The Nebraska men's basketball team returns for a Saturday night matchup as the Huskers welcome Minnesota to Pinnacle Bank Arena. Tipoff between the Huskers and Golden Gophers is set for shortly after 6 p.m. Saturday's game will be televised on BTN with Brandon Gaudin and John Beilein on the call. The game can also be streamed via the web, smartphones, tablets and connected devices through the Fox Sports app.

Fans can follow all of the action across the state of Nebraska on the Learfield IMG College Husker Sports Network with Kent Pavelka and Jake Muhleisen on the call. The game will also be available on Huskers.com, the Huskers app and TuneIn radio. The pregame show begins one hour prior to tipoff.
  

Saturday is Senior Night, as the Huskers will honor Kobe Webster and Thorir Thorbjarnarson during pregame ceremonies which will begin shortly after 5:30 p.m. Webster and Thorbjarnarson have been solid performers off the bench for the Huskers this season. Webster, who had 12 points at Illinois, is averaging 7.0 ppg and shooting 36 percent from 3-point range, while Thorbjarnarson is scoring 3.3 points per game, but has a nearly a 2-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio and is fourth on the team in steals. Saturday's game is NU's third game in five nights, as the Huskers also will turnaround and host Rutgers on Monday in the home finale.

The Huskers (5-17, 1-14 Big Ten) was within striking distance early in the second half before Illinois pulled away with an 86-70 win. The Huskers were within  42-36 when a flagrent foul on Eduardo Andre sparked the Fighting Illini to an 11-0 run, all coming from Kofi Cockburn. Behind Trey McGowens, who scored 13 of his 16 points in the second half, the Huskers trimmed the lead to nine, but could not get closer. Illinois went 22-of-29 from the foul line, including an 8-of-10 effort from Cockburn, who entered the game shooting 56 percent from the charity stripe. Cockburn had 24 points to pace four Illini in double figures. 

Minnesota (13-11, 6-11) looks to bounce back following a 67-59 home loss to Northwestern on Thursday. Marcus Carr had 21 points and seven assists, but the Gophers shot just 37 percent, including 4-of-27 from 3-point range. Minnesota, which has dropped four straight, was without Liam Robbins because of injury. The Gopher center averages 11.7 points, 6.6 rebounds and leads the Big Ten in blocks.

PLAYER SPOTLIGHT
Teddy Allen is one of only three Big Ten players to have a 40-point game over the last four seasons following his 41-point night against Penn State on Tuesday, joining Purdue's Carsen Edwards (three times) and Iowa's Luka Garza (twice).

NUMBERS TO KNOW
.361 - The Huskers have made steady shooting improvement from 3-point range since returning from their pause. NU shot .234 in the first three games after returning from its pause, but is shooting .361 over the last seven games even after going 5-of-21 from 3-point range on Thursday. 

4 - According to KenPom, the Huskers' strength of schedule ranks fourth nationally as of Feb. 27. In fact, eight of the top-10 toughest schedules on the site are from the Big Ten.

5 - Nebraska has five games with at least 10 steals this season after having just two in 2019-20. NU is third in the Big Ten with 7.2 steals per game.

10 - NU has ten 20-point performances on the season (Teddy Allen-8; Trey McGowens-1; Kobe Webster-1). In addition, NU has had nine players reach double figures at least once this season and nearly had a 10th as Thorir Thorbjarnarson had nine points in Saturday's loss to Purdue.

31 - Nebraska is 31st nationally in tempo according to KenPom as of Feb. 26. The Huskers and Illinois (83rd) are the only two Big Ten teams in the top-100 nationally in tempo as of Feb. 27. Minnesota ranks third in the Big Ten in adjusted tempo.

SCOUTING MINNESOTA
Under Richard Pitino, the Golden Gophers are 13-10 on the season, 6-11 in Big Ten play, and looking to snap a four-game losing streak. Minnesota went a perfect 7-0 in non-conference play, highlighted by wins over Saint Louis and Boston College. The Golden Gophers were 9-1 following wins over nationally-ranked Iowa and Michigan State in late December, but is just 4-9 since the calendar turned to 2021. UM is 13-3 at Williams Arena, including Big Ten wins over Michigan, Ohio State, Iowa and Purdue, as the Gophers handed the Wolverines its only loss of the season. UM is 0-8 away from Williams Arena.

