Top 25 Husker women tip off with big victory

LINCOLN, Neb. — Alexis Markowski set the school career record with her 41st double-double to lead six Huskers scoring in double figures, as the No. 23 Nebraska women’s basketball team rolled to an 88-48 season-opening win over Omaha on Monday afternoon at Pinnacle Bank Arena.

Playing in front of 8,106 fans in a noon tip-off at PBA on opening day of the college basketball season, the Huskers got team highs of 14 points and 11 rebounds in just 21 minutes from the three-time All-Big Ten center Markowski. The Lisa Leslie and Naismith Trophy candidate hit 7-of-8 shots from the floor while adding two assists and a block for the Big Red.

Markowski’s 10th rebound to secure the record-setting double-double came on a hustle play when she dove to the floor near the three-point line and passed the ball ahead while lying on her back to create an uncontested transition layup for teammate Natalie Potts with 6:45 left in the game.

Markowski added an offensive rebound and a putback 45 seconds later to end her day with six minutes left and Nebraska leading 75-36.

Potts, the 2024 Big Ten Freshman of the Year, matched Markowski with 14 points while hitting 6-of-8 shots including a buzzer-beating three-pointer to end the first half. The 6-2 sophomore added six rebounds while helping set the tone for the Huskers with stifling defense in the opening 20 minutes. Potts’ three-pointer to close the half gave Nebraska a 47-15 lead at the break and put her in double figures with 10 first-half points.

Logan Nissley added 12 points in just 11 minutes off the bench, scoring on four three-point possessions despite hitting just one three-pointer while going 3-for-3 from the field and 5-for-5 from the free throw line. The sophomore guard, who was a member of the Big Ten All-Freshman team a year ago, added three assists, two steals and a block.

Freshman Petra Bozan contributed 12 points of her own in just 12 minutes. The 6-3 forward/center from Croatia went 5-for-7 from the field, including 2-for-2 from three-point range, while grabbing four rebounds for the Big Red.

Allison Weidner pitched in 11 points, three rebounds and two steals in her return to the starting lineup after a 55-game absence following a pair of season-ending knee injuries. Weidner hit 4-of-7 shots from the field while joining Potts and freshman guard Britt Prince in suffocating the Mavs with pressure defense.

Prince put six Huskers in double figures.