskers.com, Huskers AppNebraska Cornhuskers&nbsp;(2-0, 0-0 Big Ten)22 - Natalie Potts - 6-2 - Fr. - F/G - 12.0 ppg, 3.5 rpg40 - Alexis Markowski - 6-3 - Jr. - C/F - 15.0 ppg, 10.5 rpg0 - Darian White - 5-6 - Gr. - G - 12.0 ppg, 6.5 rpg1 - Jaz Shelley - 5-9 - Gr. - G - 16.0 ppg, 4.5 rpg15 - Kendall Moriarty - 6-1 - Jr. - G - 1.0 ppg, 1.5 rpgOff the Bench21 - Annika Stewart - 6-3 - Sr. - F - 9.0 ppg, 5.0 rpg14 - Callin Hake - 5-9 - So. - G - 9.0 ppg, 2.5 rpg12 - Jessica Petrie - 6-2 - Fr. - F - 4.5 ppg, 3.0 rpg2 - Logan Nissley - 6-0 - Fr. - G - 1.5 ppg, 2.5 rpg32 - Kendall Coley - 6-2 - Jr. - F - 0.0 ppg, 2.5 rpgHead Coach:&nbsp;Amy Williams (Nebraska, 1998)Eighth Season at Nebraska (116-99);&nbsp;17th Season Overall (309-208)Alcorn State Lady Braves&nbsp;(0-1, 0-0 SWAC)2 - Nakia Cheatham - 6-0 - Sr. - G/F - 8.0 ppg, 4.0 rpg5 - Destiny Brown - 6-3 - Jr. - F - 3.0 ppg, 7.0 rpg1 - Ashanti Backus - 5-4 - Sr. - G - 3.0 ppg, 0.0 rpg11 - Zy’nyia White - 5-6 - Jr. - G - 11.0 ppg, 5.0 rpg24 - Kiarra Henderson - 5-9 - Sr. - G/F - 5.0 ppg, 7.0 rpgOff the Bench21 - Akryiale Ford - 6-2 - Gr. - F - 8.0 ppg, 7.0 rpg15 - Jeanee Anderson - 5-7 - Sr. - G - 2.0 ppg, 0.0 rpg0 - Jazmine Jackson - 5-8 - So. - G - 2.0 ppg, 0.0 rpg30 - Maya Claytor - 6-0 - Fr. - F - 0.0 ppg, 0.0 rpg32 - Milia Gibson - 5-6 - Jr. - G - 0.0 ppg, 1.0 rpg14 - Arene Iyekekpolor - 6-0 - Fr. - F - 0.0 ppg, 0.0 rpgHead Coach:&nbsp;Nate Kilbert (MVSU, 1987)Fourth Season at Alcorn State (22-53);&nbsp;22nd Season Overall (201-399)Husker Nuggets• Nebraska used an 18-0 first-half run and a decisive 19-2 second-half surge to power its way to a 71-52 victory at Wyoming (Nov. 10).• Alexis Markowski led four Huskers in double figures with 17 points and 13 rebounds to notch her first double-double of the season. Jaz Shelley and Natalie Potts each contributed 15 points, while Darian White added 11. Those four Husker starters have produced double figures in each of Nebraska’s two wins to open the season.• Nebraska jumped to a 46-12 halftime lead on its way to a 90-42 home-opening win over Northwestern State (Nov. 6). The 12 points allowed marked the second-fewest given up by the Big Red in a first half in school history, trailing only 10 points surrendered to Illinois in the first half in 2018. Nebraska’s 46 points scored exceeded any first half for the Huskers in 2022-23.• The Huskers had six players produce double figures in points against Northwestern State, marking the first time Nebraska accomplished that feat since a 90-61 season-opening win over Oral Roberts on Dec. 4, 2020.• The Huskers have hit at least one three in 466 straight games dating back to a loss at UTEP on Dec. 20, 2008. Nebraska has hit at least two threes in 345 consecutive games.• Nebraska has hit 10 or more threes 28 times in the last 75 games, including 15 times in 2022-23. The Huskers opened 2023-24 with 10 three-pointers in a win over Northwestern State (Nov. 6, 2023). Nebraska knocked down a 2022-23 season-high 14 threes in a season-opening win over Omaha (Nov. 7, 2022).&nbsp;• Through the first 20 seasons with the three-point shot in women’s basketball (1988-2007), Nebraska hit 10 threes in a game just six times (591 games).Scouting The Alcorn State Lady BravesAlcorn State returns four starters and its top four scorers from a team that finished 12-17 overall and 8-10 in the SWAC last year.