WBB: Game #18 @ Penn State

   Nebraska Cornhuskers

at

   Penn State Lady Lions

Thursday, Jan. 19, 6 p.m.
Bryce Jordan Center (University Park, Pa.)
 

Live Video: BTN Plus
Live Radio: Husker Sports Network - Matt Coatney (PBP), Jeff Griesch (Analyst)
KBBK 107.3 FM - Lincoln; KXPN 590 AM - Omaha; KLIQ 94.5 FM - Hastings; KRGI 1430 AM - Grand Island;

KRVN 106.9 FM - Kearney; KRVN 880 AM - Lexington; KNCY 1600/105KSWN 93.9 FM - McCook;

KNCY 1600/105.5 AM/FM - Nebraska City; KHAQ 98.5 FM - North Platte; KNEB 960/100.3 AM/FM - Scottsbluff; KSID 1340 AM - Sidney    Free Live Audio: Huskers.com/Huskers App/TuneIn App

Live Stats: GAMETRACKER

Huskers Back on Road at Penn State Thursday

The Nebraska women’s basketball team returns to Big Ten road action Thursday when the Huskers tangle with Penn State. Tip-off between the Big Red (5-13, 1-5 Big Ten) and the Lady Lions (12-6, 2-4 Big Ten) is set for 6 p.m.

An inexperienced team of Huskers and a group of first-year coaches led by former Nebraska player Amy Williams has been challenged by the toughest schedule in school history through the first 18 games this season. Nebraska’s strength of schedule ranks No. 10 nationally. Penn State will be the 13th Husker opponent with 12 or more wins this season, led by No. 1 UConn (16-0), No. 3 Maryland (17-1) and No. 15 Virginia Tech (16-1). 

Nebraska owns victories over a pair of 12-win teams - Colorado State (12-5) and UTRGV (12-8).

The active Husker roster has combined for 155 career starts, while the Penn State active roster has started 290 career games, including 90 this season.

The Huskers are led by 6-4 sophomore forward Jessica Shepard, who is averaging a double-double with 18.6 points and 10.3 rebounds per game.

The all-time series between Nebraska and Penn State is tied at five wins apiece. The Huskers have won four consecutive games in the series with Penn State. The Huskers are 2-2 all-time at Penn State.

PROBABLE STARTRS:

Nebraska Cornhuskers 
32 - Jessica Shepard - 6-4 - So. - F 
22 - Allie Havers - 6-5 - Sr. - C 
3 - Hannah Whitish - 5-9 - Fr. - G 
5 - Nicea Eliely - 6-1 - Fr. - G 
34 - Jasmine Cincore - 5-10 - Jr. - G

Penn State Lady Lions 
24 - Ashanti Thomas - 6-4 - So. - C  
2 - Amari Carter - 5-8 - Fr. - G -
5 - Sierra Moore - 5-11 - Sr. - G 

11 - Teniya Page- 5-7 - So. - G 
31 - Jaida Travascio-Green - 6-2 - Fr. - G

Scouting Penn State

Coach Coquese Washington has her 10th Penn State team off to a 12-6 start that includes a 2-4 Big Ten record after a 76-46 win over Wisconsin on Monday.

Penn State improved to 9-1 at home with the win over the Badgers.

Although Penn State owns an experienced roster with a combined 290 starts, freshmen and sophomores dominate PSU’s starting five. Teniya Page leads the Lady Lions with 18.7 points per game. Ashanti Thomas, a 6-4 center, has added 4.4 points and 3.7 rebounds  Amari Carter has contributed 7.6 points and 2.6 rebounds, while leading the Lady Lions with 4.6 assists per game. Jaida Travascio-Green made her fourth career start in the win over Wisconsin. She is averaging 5.9 points and 1.9 rebounds in 16 minutes per game. Sierra Moore rounded out PSU’s starting five against Wisconsin with 8.7 points and 4.2 rebounds per game.

Husker Nuggets
 

• Jessica Shepard leads the Huskers with averages of 18.6 points and 10.3 rebounds per game. She produced her 19th career double-double 22 points and 11 rebounds in Nebraska’s win over Rutgers.
 

• Shepard owns nine double-doubles this season and owns nine 20-point scoring efforts through 18 games.
 

• Nicea Eliely leads the Huskers in assists (50), steals (32), blocks (13) and field goal percentage (.453), while ranking second on the team in scoring (7.8 ppg).
 

• Hannah Whitish is averaging 11.3 points, 2.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.8 steals in six Big Ten games as a starter. Whitish also

leads the Huskers with 29 three-pointers on the season. Her next three-pointer will tie her with Kiera Hardy (30, 2003-04) for fifth on NU’s freshman three-point list.
 

• Nebraska is facing the toughest overall schedule in school history in 2016-17. The Huskers will play 10 games against NCAA Tournament teams and 11 more regular-season games against Postseason WNIT teams in 2016-17. 
 

• Nebraska’s strength of schedule ranked No. 10 nationally through games Jan. 16. 
 

• The Huskers have knocked down at least one three-pointer in 269 straight regular-season games dating back to a loss at UTEP on Dec. 20, 2008.
 

• Nebraska has hit at least two three-pointers in 148 consecutive games. 
 

• Nebraska has had at least two players earn first- or second-team All-Big Ten honors in each of its first five seasons in the Big Ten.

GAME NOTES:

BEAT THE LADY LIONS!