Nebraska WBB vs Maryland Preview

Nebraska Cornhuskers at No. 20/20 Maryland Terrapins
Thursday, Jan. 16, 2020, 7 p.m. (CT)
Xfinity Center (17,950) - College Park, Md.
Live TV: BTN (Jason Knapp, Christy Winters Scott)
Live Radio: Husker Sports Network (6:45 p.m.) Matt Coatney (PBP), Jeff Griesch (Analyst) Lincoln - B107.3 FM & 1400 AM; Omaha - ESPN 590 AM, Huskers.com, Huskers App, TuneIn

Since Maryland joined the Big Ten conference, they have met the Huskers nine times in women’s basketball games and these teams have met 11 times overall.

The Huskers are 0-11 in those meetings.

The closest Nebraska has come to defeating Maryland is two seasons ago when they overcame a 14 point deficit to claim a one-point lead in the final minute before the Terrapins rallied for the 77-75 win in College Park.

Will this be the year? The current Huskers seem to be as solid as the team that took the Terps to the wire two seasons ago and Maryland looks as vulnerable as they’ve been in a while. If Nebraska is going to bust that goose egg, this looks like one of the better chances they will have.

With that said, Maryland still recruits a high-caliber athlete to their program and the game is in College Park. Road wins are tough to come by in a major conference like the Big Ten and this season is no exception. The Huskers are also coming off the first game where they got their collective asses kicked for a quarter by Rutgers in a close loss. Will they shake off those mistakes or will doubt start to creep in if Maryland makes a big run?

Also, Maryland features the same five starters as last season, when they easily defeated the Huskers twice (by scores of 63-81 and 63-89).

Nebraska Cornhuskers (13-3, 3-2 Big Ten)
13 - Ashtyn Veerbeek - 6-2 - So. - F - 8.7 ppg, 5.4 rpg
31 - Kate Cain - 6-5 - Jr. - C - 10.1 ppg, 7.7 rpg
3 - Hannah Whitish - 5-9 - Sr. - G - 8.5 ppg, 3.4 rpg
4 - Sam Haiby - 5-9 - So. - G - 11.4 ppg, 3.4 rpg
5 - Nicea Eliely - 6-1 - Sr. - G - 8.4 ppg, 4.4 rpg

Off the Bench
32 - Leigha Brown - 6-1 - So. - F - 13.4 ppg, 3.6 rpg
34 - Isabelle Bourne - 6-2 - Fr. - F - 5.1 ppg, 5.1 rpg
14 - Grace Mitchell - 6-2 - Sr. - F - 1.9 ppg, 1.4 rpg
44 - Kayla Mershon - 6-3 - So. - F - 1.7 ppg, 2.4 rpg
2 - Trinity Brady - 5-11 - Fr. - G - 2.5 ppg, 1.5 rpg
11 - Kristian Hudson - 5-5 - RSr. - G - 1.5 ppg, 0.9 rpg
1 - Makenzie Helms - 5-8 - Fr. - G - 0.3 ppg, 0.5 rpg

Out for Season
33 - Taylor Kissinger - 6-1 - Jr. - G - 8.4 ppg, 2.8 rpg

Head Coach: Amy Williams (Nebraska, 1998) Fourth Season at Nebraska (55-52); 13th Season Overall (248-161)

20/20 Maryland Terrapins (12-4, 3-2 Big Ten)
24 - Stephanie Jones - 6-2 - Sr. - F - 10.0 ppg, 4.4 rpg
1 - Shakira Austin - 6-5 - So. - F - 11.3 ppg, 6.9 rpg
5 - Kaila Charles - 6-1 - Sr. - G - 13.9 ppg, 8.0 rpg
11 - Taylor Mikesell - 5-11 - So. - G - 10.4 ppg, 2.2 rpg
22 - Blair Watson - 6-0 - Sr. - G - 10.3 ppg, 4.3 rpg

Off the Bench
15 - Ashley Owusu - 6-0 - Fr. - G - 11.4 ppg, 4.0 rpg
14 - Diamond Miller - 6-1 - Fr. - G - 7.4 ppg, 3.6 rpg
13 - Faith Masonius - 6-1 - Fr. - F - 4.4 ppg, 3.6 rpg
32 - Sara Vujacic - 5-11 - Sr. - G - 3.9 ppg, 1.2 rpg

Head Coach: Brenda Frese (Arizona, 1993) 18th Season at Maryland (470-128); 21st Season Overall (527-158)

Nebraska’s defensive improvement will be a big key in this one as Maryland has been held under the 65 point mark five teams so far this season. The Huskers probably need to be the sixth team to do that if they hope to pull of the upset and break the long losing streak to the Terrapins.

Go Big Red!