Minnesota features one of the Big Ten's best point guards in Marcus Carr. The junior guard ranks among the Big Ten leaders in scoring (19.1 ppg, fourth) and assists (5.1, third) while also grabbing 3.9 rebounds per game. Junior transfer Liam Robbins is the other Golden Gopher in double figures, as he averages 11.7 points per game and a team-high 6.6 rebounds per game. The Drake transfer paces the Big Ten with 2.7 blocks per game. Minnesota has been hurt by injuries to Robbins, who did not play against Northwestern, and three-year starter Gabe Kalscheur, who averaged 9.2 ppg and is second on the team with 27 3-pointers.  In all, four of Minnesota's top six scorers are in their first year at Minnesota. 

Series History: Nebraska and Minnesota will meet for the 80th time on Saturday, which is the most between the Huskers and any other Big Ten member.  It is NU's longest-running series in the Big Ten, dating back to February of 1902. The Gophers lead the all-time series, 57-22, while the Huskers have won seven of the past 12 meetings. In all, 13 of the last 14 meetings have been won by the home team dating back to March of 2012.  Nebraska is 7-8 against the Golden Gophers as Big Ten members. Prior to joining the Big Ten in 2011-12, NU and Minnesota met in non-conference action every year from 1995 until 2004 after not playing for 16 years. 

Last Meeting: Playing its second road game in three days, the Huskers were unable to overcome a hot-shooting start by Minnesota in a 79-61 loss on Feb. 8. Minnesota made seven straight shots over a four-minute stretch early in the game to turn a one-point lead into a 23-10 advantage. The Gophers had runs of 7-0 and 6-0 while opening the game 9-of-13 from the field. Minnesota then used another 7-0 spurt to stretch the lead to 30-14 before the Huskers dug in defensively.

Minnesota stretched the lead to 19 before Nebraska's defense forced Minnesota into 17 straight misses. Lat Mayen hit a pair of 3-pointers and Shamiel Stevenson had two baskets during a 10-0 Husker run that cut the Minnesota lead to nine. A Kobe Webster jumper then capped a larger 13-1 run that made it 52-45 with 10:53 to play. It remained a seven-point game with seven minutes remaining before Minnesota used a 9-2 run to push the lead back to 12 with four minutes to play. 

Mayen, who sat for much of the first half with three fouls, scored 13 of his 15 points in the second half to lead Nebraska. Stevenson added 14 points, tying his highest total as a Husker.  Marcus Carr led Minnesota with game-high totals of 21 points and eight assists in only 19 minutes. 

LAST TIME OUT
The Huskers trailed No. 5 Illinois by just six three minutes into the second half, but a series of runs doomed the Huskers in an 86-70 loss to the Illini.

Kofi Cockburn scored nine straight points after Nebraska cut the lead to six, and Illinois scored six consecutive points four minutes later. The Huskers continued to hang around until a late 12-3 Illini run put the game away. The win came less than two weeks after the Illini needed overtime to escape Lincoln with a five-point victory.

Trey McGowens paced three Huskers in double figures with 16 points, giving him 33 points in his last two contests. McGowens scored 13 of his 16 points in the second half. Shamiel Stevenson added 12 points – two shy of his season high – and Kobe Webster chipped in 12 points after he was held scoreless in the first matchup with the Illini.

Illinois was led by Cockburn, as the All-America candidate had a game-high 24 points on 8-of-10 shooting from the field and an 8-of-10 effort from the line. Adam Miller added 18 points – his most in a Big Ten game this season – while Jacob Grandison had a season-high 14 points. Andre Curbelo nearly had a triple-double, finishing with 10 points, 12 rebounds and eight assists, as Illinois was without Ayo Dosunmu because of a broken nose.

STORYLINES
• Nebraska continues with its frantic February pace, as the Huskers will play 11 games between Feb. 6-27 following the rescheduling of games against Penn State, Illinois and Minnesota.  The 2020-21 season will mark the fifth time in school history and the first since 1919-20, that NU will play double-digit games in February (based on dates listed in the media guide). Saturday's matchup with the Golden Gophers was originally set for Jan. 20. 

• Trey McGowens will enter Saturday's game needing two points to reach 1,000 for his career. He will be the second Husker to reach 1,000 career points this season, as Trevor Lakes accomplished the feat on Feb. 17 at Maryland. McGowens is fourth in the Big Ten in steals with 1.4 per game and has averaged 1.6 in conference play. 

• In addition to the seniors, junior forward Derrick Walker will be honored prior to Saturday's game, as he will be the first member of his family to graduate college when he graduates in May with a degree in human development and family science. 