&nbsp;The Lady Braves opened this season with a 77-42 loss at Mississippi State (Nov. 6). MSU advanced to 2023 NCAA Tournament after taking a 73-65 overtime loss to Nebraska (Nov. 26, 22) in Puerto Rico.Destiny Brown, a 6-3 junior forward and preseason All-SWAC selection, managed just three points and seven boards in the loss to the Bulldogs. Last season, Brown led the Lady Braves with 13.6 points, 8.4 rebounds and 2.3 blocks per game.ASU was led in the opener by 5-6 junior guard, Zy’nyia White, who had 11 points and five rebounds. White averaged 9.5 points and 2.9 rebounds a year ago as a starter.Nakia Cheatham, a 6-0 senior guard/forward, added eight points and four boards. Cheatham averaged 7.1 points and 6.0 rebounds as a regular starter last season.Kiarra Henderson, a 5-9 senior starter, pitched in five points and seven rebounds. She averaged 5.1 points and 4.4 boards primarily off the bench last season.Senior guard Ashanti Backus rounded out the Alcorn State starting five with three points. She made six starts last season but averaged just 2.1 points per game.Akryiale Ford contributed eight points and seven rebounds off the bench. The 6-2 graduate forward is in her third season with ASU. She averaged 3.3 points and 2.3 rebounds a year ago.Senior Jeanee Anderson and sophomore Jazmine Jackson were the only other Lady Braves to find the scoring column against Mississippi State.Returning starter Tyginae Wright (8.1 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 2.4 apg, 2022-23) did not play in the opening loss to Mississippi State.The only regular starter lost from last year’s Alcorn State squad is Cayla Obillo, who averaged 6.9 points, 2.8 rebounds and team bests of 3.6 assists and 1.9 steals per game.Nebraska vs. Alcorn State Series HistoryNo. 16 Nebraska defeated Alcorn State 83-49 (Nov. 16, 2014) in the only previous meeting between the two schools.Long-time head coach Nate Kilbert returns to Lincoln for his fifth game as head coach with a third school, when he brings the Alcorn State Lady Braves to Pinnacle Bank Arena on Tuesday. Kilbert, who is in his 22nd season as an NCAA Division I women’s basketball coach, made his first trip to Lincoln as the coach of Mississippi Valley State for a 99-53 loss to the Huskers at the Devaney Center on Nov. 15, 2011. He went on to be the 2012 SWAC Coach of the Year in his final season leading the Delta Devilettes.Kilbert returned to Lincoln two years later as the head coach of Arkansas Pine Bluff on Nov. 21, 2013, for Nebraska’s third home game at Pinnacle Bank Arena. The eventual Big Ten Tournament champion and No. 11 Huskers defeated UAPB 78-55. Kilbert had captured his second straight SWAC Coach of the Year award in his first year at Pine Bluff in 2012-13.He was back at Pinnacle Bank Arena two years later with UAPB in a 96-46 loss to the Huskers on Nov. 14, 2015, before leading the Lady Lions back to PBA for a 73-52 loss on Dec. 2, 2017 against the eventual NCAA Tournament-qualifying Huskers.Freshman Potts Smoking Hot in Opening WeekTwo-time Missouri MaxPreps High School Player of the Year Natalie Potts has made an instant impact on Nebraska’s lineup. The 6-2 forward from O’Fallon, Mo., averaged 12.