Huskers Meet Mastodons at Emerald Coast Classic

Nebraska tries to extend its season-opening win streak to six games when the Huskers travel to the Destin, Florida area for the Emerald Coast Classic presented by Global Sports (Nov. 24-25).

Nebraska opens the two-day tournament by battling the Purdue Fort Wayne Mastodons (3-2) at Raider Arena on the campus of Northwest Florida State in Niceville on Monday at 5 p.m. (CT).

Live audio will be available on Huskers.com and the Huskers App from the Huskers Radio Network with Matt Coatney and Jeff Griesch on the call together for their 25th consecutive season. Over the air, fans can find the radio broadcast on 107.3 FM in Lincoln and 1490 AM/97.3 FM/97.7 HD3 in Omaha.

A live video stream from the tournament will be available to subscribers of FloHoops with Roland J Ruiz and Jennifer George on the call.

Nebraska moved to 5-0 with a 103-58 run past 2025 Summit League Tournament runner-up Oral Roberts on Wednesday in Lincoln.

Nancy Lieberman Award candidate Britt Prince erupted for a career-high 30 points on 13-of-18 shooting, including 4-of-6 from three-point range, while adding five rebounds and four assists against the Golden Eagles. Prince's efficient effort came in just 27 minutes of playing time. Prince is averaging a team-best 21.2 points, while adding 3.8 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game.

Junior Jessica Petrie has joined Prince as the only Huskers to put up double figures in all five victories this season by adding 10 points, six rebounds and four assists in just over 16 minutes of action against ORU. The 6-2 power forward from Gold Coast, Australia pumped in a career-high 20 points in a win over Samford (Nov. 8), while scoring 11 points against both Northwestern State (Nov. 3) and 2025 NCAA qualifier Creighton (Nov. 12). She added 12 points in NU's win over North Dakota State in Sioux Falls, S.D. (Nov. 16). Petrie's effort in the win over Creighton included a 70-foot buzzer-beating three-pointer to end the first quarter that made ESPN SportsCenter's No. 3 Top Play. Through five games, Petrie is averaging 12.8 points, 5.0 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game.

Graduate forward Eliza Maupin struck for a season-high 17 points on 8-of-11 shooting against ORU. Maupin, who missed Nebraska's first two regular-season games with a minor lower leg injury, is averaging 10.0 points, 4.0 rebounds and 1.7 assists in her first three games as a Husker. 

Sophomore Claire Johnson joins Maupin in averaging double-figure scoring for the Big Red off the bench. Johnson is averaging 10.0 points and 2.4 rebounds, including a 21-point effort in Nebraska's season-opening win over Northwestern State (Nov. 3).

Nebraska Cornhuskers (5-0, 0-0 Big Ten)
4 - Petra Bozan - 6-3 - So. - F - 8.4 ppg, 4.6 rpg
12 - Jessica Petrie - 6-2 - Jr. - F - 12.8 ppg, 5.0 rpg
1 - Hailey Weaver - 6-0 - Gr. - G - 4.6 ppg, 3.0 rpg
14 - Callin Hake - 5-8 - Sr. - G - 8.8 ppg, 2.4 rpg
23 - Britt Prince - 5-11 - So. - G - 21.2 ppg, 3.8 rpg
Off the Bench
21 - Eliza Maupin - 6-3 - Sr. - F - 10.0 ppg, 4.0 rpg
5 - Claire Johnson - 5-9 - So. - G - 10.0 ppg, 2.4 rpg
33 - Amiah Hargrove - 6-2 - So. - F - 9.0 ppg, 6.8 rpg
2 - Logan Nissley - 6-0 - Jr. - G - 6.0 ppg, 2.3 rpg
34 - Emily Fisher - 6-0 - Jr. - G/F - 3.7 ppg, 1.7 rpg
15 - Kennadi Williams - 5-4 - RFr. - G - 3.2 ppg, 0.8 rpg
00 - Alanna Neale - 5-10 - Fr. - G - 0.8 ppg, 0.5 rpg
22 - Natalie Potts - 6-2 - RSo. - F - 0.0 ppg, 0.0 rpg
3 - Allison Weidner [Out] - 5-10 - Gr. - G - Redshirt
Head Coach: Amy Williams (Nebraska, 1998)
10th Season at Nebraska (163-123); 19th Season Overall (356-232)

