Huskers Open New Year in Top 25 Clash at Iowa

NCAA NET No. 15/AP No. 20 Nebraska rings in the New Year with its second consecutive top-25 Big Ten showdown when the Huskers travel to NET 10/AP 14 Iowa on Thursday afternoon.

Tip-off between the Big Red (12-1, 1-1 Big Ten) and the Hawkeyes (11-2, 2-0 Big Ten) at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City is set for 1 p.m. (CT) on New Year's Day.

Free live audio from the Huskers Radio Network will be available on Huskers.com, the Huskers App, 107.3 FM in Lincoln and 1490 AM/97.3 FM/97.7 HD3 in Omaha with Matt Coatney and Jeff Griesch on the call for their 25th consecutive season.

Live television coverage will be provided by the Big Ten Network with Chris Vosters and Christy Winters Scott on the call.

Thursday's game will be the second straight top-25 Big Ten battle for the Huskers, following a 74-66 loss to No. 17 USC in Lincoln on Monday afternoon.

Nebraska had its 12-game season-opening win streak come to a halt. The Huskers also had a school-record streak of 12 consecutive games scoring 80 or more points stopped by the Trojans, who have only allowed No. 1 UConn to score 70 or more points against them. 

Nancy Lieberman Award candidate Britt Prince, who has been a catalyst in all areas in a balanced Big Red attack, led all players with 18 points and seven assists against USC. The 5-11 sophomore point guard from Omaha ranks among the top scorers in the Big Ten Conference at 18.5 points while adding 4.5 assists. The Elkhorn North grad and two-time Nebraska High School Player of the Year owns a pair of 30-point performances (ORU, Virginia) this season, and has scored in double figures in 12 of NU's first 13 games while shooting 61.5 percent from the field, including 48.6 percent from three-point range. 

Fellow sophomore Amiah Hargrove also has emerged as a rising star in the conference. An early contender for Big Ten Sixth Player of the Year, Hargrove ranks second among the Huskers in scoring (12.0 ppg) while leading NU in rebounding (6.4 rpg). She is shooting 55.4 percent from the field and 80.6 percent from the free throw line. She had a career-high 26 points on 10-of-14 shooting (4-5 3FG) in Nebraska's Big Ten-opening road win at Penn State (Dec. 6).   

Junior Jessica Petrie has provided consistency and leadership at both ends in her second season as a starter. The 6-2 forward from Gold Coast, Australia, is averaging 11.8 points and 5.0 rebounds.

Callin Hake provides veteran leadership and the emotional heartbeat for the Big Red. The 5-8 senior guard from Victoria, Minn., leads a balanced Husker offense with 4.8 assists per game and a 2.74 assist-to-turnover ratio that ranks fourth in the Big Ten and 26th nationally. Hake is shooting 39.2 percent (20-51) from long range and 90 percent from the free throw line.

Graduate guard Hailey Weaver, who spent her first four seasons at Northwestern, joins a Husker lineup that has featured the same starting five for all 13 games. Weaver is a leader alongside Hake on the defensive end. The Big Red's top ball-pressuring guard ("Pirate" or "Hound"), Weaver leads the Huskers with 21 steals. She is averaging 4.6 points and 2.8 rebounds.

Sophomore Petra Bozan rounds out the NU starting five with 8.7 points and 4.3 rebounds. The 6-3 forward from Split, Croatia, is shooting 53.8 percent from the field. She produced a career-high 17 points in NU's Big Ten-opening win at Penn State (Dec. 6).

Nebraska's rotation goes 10-12 deep, including significant contributions from Eliza Maupin (8.6 ppg, 4.0 rpg), Logan Nissley (7.5 ppg, 2.7 rpg), Claire Johnson (5.3 ppg, 1.4 rpg) and Kennadi Williams (3.4 ppg, 2.2 apg), along with Emily Fisher and Alanna Neale. Maupin and Nissley each scored 10 points off the bench against No. 17 USC on Monday.

Nebraska ranks fourth nationally in bench scoring at 35.4 points per game.

 

NET 15 Nebraska Cornhuskers (12-1, 1-1 Big Ten)
4 - Petra Bozan - 6-3 - So. - F - 8.7 ppg, 4.3 rpg
12 - Jessica Petrie - 6-2 - Jr. - F - 11.8 ppg, 5.0 rpg
1 - Hailey Weaver - 6-0 - Gr. - G - 4.6 ppg, 2.8 rpg
14 - Callin Hake - 5-8 - Sr. - G - 8.7 ppg, 2.8 rpg
23 - Britt Prince - 5-11 - So. - G - 18.5 ppg, 3.6 rpg
Off the Bench
33 - Amiah Hargrove - 6-2 - So. - F - 12.0 ppg, 6.6 rpg
21 - Eliza Maupin - 6-3 - Sr. - F - 8.6 ppg, 4.0 rpg
2 - Logan Nissley - 6-0 - Jr. - G - 7.5 ppg, 2.7 rpg
5 - Claire Johnson - 5-9 - So. - G - 5.3 ppg, 1.4 rpg
15 - Kennadi Williams - 5-4 - RFr. - G - 3.4 ppg, 1.0 rpg
34 - Emily Fisher - 6-0 - Jr. - G/F - 1.9 ppg, 2.4 rpg
00 - Alanna Neale - 5-10 - Fr. - G - 1.3 ppg, 0.3 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 (170-124); 19th Season Overall (363-233)