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, 2.0 steals and 1.0 block in her opening week of the regular season.In Nebraska’s 71-52 road win at Wyoming, Potts was a catalyst at both ends of the court, erupting for 15 points on 6-of-7 shooting, while adding two steals and a blocked shot. Potts was a menace defensively, creating easy offensive opportunities with deflections at the front of Nebraska’s press to help turn an early Husker deficit into a double-digit road victory over the Cowgirls.In her regular-season collegiate debut, Potts added 10 points, five rebounds, an assist, two steals and a block while hitting 5-of-7 shots from the field in a 90-42 win over Northwestern State (Nov. 6).Through two games, Potts has hit 10-of-11 (.909) two-point field goal attempts and 1-of-3 three-point tries.White Shines in Husker Starting DebutsNebraska has received an immediate boost in the backcourt from three-time first-team All-Big Sky guard Darian White.The 5-6 graduate student transferred into the Husker program during the summer after averaging 14.3 points, 5.1 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 2.2 steals over 120 starts in four seasons at Montana State.&nbsp;The No. 2 scorer in Montana State history, White finished with 1,716 points, 612 rebounds, 449 assists and 260 steals.White was the 2022 Big Sky Tournament MVP, leading the Bobcats to the conference title and a trip to the 2022 NCAA Tournament.She was also a two-time Big Sky Defensive Player of the Year (2021, 2022) and the 2020 Big Sky Freshman of the Year.White was the 2019 Idaho Gatorade High School Player of the Year and joins three-time North Dakota Gatorade Player of the Year Logan Nissley, two-time Missouri MaxPreps Player of the Year Natalie Potts and Australian National Program forward Jessica Petrie in Nebraska’s group of four newcomers for 2023-24.In her Nebraska regular-season debut, White scored 13 points, including six in a 16-0 run to start the game, while adding game highs of nine rebounds and three steals to go along with four assists in Nebraska’s 90-42 win over Northwestern State (Nov. 6).She was strong in all phases of her first road game as a Husker, contributing 11 points, four rebounds and two assists in a 71-52 victory at Wyoming.Through two games, White is averaging 12.0 points, 6.5 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.5 steals.White took the court for the first time at Pinnacle Bank Arena in Nebraska’s exhibition win over Dakota Wesleyan (Oct. 29), producing 13 points, seven rebounds and game highs of eight assists and four steals.Husker Numbers to Watch• Darian White has scored in double figures 99 times in her college career (97, Montana State; 2, Nebraska), including each of her last 10 games.•&nbsp; Jaz Shelley is 13 assists from joining the top 10 at Nebraska in career assists. Shelley heads into the Alcorn State game with 379 assists in two-plus years at Nebraska. All-American and two-time WNBA All-Star Anna DeForge ranks 10th in school history with 392.&nbsp;&nbsp;•&nbsp; Jaz Shelley is 29 assists away from 500 in her college career. Only five Huskers in history have totaled 500 collegiate assists (Lindsey Moore, Meggan Yedsena, Rachel Theriot, Jina Johansen, Nicole Kubik).• Jaz Shelley needs nine three-pointers to climb to No. 5 on the Nebraska career three-point list, matching Lindsey Moore (173, 2010-13).&nbsp;• Alexis Markowski needs two double-doubles to climb into a tie for sixth in Nebraska history with Nafeesah Brown (24, 1992-94). Markowski is currently tied for seventh with Janet Smith (22, 1979-82).• Annika Stewart needs four points to reach 500 in her career.Nebraska Notables• Two-time All-Big Ten center Alexis Markowski (Lincoln, Neb.) was the Big Ten’s top rebounder with 322 rebounds in 2022-23. She was the only Big Ten player to average a double-double (12.4 ppg, 10.2 rpg) during regular-season conference play.• Jaz Shelley is 72 points away from becoming the 37th 1,000-point scorer in Nebraska history. Alexis Markowski is 156 points from reaching 1,000 career points.