• Nebraska's Shamiel Stevenson and Minnesota's Marcus Carr were teammates at Pittsburgh during the 2017-18 season. In fact, three of the top four scorers from that team are now at Big Ten schools (Parker Stewart, Indiana).

• Nebraska's strength of schedule is now fourth nationally by KenPom entering Friday's action. The 2020-21 season marks the second straight season NU has had a strength of schedule in the top 10 in KenPom. NU's schedule was eighth in 2019-20. The Huskers are one of only three teams nationally (also Minnesota and Iowa State) to have top-10 strength of schedules by KenPom in each of the last two years.

• The Big Ten had nine teams in the top 40 of the NET rankings on Feb. 26, including four of the top eight spots. This season, 12 of the Huskers' 17 losses have been Quad 1 losses. 

• Nebraska will look to shore up its defense after allowing 86 points to both Illinois and Penn State this week. In the two losses, NU has held both teams under their season field goal averages, but allowed a combined 28 second-chance points and 37 points off turnovers. PSU and Illinois also combined to go 38-of-48 from the foul line (79 percent). 

• Despite the last two games, the Huskers' defense has been significantly better since returning from their pause earlier this month. NU has allowed 7.6 fewer points per game over the past 10 games, while holding teams to 41 percent shooting, including 30 percent from 3-point range. 
 

 
• Teddy Allen and his younger brother Timmy are one of the highest scoring duos in college basketball. The pair combines for more than 35 points a game, a total which ranks second nationally among brother duos. 

2020-21 Highest Scoring Brother Duos 

 as of Feb. 26

• Nebraska is on track for one of its most prolific 3-point shooting seasons in school history. NU enters the Minnesota game with 8.0 3-pointers per game which is on pace to rank second in school history.  It is not surprising that Nebraska has relied on its 3-point shooting in Hoiberg's tenure, as his Iowa State teams led the Big 12 in 3-pointers in four of his five seasons at the school.

Most 3-Pointers/Game in School History

• Teddy Allen is one of just eight newcomers at power conference schools averaging at least 16.0 points per game. Allen is currently sixth in the Big Ten in scoring and the only newcomer in the top 10 of the Big Ten in scoring as of Feb. 23.  His scoring average is on pace to be one of the highest scoring averages by a first-year Husker.

Highest Scoring NU Newcomers

• Seven members of the Nebraska basketball team were honored on Feb. 19 with spots on the Nebraska Scholar-Athlete Honor Roll. The Huskers on the list include Teddy Allen, Lat Mayen, Chris McGraw, Jace Piatkowski, Bret Porter, Thorir Thorbjarnarson, Derrick Walker and Kobe Webster. All Husker student-athletes combined for a school-record fall GPA of 3.325.

Times Set for Final Two Regular-Season Games

Lincoln - The Big Ten Conference announced the start times for Nebraska's final two regular-season games on Friday afternoon.

Nebraska's game at No. 9 Iowa next Thursday, March 4, will tip off at 8 p.m. and will be televised on BTN. The Huskers' regular-season finale at Northwestern on Sunday, March 7, will start at 12:30 p.m. and will also be televised on BTN.

Both games will also be carried on the Learfield IMG College Husker Sports Network.

Nebraska Men's Basketball Updated Schedule (Feb. 27-March 7)
Sat., Feb. 27: Minnesota, 6 p.m. (BTN)
Mon, March 1: Rutgers, 6 p.m. (BTN)
Thurs., March 4: at Iowa, 8 p.m. (BTN)
Sun., March 7: at Northwestern, 12:30 p.m. (BTN)

Huskers Set for Senior Day with Spartans

Nebraska Cornhuskers (11-10, 9-9 Big Ten)
vs. Michigan State Spartans (12-7, 7-7 Big Ten)
Saturday, Feb. 27, 2021, 1 p.m. (CT)
Pinnacle Bank Arena - Lincoln, Nebraska
Live Video: B1G Network+ 
Live Radio: Husker Sports Network (12:45 p.m.)
Matt Coatney (PBP), Jeff Griesch (Analyst)
Lincoln (B107.3 FM), Omaha (ESPN 590 AM), Huskers.com, Huskers App, TuneIn

Huskers Shoot for Senior Day Sweep of Spartans
The Nebraska women's basketball team takes aim at an important series sweep when the Huskers battle Michigan State on Saturday afternoon in Lincoln. Tip-off on Senior Day between the Huskers (11-10, 9-9 Big Ten) and the Spartans (12-7, 7-7 Big Ten) is set for 1 p.m. (CT) at Pinnacle Bank Arena.

