Huskers Wrap Up Home Stand Against Pioneers

Huskers Wrap Up Home Stand Against Pioneers
• The Nebraska women’s basketball team concludes its three-game non-conference home stand by playing host to the Denver Pioneers on Saturday at Pinnacle Bank Arena.
• Tip off between the Huskers (4-5) and the Pioneers (7-3) is set for 4:30 p.m. (CT) in Lincoln. Live radio coverage (beginning at 4:15 p.m.) can be heard in Lincoln on B107.3 FM, in Omaha on ESPN 590 AM, in Lexington on 880 AM KRVN, and across the state on many other Husker Sports Network stations. Free live audio can also be found at Huskers.com, on the Huskers App and on TuneIn. A live video stream will be provided by BTN Plus Student U.
• Nebraska has won the first two games in its longest home stand of the season, defeating traditional rival Kansas (58-52, Dec. 5), before rolling to a 96-63 win over San Jose State (Dec. 8). The Huskers have taken the week off from competition for Finals Week at the University of Nebraska before facing the Pioneers.
• Nebraska produced plus-20 rebound margins in the back-to-back wins over the Jayhawks (+21) and Spartans (+28) to become just the third Husker team in history to achieve consecutive plus-20 margins in a season, joining the 2009-10 team and the 1990-91 Husker squad. The 1990-91 Huskers are the only NU team to achieve plus-20 margins in three consecutive games, accomplishing that feat in the first three games of the year.
• The last time Nebraska played Denver in Lincoln, the Huskers worked their way to a 73-38 win (Dec. 30, 2007), including a plus-33 (58-25) rebound margin - the third-largest margin in NU history.
• The 2018-19 version of the Pioneers has produced a 43.3-43.0 (+0.3) rebound margin through their first 10 games of the season, including a 50-32 edge on the glass in a recent win at Southern Utah (Dec. 8). DU was out-rebounded (49-38) in Tuesday’s 66-64 loss at New Mexico State.
• Nebraska got a big performance from 6-5 center Kate Cain in Saturday’s win over San Jose State. The sophomore from Middletown, N.Y., matched her season high with 16 points while grabbing a season-best 17 rebounds for her seventh career double-double and second of the season. Cain, who hit 8-of-9 shots against the Spartans, is shooting a team-best 57.7 percent from the field while averaging 9.2 points and team-bests of 7.4 rebounds and 2.4 blocked shots.
• The Big Red also received the first career double-double from freshman Ashtyn Veerbeek against San Jose State. The 6-2 forward from Sioux Center, Iowa notched career highs with 14 points and 14 rebounds in just 17 minutes of action against the Spartans. Veerbeek is averaging 7.7 points and 7.0 rebounds on the year after averaging 10.5 points, 12.5 rebounds and 2.0 blocks in just 18.0 minutes in last week’s wins over Kansas and San Jose State.
• In last Wednesday’s win over the Jayhawks, sophomore Taylor Kissinger recorded her second career double-double with 11 points and a career-high 11 rebounds. The 6-1 guard pitched in 17 points on 5-of-11 three-point shooting in the win over San Jose State. She averaged 14.0 points, 6.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.5 steals last week and is shooting a team-best 55.3 percent (21-38) from three-point range, which ranked No. 4 in NCAA Division I through games Dec. 11.
• Saturday’s game with Denver will feature two of the nation’s hottest three-point shooters, as Denver’s Lauren Loven ranks eighth nationally with her 52.3 shooting percentage (41-77) from long range. Loven is averaging 4.1 made threes per game.
• Freshman guard Sam Haiby also has produced double figures five times this season, including a career-high 20 points at Washington State. Haiby has put up double digits against nationally ranked teams Miami (14), Drake (13) and Louisville (12) along with 17 points at Creighton. She is averaging a team-best 10.9 points to go along with 3.1 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game.
• Junior guard Hannah Whitish had a season-high eight assists to go along with nine points in the win over San Jose State. Whitish is averaging 8.7 points and a team-best 4.2 assists per game.
• Four of Nebraska’s five losses early this season have come against 2018 NCAA Tournament teams, including Final Four participant and 2018 ACC champion Louisville, Creighton (NCAA second round), Miami and Drake. Both the Hurricanes (22nd) and Drake (25th) are currently ranked in the USA Today Coaches Top 25 along with No. 4 Louisville.
