Nebraska WBB vs Creighton: Preview and Game Thread

Nebraska Cornhuskers at Creighton Bluejays
Sunday, December 2, 2018, 1 p.m. (CT)
D.J. Sokol Arena - Omaha, Nebraska
Live Video: Fox Sports Go
Live Radio: Husker Sports Network (12:45 p.m.) Matt Coatney (PBP), Jeff Griesch (Analyst) Lincoln-B107.3 FM; Omaha-CD 105.9 FM, Huskers.com, Huskers App

The Kissinger family of Minden, NE can be excused for wearing both red and blue for today’s game. Both Nebraska sophomore Taylor Kissinger (6’1” guard) and Creighton senior Brooke Kissinger (5’7” guard) are expected to start for their respective teams when the Huskers and Bluejays tip off today. The sisters met in last season’s matchup too, with Brooke’s team prevailing by 15 points over the Huskers (64-49). Hopefully Taylor and her teammates can turn the tables as the Huskers are in need of W’s to go with the improved offensive play we’ve seen so far this season.

This game marks the completion of Nebraska’s five-game non-conference road trip. The Huskers are 1-3 thus far with losses to ranked Miami and Louisville, a loss to Washington State (2OT), and a win over Radford.

The Huskers have no freshmen in their anticipated starting lineup, but Nebraska’s Fab Four are coming off the bench to contribute nearly 28 points and 11 rebounds per game.

Nebraska Cornhuskers (2-4, 0-0 Big Ten)
24 - Maddie Simon - 6-2 - Sr. - F - 10.0 ppg, 4.2 rpg
31 - Kate Cain - 6-5 - So. - C - 8.5 ppg, 6.7 rpg
3 - Hannah Whitish - 5-9 - Jr. - G - 9.2 ppg, 3.0 rpg
5 - Nicea Eliely - 6-1 - Jr. - G - 8.3 ppg, 4.2 rpg
33 - Taylor Kissinger - 6-1 - So. - G - 8.8 ppg, 3.7 rpg

Off the Bench
4 - Sam Haiby - 5-9 - Fr. - G - 11.5 ppg, 2.5 rpg
13 - Ashtyn Veerbeek - 6-2 - Fr. - F - 7.0 ppg, 5.3 rpg
32 - Leigha Brown - 6-1 - Fr. - F - 6.7 ppg, 1.7 rpg
11 - Kristian Hudson - 5-5 - Sr. - G - 2.8 ppg, 1.5 rpg
44 - Kayla Mershon - 6-3 - Fr. - F - 2.3 ppg, 1.5 rpg
14 - Grace Mitchell - 6-2 - Jr. - F - 1.7 ppg, 1.8 rpg

Head Coach: Amy Williams (Nebraska, 1998) Third Season at Nebraska (30-37); 12th Season Overall (223-146)

Creighton Bluejays (1-4, 0-0 Big East)
12 - Gracey Griglione - 6-2 - RFr. - F - 4.0 ppg, 1.3 rpg
45 - Audrey Faber - 6-2 - Sr. - F - 17.6 ppg, 6.0 rpg
2 - Tatum Rembao - 5-9 - So. - G - 6.8 ppg, 2.2 rpg
4 - Temi Carda - 5-9 - So. - G - 8.4 ppg, 2.6 rpg
22 - Brooke Kissinger - 5-7 - Sr. - G - 1.8 ppg, 1.2 rpg

Off the Bench
5 - Jaylyn Agnew - 5-11 - Jr. - F - 11.0 ppg, 2.5 rpg
21 - Olivia Elger - 5-7 - Jr. - G - 9.7 ppg, 3.0 rpg
13 - Rachael Saunders - 5-9 - Fr. - G - 4.4 ppg, 2.4 rpg
23 - Morgan Turner - 6-4 - Jr. - F - 3.2 ppg, 1.2 rpg
33 - Payton Brotzki - 5-11 - Fr. - G - 3.8 ppg, 3.0 rpg
24 - Chloe Dworak - 5-6 - Fr. - G - 2.8 ppg, 1.6 rpg
40 - Ali Greene - 6-1 - Jr. - F - 2.0 ppg, 3.5 rpg
1 - Jade Owens - 5-6 - Sr. - G - 1.0 ppg, 1.5 rpg

Head Coach: Jim Flanery (Creighton, 1987) 17th Season at Creighton (313-208); 17th Season Overall (313-208)

Scouting the Creighton Bluejays

Creighton comes into Sunday’s game with Nebraska at 1-4. The Bluejays are coming off one of the best seasons in school history, as they advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament, beating Iowa in the first round in 2018. The Jays finished fourth in the final BIG EAST standings in 2017-18 with an 11-7 record while going 19-13 overall.

Senior Audrey Faber continues to be a dominant player for Creighton. The 6-2 forward leads CU in scoring (17.6 ppg), rebounding (6.0 rpg), blocks (1.4 bpg) and is tied for the team lead in assists (2.2 apg). She is also tied for second on the team with five total steals. Faber leads the Jays with 14 three-pointers (14-32, .438).

Temi Carda, a 5-7 sophomore guard, made the third start of her career and second of the season against the Drake Bulldogs in Creighton’s most recent game. She improved her season averages to 8.4 points, 2.6 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game. Carda scored eight points and grabbed three rebounds in 28 minutes off the bench last season against the Huskers.

Another sophomore, Tatum Rembao, made the first start of her career against Drake. She produced nine points, four rebounds, four assists and three steals in 29 minutes. The 5-9 guard from Loveland, Colo., is averaging 6.8 points, 2.2 rebounds, 2.2 assists and a team-best 1.2 steals through five games. Rembao scored seven points and had five rebounds in just 14 minutes last season against Nebraska.

Redshirt freshman Gracey Griglione joined Rembao in the starting lineup for the first time in her career against Drake. Griglione managed two points and one rebound in just seven minutes against the Bulldogs. She is averaging 4.0 points and 1.3 boards on the year.

Brooke Kissinger, rounded out Creighton’s starting five against Drake. The 5-7 fifth-year senior guard is averaging 1.8 points and 1.2 rebounds while starting four of five games for the Jays. She was scoreless in 13 minutes against NU last season.

Creighton has been limited by injuries early this season, which has led 10 different Jays to make at least one start through five games. The only Jay to start all five games is Faber, while Kissinger, Ali Greene and Jade Owens have all made four starts.

As a team, Creighton is averaging just 64.6 points per game while shooting 40.4 percent from the field. The Bluejays have knocked down 50-of-140 (.357) threes, hitting 10 per game, compared to eight triples per game for the opposition. CU carries a minus-7.0 rebound margin (38-31) and a minus-0.4 turnover margin. The Jays also have been outscored 62-45 at the free throw line, despite shooting better than 80 percent at the stripe.

Nebraska vs. Creighton Series History

Nebraska leads the all-time series with Creighton 30-13, but the Jays have won back-to-back games, including a 64-49 win in Lincoln last season and an 80-64 victory in Omaha on Dec. 18, 2016.