A live video stream will be provided to BTN Plus subscribers, while fans can also follow Nebraska with the Husker Sports Network call of Matt Coatney and Jeff Griesch across the radio network stations, the Huskers App and Huskers.com.

Nebraska will honor center and graduate student Kate Cain on Senior Day, along with former Husker guard/forward Taylor Kissinger, who is a current student assistant for the Big Red. Graduate manager Kristina Bayton and student managers Trevor Bogle and Christian Eisenhauer will also be honored for their contributions to the program during Saturday's postgame ceremony.

Nebraska shoots for its ninth home win of the season at Pinnacle Bank Arena. Last time in Lincoln, the Huskers ran to an 87-72 victory over Penn State (Feb. 21), but the Big Red suffered a 73-63 setback at Minnesota on Wednesday.

Sophomore Isabelle Bourne, who was named the College Sports Madness National Player of the Week (Feb. 22), led the Huskers with a career-high 22 points while adding 11 rebounds against Penn State. It followed a 21-point, career-high 17-rebound effort in a win at No. 24 Northwestern (Feb. 17). Bourne, who is averaging 13.9 points and a team-best 8.2 rebounds, was also the Big Ten Player of the Week (Feb. 22).

Bourne had 18 points and seven rebounds in Nebraska's 68-64 win at No. 23 Michigan State (Jan. 10), before injuring her ankle in the closing seconds. She missed Nebraska's next four games.

First-team All-Big Ten contender Sam Haiby led Nebraska with 22 points and six assists at Minnesota. It was her eighth 20-point effort of the season. The 5-9 guard from Moorhead, Minn., had 11 points and a career-high 12 rebounds in the win at Michigan State (Jan. 10). Haiby is the only player in the Big Ten to rank among the top 12 in the conference in scoring (17.1 ppg, 12th), rebounding (6.9 rpg, 12th) and assists (4.5 apg, 9th).

Nebraska's career blocked shot leader Kate Cain became just the 10th player in Husker history to achieve the combined milestones of 1,000 points and 750 rebounds. Cain, who will be honored in Saturday's post-game Senior Day ceremony, owns 1,035 points, 750 rebounds and 344 career blocks. The 6-5 center from Middletown, N.Y., ranks No. 6 in Big Ten history and No. 2 among active NCAA Division I players. Cain was one of 15 players on the Naismith National Defensive Player-of-the-Year Watch List and was a three-time Lisa Leslie Award candidate.

Scouting the Michigan State Spartans
• Michigan State carries a 12-7 overall record that includes a 7-7 Big Ten mark to Lincoln, hoping to salvage a season series split with the Huskers. Nebraska escaped from East Lansing with a 68-64 victory over the then-No. 23 Spartans on Jan. 10.

• The Spartans were off to one of the best starts in school history, carrying an 8-1 record into the first meeting with the Huskers with their lone loss coming to Maryland on Jan. 7. However, after opening Big Ten play 3-0, the Spartans have gone just 4-7 in the league. MSU also had games at Ohio State, to Indiana, to Michigan and at Illinois postponed by COVID-19 protocols.

• The Spartans are 0-6 against AP top-25 foes and three of the games they missed were also set to come against top-25 opponents.

• Junior Nia Clouden leads Michigan State as one of the Big Ten's top scorers. A second-team All-Big Ten choice in 2019-20, Clouden is averaging 18.6 points per game. She scored double figures in each of MSU's first 17 games before being held to six points on 3-of-13 shooting in a win over Purdue (Feb. 21). She managed eight points on 1-of-14 shooting in Wednesday's loss to Rutgers. Those two low-scoring efforts followed a career-high 34 points in a loss at Michigan (Feb. 16).

• Clouden, who had 14 points in the first meeting with Nebraska, also leads Michigan State with 4.1 assists and 1.5 steals per game. She is the only Spartan to start all 19 games.

• Sophomore guard Alyza Winston (10.6 ppg) and junior forward Alisia Smith (10.0 ppg, 5.9 rpg) join Clouden in averaging double figures. Winston is MSU's top three-point threat with 33 makes (.375). Smith, a Penn State transfer who has played in 13 games with nine starts, had her first double-double with 18 points and 10 rebounds in the win over Purdue (Feb. 21). She had just three points and three boards off the bench against Nebraska but has started every game since that loss.

