Nebraska WBB vs Minnesota Preview

Nebraska Cornhuskers vs. No. 24 Minnesota Golden Gophers
Saturday, Jan. 4, 2020, 5 p.m. (CT)
Pinnacle Bank Arena (15,000) - Lincoln, Neb.
Live TV: BTN (Larry Punteney, Brenda VanLengen)
Live Radio: Husker Sports Network (4:45 p.m.)Matt Coatney (PBP), Jeff Griesch (Analyst) Lincoln - B107.3 FM; Omaha-ESPN 590 AM; Huskers.com, Huskers App, TuneIn

Coming off an overtime loss to a good Michigan State team, the schedule does not ease up for the Huskers. They host a ranked Golden Gopher team that is trying to make a run in the Big Ten. Nebraska will likely have to play their best game of the season if they want to pull the upset.

Nebraska Cornhuskers (11-2, 1-1 Big Ten)
13 - Ashtyn Veerbeek - 6-2 - So. - F - 8.7 ppg, 5.8 rpg
31 - Kate Cain - 6-5 - Jr. - C - 10.5 ppg, 7.2 rpg
3 - Hannah Whitish - 5-9 - Sr. - G - 7.8 ppg, 3.4 rpg
4 - Sam Haiby - 5-9 - So. - G - 11.3 ppg, 2.9 rpg
5 - Nicea Eliely - 6-1 - Sr. - G - 8.9 ppg, 4.6 rpg

Off the Bench
32 - Leigha Brown - 6-1 - So. - F - 14.0 ppg, 3.6 rpg
34 - Isabelle Bourne - 6-2 - Fr. - F - 4.6 ppg, 4.8 rpg
2 - Trinity Brady - 5-11 - Fr. - G - 2.3 ppg, 2.0 rpg
14 - Grace Mitchell - 6-2 - Sr. - F - 2.1 ppg, 1.5 rpg
44 - Kayla Mershon - 6-3 - So. - F - 1.9 ppg, 2.5 rpg
11 - Kristian Hudson - 5-5 - RSr. - G - 1.6 ppg, 1.0 rpg
1 - Makenzie Helms - 5-8 - Fr. - G - 0.4 ppg, 0.6 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 (53-51); 13th Season Overall (246-160)

No. 24 Minnesota Golden Gophers (11-2, 1-1 Big Ten)
5 - Taiye Bello - 6-2 - Sr. - F - 12.8 ppg, 10.4 rpg
3 - Destiny Pitts - 5-10 - Jr. - G/F - 17.1 ppg, 4.8 rpg
14 - Sara Scalia - 5-10 - Fr. - G - 10.9 ppg, 4.2 rpg
21 - Jasmine Brunson - 5-8 - Sr. - G - 8.5 ppg, 3.0 rpg
24 - Gadiva Hubbard - 5-9 - Jr. - G - 11.8 ppg, 3.1 rpg

Off the Bench
4 - Jasmine Powell - 5-6 - Fr. - G - 9.2 ppg, 2.6 rpg
23 - Masha Adashchyk - 5-11 - Jr. - G - 3.6 ppg, 1.4 rpg
20 - Kehinde Bello - 6-2 - Sr. - F - 1.6 ppg, 2.1 rpg
25 - Klarke Sconiers - 6-2 - Fr. - C - 3.7 ppg, 0.7 rpg
2 - Barbora Tomancova - 6-2 - So. - F/C - 0.8 ppg, 1.5 rpg

Head Coach: Lindsay Whalen (Minnesota, 2004)Second Season at Minnesota (32-13); Second Season Overall (32-13)

About Minnesota

The Gophers come to Lincoln with identical records to Nebraska at 11-2 overall and 1-1 in the Big Ten, after dropping a 66-63 decision to Ohio State at Williams Arena in Minneapolis on New Year’s Eve. Minnesota hit just 33.3 percent (13-39) of its two-point field goal attempts in the loss to the Buckeyes.

Junior guard Destiny Pitts led Minnesota with 26 points on 5-of-10 three-point shooting while adding seven rebounds. Pitts ranks among Big Ten leaders with 17.1 points per game and has hit a blistering 46.7 percent (42-90) of her three-point shots this season. She also leads Minnesota with 3.5 assists per game. Pitts was a first-team preseason All-Big Ten choice this year after earning second-team All-Big Ten honors a year ago (16.3 ppg, 5.9 rpg).

Senior Taiye Bello is the focus inside for Minnesota. The athletic 6-2 forward is averaging a double-double with 12.8 points and 10.4 rebounds, including 10.0 points and 12.0 boards in Big Ten play. Bello also ranks among Big Ten leaders with 30 blocks.

Junior Gadiva Hubbard returns to the Minnesota lineup this year after missing 2018-19 with an injury. Hubbard is averaging 11.8 points and a team-leading 2.0 steals per contest. The 5-9 guard gives the Gophers another dangerous long-range threat, connecting on 40.6 percent (28-69) of her threes.

Freshman Sara Scalia has made major contributions early in her career. The 5-10 guard is averaging 10.9 points, 4.2 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.8 steals while shooting 45.1 percent (23-51) from three-point range and 86.7 percent (13-15) from the free throw line.

Senior guard Jasmine Brunson rounds out the Minnesota starting five by averaging 8.5 points, 3.0 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.7 steals.

Coach Lindsay Whalen has kept Minnesota in a tight eight-player rotation in the first two Big Ten games with only freshman Jasmine Powell, senior Kehinde Bello and junior Masha Adashchyk seeing action off the bench.