The Nebraska women’s basketball team returns to Big Ten Conference road action Thursday when the Huskers take on No. 20 Maryland in College Park. Tip-off between the Huskers (13-3, 3-2 Big Ten) and the Terrapins (12-4, 3-2 Big Ten) is set for 7 p.m. (CT) in a game that will impact the top tier of the Big Ten standings, as both teams enter the contest in a tie for fifth in the conference race at 3-2.
Live television coverage will be provided by the Big Ten Network with Jason Knapp and Christy Winters Scott on the call for BTN.
Nebraska slipped to 13-3 overall and 3-2 in the Big Ten with a narrow 69-65 loss at Rutgers on Sunday in Piscataway, N.J. The Scarlet Knights improved to 14-2 and moved into a tie for first in the Big Ten standings at 4-1 with the win over the Big Red.
Kate Cain, a Lisa Leslie Award candidate, has been a leader early for the Huskers in Big Ten play, averaging 10.2 points, 11.0 rebounds and 2.8 blocks through five games. Cain, a 6-5 junior from Middletown, N.Y., opened league play with three straight double-doubles.
Two-time All-Big Ten guard Hannah Whitish is averaging 10.4 points, 3.2 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.0 steal in league play. The 5-9 senior guard is the first Husker in history to reach the combined career milestones of 1,000 points (1,102), 400 assists (424) and 200 three-pointers (228).
Sophomore Sam Haiby leads Nebraska in scoring (12.8 ppg) and steals (2.0 spg) in Big Ten play while adding 3.3 assists in conference action.
Fellow sophomore Leigha Brown is a leading contender for Big Ten Sixth Player of the Year honors. The 6-1 guard/forward is averaging a team-best 13.4 points per game (10.4 ppg B1G) and is the only Big Ten player to rank among the top 30 in the league in scoring without making a start.
Freshman Isabelle Bourne put together her best week by averaging 10.0 points, 8.0 rebounds, 1.5 blocks and 1.0 steal off the bench for the Huskers last week. Bourne, a 6-2 forward from Canberra, Australia, is averaging 5.1 points and 5.1 rebounds through 16 games off the bench.
Nebraska vs. Maryland Series History
• Maryland leads the all-time series with Nebraska 11-0, including an 89-63 loss in College Park last season (Feb. 14, 2019). Four of the last five games in the series have been away from Lincoln.
• Last season, Maryland closed the third quarter on a 16-0 run over the final 3:06 in the period and stretched it to 20-0 at the start of the fourth quarter. That run began with a rare seven-point possession for the Terps.
• The Terps opened on a 9-0 run, but the Huskers cut the margin to 29-26 in the second quarter.
• Maryland’s No. 20 ranking this week is the lowest ranking the Terrapins have held entering a game with Nebraska (previous low, No. 17, Big Ten Tournament, March 3, 2018). The Terps have been ranked in the top 10 in six of the previous 11 meetings, and in the top 15 on 10 occasions.
• Two seasons ago, Nebraska took No. 13 Maryland to the wire at the Xfinity Center in College Park before falling 77-75. The Huskers trailed by 14 points in the third quarter before rallying to take a 75-74 lead with 48 seconds left. Hannah Whitish led Nebraska with 14 points, including four three-pointers. She also got a good look at a three from the right wing to win in the closing seconds that caught back iron. Kaila Charles led Maryland with 19 points and 11 rebounds.
• One week later, No. 17 Maryland eliminated Nebraska from the Big Ten semifinals with a 66-53 win in Indianapolis. Brianna Fraser (18) and Kaila Charles (14) led Maryland.
• Nebraska’s first meeting with Maryland came in the 2008 NCAA Tournament second round in College Park – a 76-64 Maryland win. NU is 0-9 against the Terps as Big Ten foes.