• Tory Ozment started each of MSU's first 10 games, including 11 points and four assists in the loss to Nebraska. Ozment was affected by MSU's COVID pause and did not return to action until a loss at Indiana (Jan. 31) when she played just 12 minutes off the bench. She played no more than 21 minutes and scored no more than seven points until scoring 10 in 29 minutes as a starter in the loss to Rutgers. The 6-1 wing is averaging 6.9 points and 3.1 boards on the season.

• Ozment started in place of 6-2 sophomore Julia Ayrault against Rutgers. Ayrault, who is averaging 9.1 points and 4.9 rebounds, missed her first game of the year against Rutgers after enter the concussion protocol. Ayrault had seven points in 10 minutes in a start in the fist meeting with Nebraska.

• Michigan State's most experienced player, redshirt senior Mardrekia Cook, has been out of action with a knee injury since the loss to Michigan (Feb. 16). Cook started MSU's first five games this season.

• Sophomore Moira Joiner (5.0 ppg, 1.9 rpg) has started eight times, including five of the last six games. She did not start in the first meeting with the Huskers and did not start in the loss to Rutgers.

• Junior transfer Janai Crooms from Ohio State has started eight of the past nine games for the Spartans, including the loss to Rutgers. The 5-10 guard is averaging 5.1 points and 3.3 boards. She had seven points and six boards in 18 minutes off the bench in the first meeting with Nebraska.

• Sophomore Taiyier Parks (7.7 ppg, 5.7 rpg) has been a regular contributor throughout the season, while freshman Kendall Bostic (4.3 ppg, 3.3 rpg) has played in 18 games. Parks had seven points and seven rebounds in a start against Nebraska, and produced her sixth double-figure scoring effort of the season with 12 points and five boards against Rutgers.

• As a team, Michigan State is averaging 76.1 points - down six points per game from the first meeting with the Huskers. MSU is allowing 68.6 points per contest. The Spartans are hitting 45.4 percent of their shots, including 32.4 percent of their threes, but just 68.1 percent of their free throws.

Nebraska vs. Michigan State Series History
• Nebraska leads the all-time series with Michigan State 9-4 with all 13 meetings as Big Ten foes. The Huskers fought to a 68-64 win over the then-No. 23 Spartans in East Lansing on Jan. 10.

• Isabelle Bourne led all players in the first meeting with 18 points, despite suffering an ankle injury in the closing seconds. Sam Haiby added a double-double with 11 points and a career-high 12 rebounds. Bella Cravens pitched in nine points, nine rebounds and three blocks, while Ruby Porter had a breakout game with nine points on three three-pointers. 

• Nia Clouden led three Spartans in double figures with 14 points before fouling out late in the game. Tory Ozment added 11 points and Alyza Winston pitched in 10. 

• Nebraska went 6-for-14 from three-point range while the Spartans went just 5-for-25. The Huskers led 39-30 at the half, but Michigan State took a 48-47 lead to the fourth quarter.

• The Huskers are 5-0 against Michigan State in Lincoln, including an 82-71 win over MSU on Feb. 17, 2019, at Pinnacle Bank Arena. The Huskers are 3-4 against Michigan State all-time in East Lansing.

• Three of Nebraska's five home wins have been decided by seven points or less.

• Five of Nebraska's nine wins have been by 10 points or less, while NU's most lopsided win in the series came with an 86-58 victory over the Spartans in the Big Ten Tournament semifinals on March 8, 2014 at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.

• Michigan State's first three series wins in East Lansing were all by double digits, including a 73-53 victory in the first-ever meeting on Feb. 23, 2012. Two years later, the Spartans worked their way to a 70-57 win on Jan. 9, 2014, before rolling to a 93-73 victory over the Huskers on Jan. 7, 2017.

Cain Becomes 10th Husker with 1,000 Points, 750 Boards
• Kate Cain became just the 10th player in Nebraska history to achieve the combined career marks of 1,000 points and 750 rebounds when she grabbed her final board at Minnesota on Wednesday.

• The 34th member of Nebraska's 1,000-point club, Cain joined that prestigious club with her first bucket at Northwestern (Feb. 17). Cain finished the night with a career-high 22 points on a perfect shooting effort (7-7 FG, 8-8 FT) to lead the Huskers to victory. 

• She heads into Senior Day with 1,035 career points tied with Alexa Johnson at No. 32 (1,035, 2001-04), and one point away from Stacy Imming at No. 31 (1,036, 1984-87) on the NU career scoring list. She needs 13 points to catch Cathy Owen at No. 30 (1,048, 1982-85). Cain owns three 20-point efforts in the last 11 games, after managing just one 20-point effort in her first 102 games.