Purdue Fort Wayne Mastodons (3-2, 0-0 Horizon League)
54 - Alana Nelson - 5-11 - Gr. - F - 13.6 ppg, 4.0 rpg
14 - Lili Krasovec - 6-3 - Jr. - F - 11.0 ppg, 4.6 rpg
1 - Nika Lokica - 5-10 - Gr. - G - 4.2 ppg, 3.2 rpg
5 - Lauren Lee - 5-6 - Gr. - G - 2.4 ppg, 3.0 rpg
23 - Jordan Reid - 5-10 - Gr. - F - 12.8 ppg, 7.0 rpg
Off the Bench
2 - Rylee Bess - 5-6 - Fr. - G - 7.0 ppg, 0.6 rpg
4 - Ella Riggs - 5-9 - RJr. - G - 6.4 ppg, 2.0 rpg
30 - Avery Wagner - 6-4 - Fr. - G - 3.5 ppg, 0.8 rpg
11 - Destiny Macharia - 5-6 - Fr. - G - 2.6 ppg, 1.0 rpg
8 - Bailee Duck - 5-8 - Fr. - G - 2.2 ppg, 0.4 rpg
45 - Hillary Offing - 5-11 - RSo. - F - 1.5 ppg, 2.0 rpg
Head Coach: Maria Marchesano (Butler, 2005)
Fifth Season at Purdue Fort Wayne (76-64); 13th Season Overall (216-175)

Big Red Spreading the Wealth, Sharing the Rock
• While four Huskers - Britt Prince (21.2 ppg), Jessica Petrie (12.8 ppg), Claire Johnson (10.0 ppg) and Eliza Maupin (10.0) - are averaging double figures, three more are averaging 8.0 or more points per contest, including Amiah Hargrove (9.0 ppg) and starters Callin Hake (8.8 ppg) and Petra Bozan (8.4 ppg).

• As a team, NU ranks ninth nationally in scoring offense (90.4 ppg), while ranking sixth in field goal percentage (.537), 21st in free throw percentage (.798) and 47th in three-point percentage (.368).

• In the win over Oral Roberts, 11 Huskers scored, 10 got a rebound and nine dished out an assist.

• Five Huskers - Callin Hake (4.0 apg), Kennadi Williams (3.2 apg), Jessica Petrie (2.6 apg), Britt Prince (2.6 apg), Logan Nissley (2.0 apg) - are averaging 2.0 or more assists per game.

• NU ranks 18th nationally in assists per game (19.6 apg).

• Nebraska's early season depth has been remarkable, especially considering the Huskers have been playing without injured Katrina McClain Award candidate Natalie Potts and Allison Weidner, a graduate guard redshirting in 2025-26 with an injury. In 1,000 game minutes, Nebraska's five starters have combined for approximately 550 minutes, while the reserves have played approximately 450.

• Nebraska ranks 20th nationally in bench points (34.6 ppg).

Huskers Hitting 80 at Historic Rate
• Nebraska has scored 80 or more points in each of its first five games this season and is averaging 90.4 points per contest. It marks the first time since 2004-05 that Nebraska has produced 80 or more points in five consecutive contests. The 2004-05 Huskers hit for 81 against Louisiana (Dec. 20), 82 vs. Memphis (Dec. 30), 84 vs. Colorado (Jan. 5), 81 at Missouri (Jan. 8) and 103 against No. 2 Baylor in triple overtime (Jan. 12, 2005).

