Nebraska WBB vs Northwestern Game Thread

Nebraska Cornhuskers at Northwestern Wildcats

Thursday, February 21, 2019, 7 p.m. (CT)

Welsh-Ryan Arena (7,039) - Evanston, Illinois

Live Video: BTN Plus

Live Radio: Husker Sports Network (6:45 p.m.) Matt Coatney (PBP), Jeff Griesch (Analyst); Lincoln-B107.3 FM; Omaha-ESPN 590 AM

Huskers.com, Huskers App, TuneIn

Nebraska dropped a tight 58-54 decision to Northwestern at Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln on Jan. 24. That game is the difference between the two teams in the Big Ten standings right now, and if the Huskers can even the series they can also pull even with the Wildcats in the conference race at 8-8.

Nebraska owns wins over five of the six teams immediately ahead of the Huskers in the Big Ten standings, including Michigan, Purdue (2), Ohio State, Minnesota and Michigan State. The only team between third place and ninth place in the standings the Huskers have not beaten is Northwestern.

Both Nebraska (85) and Northwestern (93) headed into the week ranked among the nation’s top 100 teams in the RPI according to RealTimeRPI.com. Both teams own six top-100 victories on the season.

Nebraska Cornhuskers (12-14, 7-8 Big Ten)

44 - Kayla Mershon - 6-3 - Fr. - F - 3.0 ppg, 2.8 rpg

31 - Kate Cain - 6-5 - So. - C - 7.4 ppg, 6.0 rpg

3 - Hannah Whitish - 5-9 - Jr. - G - 10.0 ppg, 3.0 rpg

5 - Nicea Eliely - 6-1 - Jr. - G - 8.3 ppg, 4.0 rpg

33 - Taylor Kissinger - 6-1 - So. - G - 8.9 ppg, 3.4 rpg

Off the Bench

32 - Leigha Brown - 6-1 - Fr. - F - 10.1 ppg, 2.7 rpg

4 - Sam Haiby - 5-9 - Fr. - G - 9.6 ppg, 3.1 rpg

13 - Ashtyn Veerbeek - 6-2 - Fr. - F - 7.2 ppg, 5.4 rpg

24 - Maddie Simon - 6-2 - Sr. - F - 6.7 ppg, 3.0 rpg

14 - Grace Mitchell - 6-2 - Jr. - F - 1.1 ppg, 1.2 rpg

11(out) - Kristian Hudson - 5-5 - Sr. - G - 2.4 ppg, 1.6 rpg

Head Coach: Amy Williams (Nebraska, 1998) Third Season at Nebraska (40-47); 12th Season Overall (233-156)

Northwestern Wildcats (15-11, 8-7 Big Ten)

14 - Pallas Kunaiyi-Akpanah - 6-2 - Sr. - F - 10.8 ppg, 11.1 rpg

44 - Abi Scheid - 6-2 - Jr. - F/C - 11.8 ppg, 5.1 rpg

10 - Lindsey Pulliam - 5-10 - So. - G - 16.6 ppg, 3.4 rpg

12 - Veronica Burton - 5-9 - Fr. - G - 7.7 ppg, 3.9 rpg

24 - Jordan Hamilton - 5-8 - So. - G - 9.5 ppg, 2.0 rpg

Off the Bench

21 - Abbie Wolf - 6-4 - Jr. - F/C - 4.7 ppg, 3.5 rpg

4 - Bryana Hopkins - 6-2 - Jr. - F - 3.5 ppg, 3.0 rpg

3 - Sydney Wood - 5-11 - Fr. - G - 3.3 ppg, 2.3 rpg

22 - Byrdy Galernik - 5-8 - Jr. - G - 2.7 ppg, 1.2 rpg

32 - Amber Jamison - 6-0 - Jr. - G - 1.9 ppg, 2.2 rpg

Head Coach: Joe McKeown (Kent State, 1979) 10th Season at Northwestern (176-169); 33rd Season Overall (685-343)