• Nebraska's career blocked shot record holder with 344 - she owns 106 more blocks than previous record holder Janet Smith (238, 1979-82). Cain is the only Husker in history with 1,000 points, 750 rebounds and 250 blocked shots.  

• Cain is averaging 10.2 points, 6.3 rebounds and a Big Ten-best 3.0 blocks this season. The 6-5 center from Middletown, N.Y., has started 112 straight games. She was the Big Ten Player of the Week (Jan. 18) after producing 22 points, 12 rebounds and nine blocks in a win over No. 15 Ohio State.

• As a junior, Cain earned her second appearance on the Big Ten All-Defensive Team by notching a school-record 101 blocked shots while ranking third in the NCAA in blocks per game. She added 9.3 points and 7.2 rebounds while shooting 53.9 percent from the field and 68.3 percent from the free throw line on her way to earning honorable-mention All-Big Ten accolades. 

• Cain led the Big Ten in both blocks (3.6 bpg) and defensive rebounds (6.7 drpg) in conference play, while moving into the Big Ten's all-time top-10 list.

• Cain claimed her first spot on the Big Ten All-Defensive Team as a freshman in 2017-18 when she posted a then-school record with 100 blocks while averaging 9.9 points and 7.0 rebounds to help the Huskers to the 2018 NCAA Tournament. 

• She was also a member of the Big Ten All-Freshman Team after being named the Big Ten Freshman of the Week four times. Along the way, she recorded the first points-rebounds-blocks triple-double in NU history with 22 points, 14 rebounds and 11 blocks in a win over Florida Atlantic (Dec. 19, 2017).

• A three-time Lisa Leslie Award candidate, Cain has been projected as a middle second-round pick in the 2021 WNBA Draft. 

• A CoSIDA Academic All-America candidate, Cain is a two-time Big Ten Distinguished Scholar and Academic All-Big Ten choice who earned her bachelor's degree as a management major in May of 2020, just three years into her Nebraska career.

Huskers Lose 3-1 to Indiana in Game One

Senior Tristen Edwards delivered a pair of extra-base hits for the Nebraska softball team Friday morning, but her effort was not enough as the Huskers dropped their season opener 2-1 to Indiana in the first game of a doubleheader at the Sleepy Hollow Sports Complex in Leesburg, Fla.

Edwards finished 2-for-3 with a double and a home run. She had two extra-base hits in her first game of the 2021 season after ranking second nationally with 21 extra-base hits in 23 games during the shortened 2020 campaign. As a team, all three of Nebraska's hits went for extra bases, as sophomore Keana "KP" Pola also doubled.

In the circle, senior right-hander Olivia Ferrell pitched well in a losing effort. In 5.1 innings, Ferrell (0-1) allowed three runs on seven hits, while striking out seven and walking just one.

Emily Goodin, who led the Big Ten with 10 wins last season, was strong in the circle for Indiana. She tossed a three-hitter and struck out nine while allowing only three base runners in the game. Offensively, Gabbi Jenkins and Bella Norton each had two hits and one RBI for the Hoosiers.

Nebraska jumped out to a 1-0 lead when Edwards led off the top of the fourth inning by lining a 3-2 pitch over the fence in center for a solo home run.

Indiana answered with back-to-back doubles to begin the bottom of the frame, tying the game at 1-1. An RBI single followed to give the Hoosiers a 2-1 advantage before Ferrell prevented further damage with a fielder's choice and an inning-ending double play.

Following Edwards' home run, Goodin retired 12 of the final 13 hitters. The lone exception was Edwards' two-out double in the top of the sixth, but she was left stranded in scoring position.

In the bottom of the sixth, Ferrell struck out the first batter before consecutive singles marked the end of her day. Junior right-hander Courtney Wallace came on in relief and walked her first batter to load the bases with only one out. Wallace bounced back to strike out the next batter before a two-out, RBI infield single pushed the Hoosier lead to 3-1.

Goodin then retired the Huskers in order in the top of the seventh.

Nebraska Rallies for 4-2 Win Over Indiana

Freshman Billie Andrews picked an opportune moment to deliver her first career hit, as her two-out, two-run single in the bottom of the sixth inning lifted the Nebraska softball team to a 4-2 come-from-behind victory over Indiana in game two of a doubleheader Friday in Leesburg, Fla.