Nebraska Cornhuskers (4-5, 0-0 Big Ten)
24 - Maddie Simon - 6-2 - Sr. - F - 8.7 ppg, 4.2 rpg
31 - Kate Cain - 6-5 - So. C - 9.2 ppg, 7.4 rpg
3 - Hannah Whitish - 5-9 - Jr. - G - 8.7 ppg, 2.7 rpg
5 - Nicea Eliely - 6-1 - Jr. - G - 7.8 ppg, 4.8 rpg
33 - Taylor Kissinger - 6-1 - So. - G - 9.2 ppg, 4.2 rpg
Off the Bench
4 - Sam Haiby - 5-9 - Fr. - G - 10.9 ppg, 3.1 rpg
13 - Ashtyn Veerbeek - 6-2 - Fr. - F - 7.7 ppg, 7.0 rpg
32 - Leigha Brown - 6-1 - Fr. - F - 7.7 ppg, 2.1 rpg
11(out) - Kristian Hudson - 5-5 - Sr. - G - 2.4 ppg, 1.6 rpg
44 - Kayla Mershon - 6-3 - Fr. - F - 2.2 ppg, 2.0 rpg
14 - Grace Mitchell - 6-2 - Jr. - F - 1.7 ppg, 1.6 rpg
Head Coach: Amy Williams (Nebraska, 1998)
Third Season at Nebraska (32-38); 12th Season Overall (225-147)
Denver Pioneers (7-3, 0-0 Summit League)
23 - Madison Nelson - 6-1 - Jr. - F - 14.9 ppg, 9.7 rpg
15 - Courtney Smith - 6-2 - Jr. - C - 11.8 ppg, 9.4 rpg
3 - Lauren Loven - 5-7 - Jr. - G - 17.0 ppg, 2.6 rpg
12 - Claire Gritt - 5-10 - So. - G - 12.2 ppg, 4.8 rpg
22 - Samantha Romanowski - 5-9 - Sr. - G - 8.5 ppg, 3.1 rpg
Off the Bench
25 - Sydney Mech - 6-2 - Fr. - G/F - 8.6 ppg, 4.4 rpg
1 - Grace White - 5-10 - So. - G/F - 6.2 ppg, 3.8 rpg
32 - Tsimba Malonga - 5-8 - Fr. - G - 6.6 ppg, 2.9 rpg
0 - Abi Curtin - 6-1 - Jr. - F - 2.3 ppg, 3.8 rpg
10 - Haley Simental - 5-8 - Sr. - G - 2.5 ppg, 0.3 rpg
33 - Jasmine Jeffcoat - 6-2 - So. - F - 1.2 ppg, 2.1 rpg
5 - Anna Jackson - 6-0 - Fr. - F - 0.8 ppg, 0.3 rpg
Head Coach: Jim Turgeon (Washburn, 1997)
Second Season at Denver (23-17); Fourth Season Overall (77-27)
Scouting the Denver Pioneers
• Denver comes to Lincoln with a 7-3 record after dropping a 66-64 decision at New Mexico State (5-2) on Tuesday night. The Pioneers were outscored 22-14 in the fourth quarter in Las Cruces.
• The Pioneers own a high-powered offense averaging 83.9 points and 9.5 threes per game on 40.8 percent three-point shooting under the direction of second-year coach Jim Turgeon. Jim is the brother of Maryland men’s basketball coach Mark Turgeon, and the uncle of Husker Maddie Simon.
• DU features four players averaging in double figures led by junior Lauren Loven. The 5-7 guard from Scottsdale, Ariz., is averaging 17.0 points per game. Before going 1-for-11 from long range at New Mexico State, Loven was leading the nation in three-pointers made and three-pointers made per game. She ranked second nationally in three-point field goal percentage (.606) and was the only player in the top 15 in percentage with more than 30 makes. Despite going 1-for-11 at NMSU, and 3-for-17 in her last two games, Loven is shooting 53.2 percent (41-77) from three this year.
• Loven scored 20 or more points and hit at least five threes in each of Denver’s first six wins this season. She managed eight points on 2-of-6 shooting in a 71-70 win at Southern Utah (Dec. 8). In DU’s wins, Loven is averaging 20.7 points and 5.6 made threes per game. In the Pioneers’ three losses, she is averaging 7.7 points and 1.3 made threes per game.
• Fellow junior Madison Nelson is nearly averaging a double-double with 14.9 points and a team-best 9.7 rebounds per game. The 6-1 forward from Dover, Minn., had three consecutive double-doubles before being held to 15 points and three rebounds in a loss at Wyoming (Dec. 4). That stretch began with a 23-point, 20-rebound effort in a 117-110 2OT win over Lamar (Nov. 23).
• Sophomore Claire Gritt is averaging 12.2 points and 4.8 boards while leading Denver with 1.8 steals per game. The 5-10 guard ranks second among the Pioneers with 12 threes. Gritt has scored in double figures eight times this season, including a season-high 20 at Northern Colorado (Nov. 16).
• Junior transfer Courtney Smith has averaged 11.8 points and 9.4 rebounds while playing in five games with four starts. She notched a double-double with 14 points and 16 rebounds in a win over American, then missed the next three games before returning for 15 points and six boards in the loss at Wyoming. Smith, a 6-2 forward from Thorton, Colo., who spent her first two seasons at Northern Colorado, had 12 points and 13 boards in the loss at New Mexico State.