• The last time Nebraska produced 80 or more points in six consecutive games came from the 1987-88 Big Eight Champion Huskers in an eight-game span from Jan. 6 at Maine (L, 82-89) through a 94-82 win at Oklahoma (Jan. 27). The 1987-88 Huskers went 7-1 during the stretch.

Husker Defense Doing Damage Early
• Nebraska is allowing opponents just 54.0 points per game through five contests.

• Through five games, Nebraska is forcing 22.8 turnovers per game while committing just 13.8 for a plus-9.0 turnover margin.

• The Huskers forced 25 Creighton turnovers - the most by the Jays since committing 26 turnovers against Minnesota, Dec. 30, 2012.

• The Huskers forced at least 20 turnovers in each of their first four games against Northwestern State (24), Samford (27), Creighton (25) and North Dakota State (20), before turning ORU over just 18 times. The last time NU forced 20-plus turnovers in four straight games came in a seven-game stretch in 2011-12.

• Nebraska notched 17 steals in the win over Samford (Nov. 8) - the most by a Husker team since getting 19 against Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Jan. 2, 2008.

Scouting The Purdue Fort Wayne Mastodons
• Purdue Fort Wayne heads to Florida after working its way to a 67-52 win over Eastern Michigan on Wednesday. The Mastodons opened the season with road losses to West Virginia (83-47) and Xavier (62-61), before bouncing back with a 68-67 victory over Purdue to open a three-game winning streak.

• The 2024-25 Horizon League Coach of the Year Maria Marchesano led Purdue Fort Wayne to a 27-9 mark a year ago that included a regular-season runner-up finish with an 18-2 Horizon League mark. The Mastodons fell to Green Bay in the Horizon League title game (76-63) before ending their season with a 76-65 loss to fellow Horizon League contender Cleveland State in the WNIT Great 8.

• Marchesano must replace all five starters from last year's team, including Lauren Ross (15.2 ppg, 5.0 rpg), Amellia Bromenschenkel (11.4 ppg, 5.2 rpg), Sydney Freeman (10.9 ppg, 2.8 rpg) and Audra Emmerson (8.1 ppg, 2.9 rpg) who started all 36 games, and Jazzlyn Linbo (8.2 ppg, 4.6 rpg) who made 31 starts. Ross (Purdue Fort Wayne), Bromenschenkel (Northern Iowa) and Emmerson (Western Michigan) are now NCAA Division I assistant coaches, while Freeman is playing professionally in the Czech Republic.

• Purdue Fort Wayne features a starting five that includes four graduate students, led by forward Alana Nelson. The 5-11 native of Springport, Mich., is averaging 13.6 points and 4.0 rebounds per game in her first season with the Mastodons. A two-time NAIA Second-Team All-American at Spring Arbor University, Nelson averaged 21.6 points and 10.6 rebounds last season. She scored 30 or more points five times in 2024-25, including a 40-point game against Midway (Nov. 9, 2024) and a 21-rebound game against Huntington (Feb. 26). As a junior, she hit for a program-record 47 points against Lourdes (Dec. 14, 2023). She began her college career at Northwood in 2020-21 and 2021-22.

• Jordan Reid, a 5-10 graduate forward from New Palestine, Ind., adds more experience and production by averaging 12.8 points and a team-best 7.0 rebounds. The Horizon League Sixth Player of the Year in 2024-25, Reid was a third-team NAIA All-American at Indiana Wesleyan in 2023-24. Reid averaged 7.1 points per game off the bench for the Mastodons in 2024-25. She had 13 points and a team-high eight rebounds in the win over Eastern Michigan.

• Nika Lokica, a 5-10 graduate guard from Split, Croatia - the same hometown as Nebraska sophomore starting forward Petra Bozan - has added 4.2 points and 3.2 rebounds after getting 12 points and four boards in the win over EMU. Lokica is in her first season with the Mastodons after transferring from Idaho State. Lokica played for the same club team as Bozan, and Lokica's parents coached the team. Lokica, who attended the same high school as Bozan (V. Gimnazija Vladimir Nazor-Split), was also a 2022-23 collegiate teammate of Callie Bourne, the older sister of former Husker Isabelle Bourne.