Nebraska trailed 2-1 before scoring once in the fifth and twice in the sixth to pick up its first win of the season. With the victory, Nebraska (1-1) salvaged a split of the doubleheader after Indiana (1-1) came from behind for a 3-1 win in the first game.

While Andrews delivered the winning hit, junior Courtney Wallace scored the winning run to cap a superb all-around day for the Omaha native. Wallace produced two of Nebraska's four hits, finish 2-for-4 at the plate. In the circle, Wallace (1-0) started and earned the victory, allowing two runs on only four hits in 6.0 innings. Freshman Kaylin Kinney pitched a perfect seventh inning in her Husker debut to earn her first career save.

Macy Montgomery (0-1) took the loss in relief for Indiana, allowing two runs in her only inning of work. Natalie Foor started and pitched the first 5.0 innings for the Hoosiers, striking out six and allowing only two hits and two runs (one earned).

Just as they did in game, the Huskers jumped out to an early 1-0 lead. Sophomore Keana "KP" Pola led off the bottom of the second with a single and Wallace followed with another single. On Wallace's single, sophomore pinch runner Brooke Andrews went from first to third, and she scored the game's first run on a wild pitch.

Nebraska threatened again in the bottom of the third. Senior Rylie Unzicker drew a leadoff walk, stole second and was on third base with only one out. But the Huskers were unable to bring her home.

Indiana tied the game on a one-out Desiree Dufek solo home run in the top of the fourth.

In the top of the fifth, Indiana pinch hitter Abby Meeks led off with a triple when Unzicker just missed a diving catch in left field. Taylor Lambert then re-entered for Meeks and gave the Hoosiers a 2-1 lead when she scored on a one-out sacrifice fly.

In the bottom of the inning, a leadoff error and one-out walks to Unzicker and Billie Andrews loaded the bases with Huskers. Senior Tristen Edwards then tied the game when her fly ball down the right field line was dropped, allowing Unzicker to score the tying run. Nebraska still had the bases loaded and with two outs, Pola put a good swing on a ball but hit a line drive directly to the right fielder.

With the game still tied, Indiana went to the bullpen to start the sixth inning. Wallace greeted Montgomery with a single before freshman Sydney Gray moved Wallace into scoring position with a perfectly executed sacrifice bunt. Senior Ally Riley then drew a walk and was lifted for freshman pinch runner Camyl Armendariz, putting Huskers on first and second with one out. After a strikeout, Unzicker was hit by a pitch to load the bases for Billie Andrews, who delivered  her game-winning two-run single up the middle.

The Huskers return to action tomorrow with another doubleheader at the Sleepy Hollow Sports Complex, facing Michigan State twice. First pitch of the doubleheader is set for 9 a.m. (Central).

Nebraska-Ohio State Women's Soccer Game Postponed

The Nebraska women's soccer game scheduled for Sunday, Feb. 28 against Ohio State has been postponed out of an abundance of caution for both teams. The institutions will work with the Big Ten Conference to identify rescheduling options.
 
The Huskers' next scheduled game is Thursday, March 4 against Purdue in Lincoln. Ohio State is scheduled to play next at Maryland on March 4.

Huskers Move to March at Bruin Wave Invitational

The Nebraska women's golf team returns to the course after a month off from competition when the Huskers travel to the Bruin Wave Invitational in Somis, Calif., March 1-3.

The 16-team event begins Monday, March 1 at the Saticoy Golf Club with tee times beginning at 10 a.m. (CT). Tuesday's second round and Wednesday's final round also begin with 10 a.m. tee times with live scoring available all three days from GolfStat.com. 

The Huskers will take aim at the 6,273-yard, par-72 layout at the Saticoy Club along with a talented field that includes No. 10 Arizona State, No. 17 Northwestern, No. 31 Oregon, No. 35 San Diego State, No. 37 UCLA and No. 39 Colorado among the top 40 teams in the nation according to the most recent GolfStat rankings. 

Kate Smith headlines the five-player lineup traveling to California. Nebraska's fifth-year senior from Detroit Lakes, Minn., is ranked No. 47 nationally by GolfStat and is hunting for her second career NCAA Regional bid. Smith is Nebraska's career stroke average leader and recently earned an invitation to the Augusta National Women's Amateur Championship. Smith opened the season with a tie for third individually at the Trinity Forest Invitational in Dallas, Texas, Feb. 1-2. Her performance included a final-round 68.

