Michigan State and Nebraska were the lone top seeds to survive on the second day of the Big Ten women’s basketball tournament. Here’s a look at their matchup this evening.
No. 2 seed MSU (22-8) vs. No. 3 seed Nebraska (23-6)
When: approximately 6 tonight
Where: Bankers Life Fieldhouse (Indianapolis)
Series: Tied at 2-2 (Nebraska won the last meeting 76-56 in Lincoln on Feb. 8)
Coaches: MSU – Suzy Merchant is 363-190 in her 19th overall and 162-70 in her seventh with the Spartans. Nebraska – Connie Yori is 422-281 in her 24th season overall and 238-141 in her 12th with the Cornhuskers.
No. 19 MSU
G (1) Tori Jankoska (5-8) 12.7
G (21) Klarissa Bell (5-11) 7.7
F (23) Aerial Powers (6-0) 13.5
F (11) Annalise Pickrel (6-3) 12.8
C (52) Becca Mills (6-4) 9.9
No. 16 NEBRASKA
G (33) Rachel Theriot (6-0) 13.9
G (1) Tear’a Laudermill (5-9) 11.2
F (3) Hailie Sample (6-1) 6.0
F (23) Emily Cady (6-2) 13.0
F (35) Jordan Hooper (6-2) 20.6
MSU UPDATE: The Spartans overcame a 14-point first half deficit to knock off rival Michigan in a Big Ten tournament quarterfinal on Friday evening. Annalise Pickrel led the way with 18 points, but freshmen Tori Jankoska and Branndais Agee each made big plays late to push the Spartans past their rival. MSU enters the contest on a six-game winning streak and has won 10 of 11 since a two-game losing streak in the middle of January. The lone loss in that span was to Nebraska. The Spartans haven’t had much success in the semifinals of the Big Ten tournament and own just a 2-8 all-time record in this round. One of those wins came last season when they knocked off top seed Penn State.
NEBRASKA UPDATE: The Cornhuskers posted an 80-67 win over Minnesota in the last game of the night Friday to advance to the semifinal. Nebraska has also won 10 of 11 since a two-game losing streak in January. Its lone loss during that stretch was on the road to nationally ranked Purdue in the regular-season finale last Sunday. Yori was named the Big Ten’s top coach, while Hooper was tabbed the player of the year. Theriot has also been playing well for Nebraska and dished out a tournament-record 18 assists in the win over the Gophers on Friday. Nebraska has never won a conference tournament in program history, but has reached the semifinals each of its three seasons as a member of the Big Ten.
THIS SEASON’S MEETINGS
Jan. 9 – MSU 70, Nebraska 57: An 11-0 run early in the second half helped the Spartans pull away to knock off the Cornhuskers in their first meeting of the season. MSU led by as much as 25 with just under nine minutes remaining as it pulled off the big early season conference win.
Feb. 8 – Nebraska 76, MSU 56: The Cornhuskers went on a 22-0 run during the first half to pull away from MSU in the second regular-season meeting between the teams. MSU had a 14-6 lead before the Cornhuskers went on their run to take control. Rachel Theriot had a then-career-high 12 assists while helping Nebraska hand MSU its most lopsided loss of the season.