• Lauren Lee, a 5-6 graduate guard from Dunnville, Ky., has managed 2.4 points, 3.0 rebounds and 2.0 assists this season. Lee was a two-time first-team NAIA All-American in her five seasons at Campbellsville. She averaged 17.0 points, 3.1 rebounds and 5.6 assists for the Tigers in 2024-25.

• Hungarian Lili Krasovec, a 6-3 junior forward, has contributed 11.0 points, 4.6 rebounds and a team-best 2.8 assists. Krasovec, who led the Mastodons with 15 points and seven rebounds in the win over Eastern Michigan, spent her first two collegiate seasons at Boston College.

Nebraska vs. Purdue Fort Wayne Series History
• Monday's meeting will be the first in school history between the Huskers and Mastodons.

• Just steps away from Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, "Archie" - a 14-foot tall life-size bronze statue of a woolly mammoth created by artist Fred Hoppe, stands outside the Nebraska State Museum (Morrill Hall - also known as Elephant Hall). It was installed in 1998 and is a depiction of the fossilized mammoth skeleton inside the museum.

• In 1967, Nebraska designated the mammoth as its official state fossil. Mammoth fossils have been found in nearly all of the state's 93 counties.

• The primary differences between mastodons and mammoths - mastodons had straighter tusks, longer heads and backs that slope less than mammoths.

• Although Nebraska teams assumed the nickname - "Cornhuskers" in the early 1900s, in 1921, Coach Fred Dawson's Nebraska football team was referred to as "Mankilling Mastodons" after defeating Pop Warner's Pittsburgh team 10-0.

Prince Named to Nancy Lieberman Watch List

• Nebraska's Britt Prince was named to the list of 20 women's college basketball players on the Nancy Lieberman Point Guard of the Year Preseason Watch List on Oct. 27. The Lieberman Award was the first of the Naismith Starting 5 award watch lists announced by the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame.

• Fan voting for the Nancy Lieberman Point Guard Award is open at http://www.hoophallawards.com.

• Prince, a 5-11 sophomore from Omaha, Neb., returns for her second season at Nebraska after averaging 13.4 points, 4.0 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 1.7 steals as a true freshman.

• Through five games this season, she is averaging a team-best 21.2 points per game while hitting 64.2 percent (43-67) of her shots from the field, including 8-of-14 threes (.571).

• Prince is coming off a career-high 30 points on 13-of-18 shooting in a win over Oral Roberts (Nov. 19).

• She opened 2025-26 with 19 points, five rebounds, an assist and a steal in a win over Northwestern State (Nov. 3).

• Prince followed with 23 points, two assists and two steals in a win over Samford (Nov. 8), before getting 18 points and a season-high seven rebounds in a win over Creighton (Nov. 12).

• She added 16 points, two rebounds and three assists in a win over North Dakota State in Sioux Falls, S.D. (Nov. 16).

• Prince, a two-time Gatorade and MaxPreps Nebraska High School Player of the Year at Elkhorn North, earned Big Ten All-Freshman honors while leading the Huskers to the 2025 NCAA Tournament.

• In the NCAA Tournament, Prince led the Big Red with 14 points and six assists against Louisville, after powering Nebraska to two wins at the Big Ten Tournament by averaging 17.0 points and 5.3 assists over three games, including a career-high-tying 24 points against Big Ten Tournament champion and NCAA No. 1 seed UCLA.

• Prince was the USBWA National Freshman of the Week (Jan. 21) after going for 22 points, seven rebounds, five assists and a career-high six steals in a road win at Iowa (Jan. 16), when she hit a career-high five three-pointers.