Freshman Lindsey Thiele (Wahoo, Neb.) and Michaela Vavrova (Bojnice, Slovakia) join graduate transfer Alice Duan (Reno, Nev.) and Megan Whittaker (Elkhorn, Neb.) in completing Nebraska's lineup. Thiele opened her collegiate career as NU's No. 2 finisher in Texas, tying for 43rd (232). Duan, a transfer from Washington, finished one shot behind Thiele in 47th (233).

Bruin Wave Invitational
Location: Somis, California
Hosts: UCLA & Pepperdine
Course: The Saticoy Club (Par 72, 6,273 Yards)
Monday, March 1 (Tee Times): 10 a.m. (CT)
Tuesday, March 2 (Tee Times): 10 a.m. (CT)
Wednesday, March 3 (Tee Times): 10 a.m. (CT)
Live Scoring: GolfStat.com

Participating Teams (16)
Arizona State (10)
Cal Poly (59)
Cal State Fullerton (91)
Colorado (39)
Colorado State (104)
Long Beach State (122)
New Mexico (64)
New Mexico State
Nebraska (77)
Northwestern (17)
Oregon (31)
Oregon State (78)
Pepperdine
San Diego State (35)
UCLA (37)
Washington (73)

Nebraska Lineup
1. Kate Smith (RSr., Detroit Lakes, Minnesota)
2. Lindsey Thiele (Fr., Wahoo, Nebraska)
3. Alice Duan (Gr., Reno, Nevada)
4. Michaela Vavrova (Fr., Bojnice, Slovakia)
5. Megan Whittaker (Jr., Elkhorn, Nebraska)

Smith Earns Augusta National Women's Amateur Invitation
After a series of solid performances during the summer and fall, Nebraska senior Kate Smith earned an invitation to compete in the second annual Augusta National Women's Amateur Championship (March 31-April 3). She was among an elite list of just 72 of the top amateurs in the world to receive a coveted invite to the event when they were sent to golfers in late January.

Smith Shines Despite Abrupt end to True Senior Season in 2020
Despite having her fourth year at Nebraska cut short by the COVID-19 pandemic, Kate Smith continued to add to her long list of accomplishments as a Husker golfer.

In the summer of 2020, Smith won the Minnesota Golf Association Women's Amateur Championship for the second time, before qualifying for the 120th U.S. Women's Amateur in Rockville, Md. 

Smith finished 15th in the stroke play portion of the U.S. Women's Amateur and advanced to the round of 32 in the match play event. She also went on to be named the Minnesota Golf Association Women's Co-Player of the Year for 2020.

Smith Claims Nebraska's First Big Ten Mary Fossum Award 
One of the top golfers in Husker history, Kate Smith captured Nebraska's first Big Ten Mary Fossum Award for owning the best stroke average relative to par among all league golfers in 2019-20. Smith set the Nebraska season record for the third straight year with her 72.18 stroke average.

Smith also became the first Husker to earn All-Big Ten honors since Maddie Sheils earned the award in Nebraska's first season in the conference in 2012.

Smith was on track to earn an NCAA Regional bid as an individual for the Huskers in 2020, before the coronavirus outbreak brought the spring season to an end.

The NCAA granted seniors an additional year of eligibility, and Smith is planning to take full advantage of the chance for one more season of college golf in 2020-21.
Smith has played 107 rounds and owns a Nebraska-record 73.44 career stroke average. 

Cornhusker State Golfers Impact Nebraska 2021 Roster 
Nebraska's 2021 women's golf roster features a strong Cornhusker State flavor.

Senior Hannah Thiele and her younger sister Lindsey continue a Husker golf family tradition that included their older sister, Haley. The sisters represent the southeast Nebraska town of Wahoo on the Husker roster.

Kirsten Baete provides more southeast Nebraska representation. The redshirt junior from Beatrice has competed in 36 rounds during her Husker career, including a lineup spot in the 2019 Big Ten Championships.

Megan Whittaker (Elkhorn) completes the four Nebraska natives on the Big Red roster. Whittaker has appeared in 38 rounds for the Huskers, including lineup spots at the Trinity Forest Invitational and the Bruin Wave Invitational to open 2021.

Whittaker, who is the daughter of former Husker golfer Kim (Lefler) Whittaker, matched Kate Smith for Nebraska's top individual finish at the 2019 Big Ten Championships.

In October of 2020, Whittaker won The Harvest at Indian Creek hosted by the Nebraska Golf Association.

Huskers Travel To Iowa