• Sydney Mech, a 6-2 freshman wing out of Englewood, Colo., has pitched in 8.6 points and 4.4 rebounds. She is shooting 50 percent from the field including a red hot 8-for-10 from three-point range and 89.5 percent (17-19) at the free throw line. She did not play at New Mexico State.
• Senior Samantha Romanowski ranks among the top players in the nation with 6.3 assists per game, while adding 8.5 points, 3.1 rebounds and 1.5 steals. The 5-9 guard is also averaging 1.4 blocks per game.
• Sophomore guard Grace White (6.2 ppg, 3.8 rpg) and freshman guard Tsimba Malonga (6.6 ppg, 2.9 rpg) give the Pioneers more good, young production from the backcourt off the bench.
• Junior forward Abi Curtain (2.3 ppg, 2.8 rpg), senior guard Haley Simental (2.5 ppg) and sophomore forward Jasmine Jeffcoat (1.2 ppg, 2.1 rpg) also have seen significant playing time.
• As a team, Denver owns a plus-10.9 scoring margin, a plus-0.3 rebound margin and a minus-0.3 turnover margin. The Pioneers are shooting 44.2 percent from the field, including 40.8 percent from three-point range and a strong 77.5 percent at the free throw line. DU has held opponents to just 37.2 percent shooting from the field, including 32.3 percent from long range. The opposition has hit just 62.9 percent of their free throws.
Nebraska vs. Denver Series History
• Nebraska leads the all-time series with Denver, 2-0. Saturday’s game will be the first in more than a decade with Denver, dating back to a 76-55 Nebraska win in the Mile High City on Nov. 24, 2008. The previous season, the Huskers defeated the Pioneers 73-38 at the Bob Devaney Sports Center on Dec. 30, 2007.
• The previous meeting in Lincoln featured Colorado native and eventual Olympic bronze medalist Danielle Page getting 10 points, eight rebounds and three steals for the Huskers, along with Lincoln East graduate and two-sport standout (also soccer at DU), Jenna Cole, getting a start for Denver.
• The game also included a plus-33 (58-25) rebound margin for the Huskers, which is the third-largest margin in the 1,351 games in Husker history.
Husker Nuggets
• Nebraska’s plus-28 rebound margin (56-28) against San Jose State (Dec. 8) tied for the 10th-best margin in school history.
• Nebraska’s 64 total rebounds against Kansas (Dec. 5) tied for the fourth-highest total in school history and was NU’s second-best total ever against a Power Five Conference team, trailing only 66 rebounds against USC (Nov. 18, 2011).
• Nebraska had a plus-21 rebound margin (64-43) in the win over the Jayhawks.
• Nebraska’s back-to-back plus-20 rebound margin games marked the first time the Huskers have accomplished the feat since 2009-10, when NU’s first NCAA Sweet Sixteen team went back-to-back against both Idaho State (+23)/Washington State (+21) and against Albany (+26)/Vermont (+22).
• The only other team to achieve back-to-back plus-20 rebound margins was the 1990-91 squad, which opened the season with three consecutive plus-20 margins against Sam Houston State (+28), James Madison (+27) and Robert Morris (+23). The 1990-91 team is the only Husker squad to achieve three straight plus-20 rebound margins.
• Only five Husker teams (2015-16 (3), 2009-10 (4), 1997-98 (6), 1993-94 (3), 1990-91 (3) have produced three plus-20 rebound margins in the same season.
• Nebraska’s 34 points in the fourth quarter against San Jose State tied for the most in any quarter in school history. It joined 34 in the second quarter at Iowa and 34 in the fourth quarter against Florida Atlantic in games last season.
• NU’s 62 points in the second half against San Jose State tied for the fifth-most points scored in any half by the Huskers in school history.
• Freshman Sam Haiby led Nebraska with 13 points in a season-opening loss to Drake (Nov. 7). Haiby is the first Husker freshman to lead NU in scoring in an opener since Kelsey Griffin’s 18 in a loss to South Dakota State (Nov. 19, 2005).
Freshmen Contributing Early for Huskers
• Nebraska has received production early and often from its 2018-19 freshman class. The four-player class, which was ranked among the top 20 recruiting classes in the nation by ESPN last season, features Sam Haiby (10.9 ppg, 3.1 rpg), Ashtyn Veerbeek (7.7 ppg, 7.0 rpg), Leigha Brown (7.7 ppg, 2.1 rpg) and Kayla Mershon (2.2 ppg, 2.0 rpg).
• Haiby, a 5-9 guard from Moorhead, Minn., leads Nebraska with 10.9 points per game off the bench. She has led the Huskers in scoring in four games, including against nationally ranked Drake (13) and Miami (14), while also scoring a career-high 20 points at Washington State and adding 17 points at Creighton. She owns five double-figure scoring efforts overall, including 12 points at No. 5 Louisville (Nov. 29).