Huskers return home to battle Lady Braves Tuesday

HOUSTON (AP) — Fred VanVleet scored 26 points and Alperen Sengun added 23 to lead the Houston Rockets to a 107-104 win over the Denver Nuggets on Sunday night.

Houston’s six-game winning streak is the longest since January 2021.

Nikola Jokic had his fourth triple-double of the season, racking up 36 points, 21 rebounds and 11 assists in the loss.

Jokic hit a 3 with 19.1 seconds remaining to cut Houston’s lead to 103-102. He had a full-court shot at the buzzer to tie it but fell short.

The Nuggets entered the game 8-1, their best start since the 2018-19 season. Houston improved to 6-3 after starting the season 0-3.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/11/1699881745613.jpeg" alt="Denver Nuggets' Nikola Jokic (15) shoots as Houston Rockets' Alperen Sengun (28) defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Nov. 12, 2023, in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)" />
 <figcaption>Denver Nuggets' Nikola Jokic (15) shoots as Houston Rockets' Alperen Sengun (28) defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Nov. 12, 2023, in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)</figcaption>
 </figure>Story by Houston APHOUSTON (AP) — Fred VanVleet scored 26 points and Alperen Sengun added 23 to lead the Houston Rockets to a 107-104 win over the Denver Nuggets on Sunday night.Houston’s six-game winning streak is the longest since January 2021.Nikola Jokic had his fourth triple-double of the season, racking up 36 points, 21 rebounds and 11 assists in the loss.Jokic hit a 3 with 19.1 seconds remaining to cut Houston’s lead to 103-102. He had a full-court shot at the buzzer to tie it but fell short.The Nuggets entered the game 8-1, their best start since the 2018-19 season. Houston improved to 6-3 after starting the season 0-3.“We’re getting better,” VanVleet said. “We can feel the trend trending upward, we’re trying to get more things done that the coaches are asking us to do, and we’re executing at a higher and higher level each time out.”Rockets veteran Jeff Green hit a big 3 with 1:49 left in the fourth, putting Houston up 103-94. Green appeared in all 20 playoff games during Denver’s championship run last season. Green scored 15 points off the bench Sunday.“He obviously made big shots and was attacking the basket,” Rockets coach Ime Udoka said. “But also, all week, he had a ton of advice and experience, and he was out there being the quarterback on defense, calling out their sets and what they were getting into. He had that familiarity with the team and obviously that was helpful, but it was great to see him come through down the stretch, finish the game and make some big shots. I’m happy for him.”Denver entered the fourth quarter with a 76-74 lead thanks to a 20-foot jumper from Collin Gillespie with 2 seconds left in the third.Sengun added eight rebounds and five assists, while shooting 9 of 18 from the field.“I think it’s a good thing that they’re playing more through him,” Jokic said of Sengun. “I think it’s going to benefit their whole organization. He’s a guy who is not selfish, he wants to play for the team, he wants to pass, and the whole team is going to move when the ball is in his hands. He played really good today.”Behind Jokic, Michael Porter Jr. scored 25 points, Aaron Gordon had 16 and Reggie Jackson added 14.“The greatest challenge that we have is we’re trying to compete for a championship but also develop four young players off the bench,” Nuggets coach Mike Malone said. “That is insanely hard because young players are going to have nights like tonight, and you have to continue to support them and help them in any way that you can, and that’s what we’re going to do. We know these guys are capable.”Houston has won two in a row against Denver following a 10-game losing streak.“It gives us another feather in our cap,” Udoka said. “It gives us experience with late-game execution and getting the shots we want and defending. I’m happy with how we finished. They did hit some tough shots, but that’s expected from a championship-caliber team.”UP NEXTNuggets: Host the Los Angeles Clippers as part of the NBA In-Season Tournament play on Tuesday night.Rockets: Open up a three-game California road trip with the Clippers on Friday night.