Potts Earns Spot on Katrina Mcclain Watch List
• Nebraska's Natalie Potts was included on the list of 20 women's college basketball players named to the Katrina McClain Power Forward of the Year Preseason Watch List on Oct. 30. The McClain Award was the fourth of the Naismith Starting 5 award watch lists announced by the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame.

• Fan voting for the Katrina McClain Power Forward Award is open at http://www.hoophallawards.com.

• Potts, a 6-2 redshirt sophomore from O'Fallon, Mo., returns for her third season at Nebraska in 2025-26. She was the 2023-24 Big Ten Freshman of the Year, before suffering a season-ending knee injury in the fifth game of the 2024-25 campaign. Potts was averaging team bests of 17.5 points and 8.0 rebounds through the first four games prior to her injury. She was shooting 69.4 percent from the field, including 72.7 percent (8-11) from three-point range to lead the Big Red to a No. 19 national ranking and a 4-0 start.

• In 40-minute production, Potts put up eye-popping numbers of 28.6 points and 13.1 rebounds per 40 to rank among the best players in the Big Ten through the first four games last season.

• In 2023-24, Potts led all Big Ten freshmen in rebounding (5.2 rpg) and field goal percentage (.489), while ranking second among league freshmen in scoring (10.2 ppg) and free throw percentage (.829) in 2023-24. She started all 35 games for the 23-12 Huskers, who advanced to the Big Ten Championship Game and the second round of the NCAA Tournament.

• Potts, who won 8-of-15 Big Ten Freshman-of-the-Week awards during the regular season, was the most consistent freshman in the conference from start to finish. She won the inaugural weekly honor on Nov. 13, 2023, before claiming the final two freshman awards on Feb. 26 and March 4. She won at least one weekly honor during all five months of the season. Her eight weekly awards matched the total of fellow Nebraska Big Ten Freshman of the Year Alexis Markowski in 2022.

• Potts, who also claimed an honorable-mention All-Big Ten award from the conference media, was a unanimous choice on the Big Ten All-Freshman Team by the conference coaches.

• After sustaining her knee injury against North Alabama (Nov. 19, 2024), Potts underwent knee surgery (Dec. 4). She continues to rehab with hopes of returning to the court mid-season.

Nebraska By The Numbers
• Britt Prince (509) reached 500 career points in just her 35th collegiate game with her career-high 30-point effort in Nebraska's win over Oral Roberts (Nov. 19).

• Logan Nissley (487) needs 13 points to reach 500 in her Husker career.

• Kennadi Williams (5.33) ranks 10th in the nation in assist-to-turnover ratio with 16 assists and three turnovers through her first five games.

 

Huskers Sign Three Top 100 High School Recruits
• Nebraska signed a trio of top-100 high school seniors from the Midwest on the opening day of the national signing period on Wednesday, Nov. 12.

• Jersey Mike's Naismith Trophy Girls National High School Player of the Year candidate Ashlyn Koupal (South Dakota), Ava Miles (Missouri) and Maddi Stewart (Oklahoma) plan to join Nebraska Head Coach Amy Williams and the Huskers as true freshmen for the 2026-27 campaign.

• "We are thrilled that these three talented, hard-working, driven young women have chosen to join our Husker family," Williams said. "Ashlyn, Ava and Maddi each bring the skills, intelligence, character and work ethic to thrive as Huskers and will be instrumental in helping us continue to raise the bar in our program."

• One of the highest ranked recruits in Husker history, Koupal (pronounced - KO-pull) is the No. 22 player in the current ESPN Top 100. The 6-3 forward from Wagner, S.D., was also ranked as a five-star recruit as the No. 10 player in the current 247 Sports rankings (No. 13 composite), as the No. 3 power forward in the nation. Koupal was the Gatorade South Dakota High School Player of the Year as a junior after averaging 22.8 points, 10.2 rebounds, 4.9 assists, 2.3 steals and 3.5 blocks in leading Wagner to the state tournament. It was her third straight season averaging better than 20 points per game. She also produced one quadruple-double, two triple-doubles and 10 double-doubles as a junior. A three-time all-state selection, Koupal helped Wagner to a Class A state runner-up finish as a sophomore in 2023. Koupal is also an outstanding student, carrying a 4.0 GPA.