• Haiby also ranks third among the Huskers in assists (2.4 apg).
• Ashtyn Veerbeek is tied with Leigha Brown for second among the Husker freshmen in scoring with 7.7 points per game, while leading the group and ranking second on the team with 7.0 rebounds. Veerbeek produced her first career double-double with career highs of 14 points and 14 rebounds in a win over San Jose State (Dec. 8). She also ranks second among the Huskers with 12 blocks.
• Leigha Brown set a career high with 18 points in the win over San Jose State (Dec. 8). Brown, who has led the Huskers twice in scoring early in the season, is averaging 7.7 points per game. The 6-1 wing from Auburn, Indiana leads the freshmen with seven three-pointers and has committed a total of just four turnovers over the past eight games.
• Kayla Mershon has pitched in 2.2 points and 2.0 rebounds per game for the Huskers, including a career-high seven rebounds in the win over Kansas (Dec. 5). The 6-3 forward from Chanhassen, Minn., also has dished out five assists and has committed a team-best two turnovers through nine games.
• The freshmen have combined for 37.6 percent (256-of-680) of Nebraska’s points in just 32.8 percent of the team’s total minutes (607-of-1,850) on the season. They also have accounted for just 26.5 percent (40-of-151) of Nebraska’s turnovers.
• Nebraska’s four freshmen are combining to average 28.4 points and 14.2 rebounds per game, while NU’s two sophomores (Kate Cain, Taylor Kissinger) have combined to average 18.4 points and 11.7 boards per contest. Nebraska’s six underclassmen have combined for 62.1 percent of NU’s scoring and 58.4 percent of the team’s rebounding through nine games.

Nebraska Streaks
  • Sophomore Kate Cain owns the longest streak of consecutive starts by a Husker with 40.
  • Junior Nicea Eliely owns Nebraska’s second-longest streak of starts with 35, while senior Maddie Simon has started 33 consecutive games.
• Kate Cain has at least two rebounds in every game of her Nebraska career (41), and she has blocked at least one shot in 39 of 41 games (no blocks in 2018 NCAA Tournament vs. Arizona State and no blocks at Creighton, Dec. 2, 2018).
• Sophomore Taylor Kissinger is 8-for-8 at the free throw line to open the season and owns the longest active free throw streak by a Husker. Kissinger also hit eight consecutive three-pointers over a three-game stretch earlier this season.
• The Huskers have knocked down at least one three in 321 straight games dating back to a loss at UTEP on Dec. 20, 2008. Nebraska has hit at least two three-pointers in 200 consecutive games.
Nebraska’s History of Home Success
• Nebraska had its streak of 12 consecutive season-opening wins snapped with an 83-77 loss to current top-25 team and two-time defending Missouri Valley Conference champion Drake on Nov. 7. However, the Huskers still have an outstanding history of success at home, including a 3-1 record at Pinnacle Bank Arena to open 2018-19.
• The Huskers were 10-6 at home in 2017-18, winning five of their final six home games.
• The Huskers went 15-4 at Pinnacle Bank Arena in 2015-16 after going 12-3 (13-3 at home) in 2014-15. The Huskers are 63-25 (.716) all-time at Pinnacle Bank Arena since the building opened for the 2013-14 campaign. The Big Red went 16-2 at home in 2013-14, suffering their only Big Ten loss to Purdue, 77-75, on Jan. 19, 2014. NU’s 16 home wins in 2013-14 tied the school record for single-season home victories.
• The Huskers played the first regular-season game arena history against USA Today No. 25 UCLA (Nov. 8, 2013) and rolled to a 77-49 win over the Bruins. NU’s first win over an AP Top 25 team came with a 76-56 win over No. 24 Michigan State on Feb. 8, 2014. The Huskers added their first-ever win over an AP Top 10 team at the arena with a 94-74 victory over No. 8 Penn State on Feb. 24, 2014.
• NU won its first-ever Big Ten home game at Pinnacle Bank Arena with a 66-65 thriller over Northwestern Jan. 2, 2014, before an 88-85 win over Minnesota on Jan. 16, 2014, marked the first overtime game.
• NU suffered its first loss at the arena to Washington State (76-72) on Nov. 30, 2013.  
• The Huskers are 452-155 (.745) all-time at home. The Huskers have gone 188-59 (.761) over the last 16 seasons (including 2018-19), posting double-figure home victory totals 14 times.
• Nebraska played in the Devaney Center from 1976-77 through 2012-13, and added one appearance at Devaney against Utah on Nov. 23, 2014. The Huskers own a 389-130 record at the Devaney Center, including 146-88 (.624) mark in conference play.