NET 10 Iowa Hawkeyes (11-2, 2-0 Big Ten)
45 - Hannah Stuelke - 6-2 - Sr. - F - 13.5 ppg, 8.4 rpg
5 - Ava Heiden - 6-4 - So. - C - 15.5 ppg, 7.8 rpg
2 - Taylor McCabe - 5-9 - Sr. - G - 8.8 ppg, 3.8 rpg
4 - Kylie Feuerbach - 6-0 - Gr. - G - 5.3 ppg, 1.8 rpg
11 - Chazadi Wright - 5-4 - So. - G - 12.1 ppg, 2.0 rpg
Off the Bench
1 - Taylor Stremlow - 5-10 - So. - G - 7.8 ppg, 3.1 rpg
21 - Emely Rodriguez - 6-0 - So. - G/F - 7.2 ppg, 2.0 rpg
12 - Layla Hays - 6-5 - Fr. - C - 7.1 ppg, 3.7 rpg
7 - Addie Deal - 6-0 - Fr. - G - 6.1 ppg, 1.2 rpg
8 - Journey Houston - 5-9 - So. - G - 4.8 ppg, 5.3 rpg
32 - Callie Levin - 6-1 - Fr. - G - 2.1 ppg, 1.2 rpg
55 - Teagan Mallegni - 6-1 - So. - G - 1.5 ppg, 1.5 rpg
Head Coach: Jan Jensen (Drake, 1991)
Second Season at Iowa (34-13); Second Season Overall (34-13)

• Second-year head coach Jan Jensen's Iowa team features a potent inside game with senior Hannah Stuelke and sophomore Ava Heiden. Stuelke, a 6-2 forward, is averaging 13.5 points and a team-best 8.4 rebounds while shooting nearly 56 percent from the field. While Stuelke leads Iowa on the glass, including 2.5 offensive boards per game, Heiden leads the Hawks with 15.5 points on 63.7 percent field goal shooting. The 6-4 center also owns a team-best 14 blocks while ranking second on the team with 7.8 rebounds per game.

• Sophomore transfer Chazadi "Chit-Chat" right has taken over the controls in the Iowa backcourt. The 5-4 point guard who spent last season at Georgia Tech is averaging 12.1 points and 3.7 assists while knocking down a sizzling 47.9 percent (23-48) of her threes. Last season she scored 15 points in 30 minutes off the bench for the No. 17 Yellow Jackets in a 72-61 win over No. 23 Nebraska in Atlanta.

• Nebraska native Taylor McCabe has increased her production as a senior. The 5-9 guard from Fremont is averaging 8.8 points while leading the team with 35 made threes (.402). McCabe has added 33 assists against just eight turnovers on the year.

• Graduate guard Kylie Feuerbach rounds out Iowa's probable starters. Feuerbach is averaging 5.3 points and 3.2 assists while serving as one of Iowa's top perimeter defenders.

• Iowa has featured a balanced bench early in the season led by sophomore Taylor Stremlow (7.8 ppg, 3.1 rpg). The 5-10 guard is joined by fellow sophomores Emely Rodriguez (7.2 ppg) and Journey Houston (4.8 ppg, 5.3 rpg). Houston is coming off a double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds off the bench in Sunday's win over Penn State. Rodriguez has missed time recently with a back injury.

• Inside, Layla Hays, a 6-5 freshman center (7.1 ppg, 3.7 rpg) has provided a strong presence behind Heiden on the block, while fellow freshman Addie Deal (6.1 ppg) has added even more depth on the perimeter alongside sophomore Teagan Mallegni and freshman Callie Levin.

• Iowa is averaging 83.5 points on 50.4 percent schooting, including 36.8 percent success from long range. The Hawkeyes have struggled at the free throw line (.658), but have been dominant on the boards (+14.1 rpg) and carry a plus-1.0 turnover margin.

Nebraska vs. Iowa Series History
• Iowa leads the all-time series with Nebraska, 25-17, but the Huskers escaped from Iowa City with an 87-84 overtime win (Jan. 16, 2025). The Huskers trailed 64-53 with six minutes left before sending the game to overtime. Britt Prince led the Huskers with 22 points, a career-high five three-pointers and a career-high six steals to go with seven rebounds and five assists.

• Iowa answered with an 81-66 win over the Huskers in Lincoln (Feb. 10, 2025). The two teams will meet in Lincoln later this season in a special President's Day game on FOX (Monday, Feb. 16, 11 a.m.).