• Koupal, who chose Nebraska over Duke, Kansas, Michigan State and TCU, was one of 45 high school players from across the country invited to the 2025 USA Basketball Junior National Team minicamp during the NCAA Women's Final Four. Entering her senior season, Koupal has amassed 1,939 points, 860 rebounds, 364 assists, 189 steals and 287 blocks.

• An outstanding all-around athlete, Koupal won her fifth consecutive South Dakota Class A state high jump championship as a junior in 2025. She also notched 12 kills to help the Red Raider volleyball team clinch a berth in the 2025 South Dakota Class A state tournament on Tuesday night.

• "Ashlyn has great versatility, which makes her a dangerous threat to score both inside and out," Williams said. "She makes those around her better with her ability to pass and defend at a high level. She has a strong desire to be great, and the work ethic to match. She is going to have a tremendous career as a Husker."

• A four-star recruit who was ranked No. 69 nationally by ESPN and No. 70 by 247 Sports, Miles was ranked as the No. 14 shooting guard in the country by 247 Sports. The No. 3 ranked recruit in the state of Missouri, Miles, who committed to Nebraska in July of 2025, led Staley to a Class 6 runner-up finish with a 29-2 record by averaging 14.2 points, 5.6 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 2.8 steals per game as a junior. She also hit 50.1 percent of her shots from the floor, including 33.3 percent of her three-point attempts for the Falcons.

• A three-time adidas All-American, Miles is a two-time all-state pick and a three-time all-district and all-conference choice. She was the 2025 Greater Kansas City Conference Player of the Year.

• "Ava is an outstanding all-around player who is going to bring energy to the court and the locker room every day," Williams said. "She is a high-level communicator with the ability to create in transition and score at all three levels. She is willing to do all the little things to help her team win. Husker fans are going to love watching her energy and enthusiasm on the court."

• Miles said she chose Nebraska over Maryland and Michigan State.

• "It truly is the only place that felt like home," Miles said. "I knew that no matter how my day was, that I would find peace and joy with this program. God told me this is where I needed to go, and I know this program is very, very special."

• Stewart, a 5-9 guard from Claremore, Okla., is the No. 80 recruit in the country and the No. 16 shooting guard according to 247 Sports. She is also No. 100 nationally by ESPN. Stewart averaged 14.7 points, 7.8 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 2.2 steals while leading Lincoln Christian High School to the 2025 Class 4A state championship. She shot 46 percent from the field and 82 percent at the free line for the Bulldogs, while eclipsing 1,000 career points early in her junior season.

• Stewart, who committed to Nebraska in mid-August, was the unanimous MVP of the Oklahoma Class 4A state tournament after getting 20 points and 12 rebounds in the state championship game. The two-time first-team all-stater was named the MVP of the Pinnacle Conference while playing for her coach and mother, Melody, who was named the state high school coach of the year by the Tulsa World. It was Lincoln Christian's third straight trip to the state finals, but its first state championship.

• "We are so excited about what Maddi brings to the Husker program," Williams said. "She is a winner! She is also a tough, gritty player who can shoot from outside and create off the dribble. As the daughter of a coach, she brings a high basketball IQ with her and a real desire to grow as a player and person to help her team win championships."

• Stewart, who chose Nebraska over Oklahoma, Missouri and Oklahoma State, said the Husker program provided a strong sense of belonging.

• "Nebraska feels the most like home to me," Stewart said. "I believe in what Coach Williams has built and in her vision for integrating me in the program as well. The fan base is unmatched and it is clearly Nebraska vs. everyone. Go Big Red!"