Nebraska WBB vs Morgan State: Preview

Fresh off a thrilling overtime victory on the road vs Missouri, the Husker women hope that tonight is a little less dramatic. Nebraska is coming off a thrilling 90-85 OT win at Missouri Sunday. The Huskers did not trail for the game’s first 37:53 until the Tigers took control in the final two minutes of regulation. However, Sam Haiby’s three-pointer with three seconds left tied the score at 76 and sent the game to overtime where the Huskers earned a five point win.

Nebraska Cornhuskers (2-0) vs. Morgan State (2-1)
Thursday, Nov. 14, 2019, 7 p.m. (CT)
Pinnacle Bank Arena (15,000) - Lincoln
Live Video: BTN+ (Caelan Debban, Casey Surma)
Live Radio: Husker Sports Network (6:45 p.m.) Matt Coatney (PBP), Jeff Griesch (Analyst) Lincoln - 107.3 FM; Omaha - CD 105.9 FM; Huskers.com, Huskers App

Thursday night’s game will be the 100th regular-season Nebraska women’s basketball game at Pinnacle Bank Arena. The Huskers will be shooting for their 70th home win in the arena.

Nebraska Cornhuskers (2-0, 0-0 Big Ten)
13 - Ashtyn Veerbeek - 6-2 - So. - F - 9.5 ppg, 5.5 rpg
31 - Kate Cain - 6-5 - Jr. - C - 6.0 ppg, 6.5 rpg
3 - Hannah Whitish - 5-9 - Sr. - G - 12.0 ppg, 5.0 rpg
4 - Sam Haiby - 5-9 - So. - G - 18.0 ppg, 1.0 rpg
5 - Nicea Eliely - 6-1 - Sr. - G - 7.0 ppg, 3.0 rpg

Off the Bench
32 - Leigha Brown - 6-1 - So. - F - 17.0 ppg, 6.0 rpg
33 - Taylor Kissinger - 6-1 - Jr. - G - 4.0 ppg, 8.0 rpg
44 - Kayla Mershon - 6-3 - So. - F - 2.0 ppg, 4.5 rpg
11 - Kristian Hudson - 5-5 - RSr. - G - 2.0 ppg, 1.5 rpg
14 - Grace Mitchell - 6-2 - Sr. - F - 2.0 ppg, 2.0 rpg
34 - Isabelle Bourne - 6-2 - Fr. - F - 1.5 ppg, 3.0 rpg
1 - Makenzie Helms - 5-8 - Fr. - G - 0.0 ppg, 0.0 rpg
2 - Trinity Brady - 5-11 - Fr. - G - 0.0 ppg, 0.0 rpg

Head Coach: Amy Williams (Nebraska, 1998) Fourth Season at Nebraska (44-49); 13th Season Overall (237-158)

Morgan State Bears (2-1, 0-0 MEAC)
22 - Dahnye Redd - 5-11 - Jr. - F - 14.7 ppg, 6.7 rpg
33 - Dezyree Morales - 6-1 - Sr. - F - 5.0 ppg, 3.3 rpg
2 - Jihayah Chavis - 5-7 - Sr. - G - 9.3 ppg, 0.7 rpg
4 - Ashia McCalla - 5-6 - So. - G - 15.0 ppg, 5.0 rpg
15 - Chelsea Mitchell - 5-9 - Sr. - G - 12.0 ppg, 7.0 rpg

Off the Bench
0 - Sydney Searcy - 5-6 - Sr. - G - 10.0 ppg, 0.0 rpg
3 - Ja’Niah Henson - 5-3 - Fr. - G - 8.3 ppg, 1.3 rpg
20 - Elaija Demeza - 5-10 - Jr. - G - 4.7 ppg, 4.0 rpg
21 - Lana Skripkina - 6-2 - Jr. - F - 4.3 ppg, 2.7 rpg
12 - Maiya Bumbray - 5-8 - Fr. - G - 2.3 ppg, 1.0 rpg
24 - Elizabeth Sherrill - 6-2 - So. - F/C - 1.0 ppg, 2.5 rpg
25 - Taylor Lawhorne - 5-11 - Fr. - F - 1.0 ppg, 1.3 rpg
23 - KaMaree Donald - 5-5 - Fr. - G - 1.0 ppg, 1.0 rpg

Head Coach: Ed Davis Jr. (West Virginia State, 1970) Fourth Season at Morgan State (36-58); 24th Season Overall: (385-294)

Scouting Morgan State

Morgan State carries a 2-1 record after posting back-to-back wins over Notre Dame of Maryland (NCAA Division III) on Friday and Washington Adventist (NAIA) on Monday. Following Thursday’s game, Morgan State heads down I-80 for a Sunday clash with Omaha. The Bears return just two starters and four total letterwinners from last year’s team that finished with a 10-21 record, including an 8-8 MEAC mark.

Sophomore Ashia McCalla is MSU’s top returning scorer. The 5-6 guard averaged 10.0 points and 4.5 rebounds as a part-time starter a year ago. McCalla also hit a team-high 35 threes for a Bears team that hit just 26.4 percent (103-390) from long range.

Last season, Morgan State made just 3.3 threes per game, but is averaging 6.0 threes through three games in 2019-20. The Bears were a 63 percent free throw shooting team last year. MSU was out-rebounded by an average of nearly seven boards, but did own a plus-2.1 team turnover margin.

Numbers to Watch

(1) Hannah Whitish is one rebound away from 300 in her career.

(1) Kayla Mershon needs one rebound to achieve 100 in her career.

(8) Sam Haiby is eight rebounds away from 100 in her career.

(9) Leigha Brown is nine rebounds from 100 in her career.

(10) Hannah Whitish needs 10 points to become the 33rd 1,000-point scorer in Nebraska women’s basketball history.