• Two of the past three meetings between Nebraska and Iowa have gone overtime, including a 94-89 OT win for then-No. 3 Iowa in the Big Ten Championship Game in Minneapolis (March 10, 2024).

• The Huskers defeated then-No. 2 Iowa 82-79 in Lincoln (Feb. 11, 2024), which snapped a nine-game losing streak to the Hawkeyes.

• Iowa owns a 10-7 all-time edge against Nebraska in Lincoln, while carrying an 11-5 advantage over the Huskers in Iowa City. Nebraska owns a 5-4 lead in the series on neutral courts, but Iowa has won the last three neutral site meetings.

• Iowa has scored 76 points or more in 13 consecutive meetings with Nebraska and owns an 11-2 record in that stretch.

• During Nebraska's eight-game series winning streak from Jan. 8, 2012 to March 9, 2014, the Hawkeyes failed to reach 76 points in any game.

Huskers Hit 80 at Historic Rate
• Nebraska scored at least 80 points in each of its first 12 games to open 2025-26, including three 100-point scoring efforts.

• The only other time Nebraska produced 80 or more points in eight 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 - previously the longest streak of scoring 80 or more points in school history.

• USC is the strongest defensive team the Huskers have faced this season. The Trojans entered Monday's game holding opponents to just 54.3 on 35.3 percent shooting despite playing five top-25 teams in their first 12 games. USC held perennial Final Four teams UConn (79) and South Carolina (69) under 80 points. In fact, UConn is the only team to score 70 against the Trojans so far this season.

• Iowa has also been outstanding on the defensive end early this season. UConn (90) is the only team to score 80 against the Hawkeyes, while Iowa limited Penn State (76), Iowa State (74) and Fairfield (72) to less than 80.

Efficient Big Red Spread Wealth, Share Rock
• As a team, NU ranks 11th nationally in scoring offense (87.8 ppg), while ranking sixth in field goal percentage (.515) and 15th in scoring margin (29.8 ppg).

• NU ranks 10th in assists per game (20.6 apg) and assist-to-turnover ratio (1.64).

• 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 with a leg injury in 2025-26. In 2,600 game minutes, Nebraska's five starters have combined for approximately 1,483 minutes (57 percent), while the reserves have played approximately 1,117 (43 percent). The starters have scored 59.7 percent of NU's points, while the bench has produced 40.3 percent of Nebraska's scoring.

• Nebraska ranks fourth nationally in bench scoring (35.4 ppg), including 45 points in a Big Ten-opening road win at Penn State (Dec. 6). The bench also scored 27 of NU's 66 points against USC.

• As a team, Nebraska leads the Big Ten and ranks sixth nationally by shooting 51.5 percent from the field through 13 games. Only two Husker teams have ever hit 50 percent or better from the field - 1991-92 (.503) and 1987-88 (.500).

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 13 games this season, she is averaging a team-best 18.5 points per game while hitting 61.5 percent (95-156) of her shots from the field, including 18-of-37 threes (.486).

• Prince was the MVP of the Emerald Coast Classic Beach Bracket (Nov. 24-25) after leading the Huskers to a tournament title with 30 points on 12-of-17 shooting in a 91-82 win over Virginia. She averaged 24.0 points and 6.5 assists in the tournament, including 18 points and a season-high seven assists in a win over Purdue Fort Wayne.

• Prince established her career high with 30 points on 13-of-18 shooting in a win over Oral Roberts (Nov. 19).

• She added 20 points in a Big Ten win at Penn State (Dec. 6) and led all players with 18 points and seven assists against No. 17 USC (Dec. 29).

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

• Prince had 17 points, four rebounds and five assists in a 92-53 win over Bradley (Dec. 3).

• She had eight points, five assists and five steals in an 87-35 win over Omaha (Dec. 9), before going for 13 points, six rebounds, six assists and no turnovers in a win over Illinois State (Dec. 14).

• 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 season-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 suffering 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
• Jessica Petrie (497) needs 3 points to reach 500 in her career.
• Petra Bozan (288) needs 12 points to reach 300 in her career.
• Britt Prince (.615) ranks 13th nationally and 3rd in the Big Ten in field goal percentage.
• Britt Prince (18.5 ppg) ranks 37th nationally and 6th in the Big Ten in scoring.
• Callin Hake (2.74) ranks 26th nationally and 4th in the Big Ten in assist-to-turnover ratio.
• Nebraska (.515 FG%) ranks 6th nationally and leads the Big Ten in field goal percentage.
• Nebraska (87.8 ppg) ranks 11th nationally and 4th in the Big Ten in scoring offense.
• Nebraska (35.4 ppg) ranks 4th nationally and 2nd in the Big Ten in bench scoring.
• Nebraska (20.6 apg) ranks 10th nationally and 4th in the Big Ten in assists per game.
• Nebraska (1.64) ranks 10th nationally and 4th in the Big Ten in assist-to-turnover ratio.
• Nebraska (+29.8 ppg) ranks 15th nationally and 5th in the Big Ten in scoring margin.