Nebraska WBB Falls to Lousiville 63-58

I really expected the fourth quarter comeback to pull the Huskers over the finish line and into the second round. Alas, the Cardinals did what they needed to keep Nebraska in check.

Four seniors finish their college basketball careers, Alexis Markowski, Kendall Moriarty, Alberte Rimdal and Kendall Coley. They have all played important parts on the team during their careers, but Markowski will go down as one of the best Huskers ever. It will be fun to see where she ends up for the next phase of her career.

First Quarter

Nebraska’s starters are Prince, Petrie, NIssley, Hake and Markowski. It feels like a fast flowing, offensive type of game early. Markowski leads the Huskers with five early points for a 10-8 advanage in the first five minutes. She also has three early rebounds. Louisville has taken 11 shots already, making four. Their star post player has six of their eight points. Nebraska has already blocked two shots but has allowed the Cardinals to steal the ball three times (which is all of the Husker turnovers).

The Huskers did not look good coming out of the media timeout, committing a shot clock violation. They didn’t even seem to be aware of their predicament. The Cardinals are upping the pressure on defense, playing full court. For as fast and flowing as the first five minutes was, this segment is ugly. Cardinal turnovers. Husker missed layups. Hard to watch.

The stalemate is finally broken when Nissley found Bozan inside (12-8 Neb). Louisville showed why they can score in bunches as they made up a lot of ground for the 14-14 tie. With time winding down, Jess Petrie got the last word (basket) in for the frame.

Nebraska 16 Louisville 14

Louisville is putting up a high volume of shots, but the Huskers are keeping them to 30% (6-20) success. Nebraska is shooting less, but sinking them at a higher clip (47%; 7-15)

Second Quarter

Leaving Logan Nissley alone in the corner is never a good defensive strategy and the sophomore made Louisville pay (19-14 Neb). That margin held up for the next two minutes with the Huskers leading 23-18 at the 7:00 mark. The Cardinals’ Cochran was called for her second foul, which will be a blow for them. After each team sunk a three, Logan Nissley was called for her second foul and was replaced by Rimdal (26-21 Neb).

The Huskers are up to nine turnovers (four for Louisville). Nebraska continues to run into late shot clock situations. They don’t look panicked but aren’t hitting many of those late baskets (26-25 Neb).

The Cardinals forced a quick turnover and then took their first lead at the 4:00 mark (27-26 Lou). Amiah Hargrove active for the Huskers right now as she scores, forces a jump ball, scores again, commits a foul, and steals the ball (32-29 Neb).

Don’t look now, but the Cards have tied it up at 32 with 1:40 left in the half. They are playing tough defense on Markowski, forcing her into difficult shots which aren’t going down.

The closing minutes of the half were ALL Louisville as they closed on a 9-0 run - without Olivia Cochran on the floor.

Louisville 36 Nebraska 32

The stat that glares at me is points off turnovers which are 17-2 in favor of the Cardinals. Points in the paint are also in their favor 22-14. At the end of the first quarter, points in the paint stood at 10-10 so the Cardinals have really shut down the Husker bigs. On the bright side, Nebraska has 14 assists on 14 made baskets and the Husker defense is doing a good job in the half court. Now, they just need to clean things up and get their posts re-engaged.

Third Quarter

One early basket by Louisville was all the offense fans got for the first five minutes (38-32 Lou). The Cardinal defense is slowing the Huskers down bringing the ball up the court and then trapping them aggressively, forcing late shot clock heaves. Fortunately for Nebraska, Louisville has developed a penchant for taking steps without dribbling.

Hargrove scores the first point of the half for Nebraska (a free throw; 39-33 Lou). The Cards hit a three-pointer and Nebraska is in danger of a double-digit deficit (42-33 Lou). The Huskers respond with a...shot clock violation. The Huskers are approaching 10 minutes without a field goal.

A three-point play by Markowski FINALLY breaks the field goal drought (42-36 Lou). Markowski gets on the floor to rescue a possession and Prince rewards the team with a three (44-39 Lou). You knew the seal would break eventually and the points are coming fast now! Before I could even finish a sentence, I had to erase it and change it because there was another basket. I give up - lots happened and the deficit is down to four (48-44 Lou).

The Cardinals got the last basket of the quarter .

Louisville 50 Nebraska 44

Amiah Hargrove is approaching a double double with 10 points and nine rebounds. Prince has 10 points and five assists. Markowsi has 12 points and six rebounds. Nebraska’s advantage in shooting % evaporated in that quarter and they now trail the Cards 40.4% (21-52) to 39.5% (17-43).

Fourth Quarter

The Huskers open this quarter much better than the previous one, scoring five quick points (50-49 Lou). NIssley was awarded two free throws to potentially take the lead, but she missed both - a really unusual development for a solid FT shooter.

Jess Petrie gives the Huskers the lead!! (51-50 Neb).

Now, it is Louisville’s turn to hear the shot clock buzzer and Rimdal makes it a four point advantage (54-50 Neb). Jeff Walz wants a timeout to regroup his team.

Jess Petrie blocks a shot and keeps it from going out of bounds but her hustle doesn’t lead to points. Louisville scores their first points of the quarter near the midpoint mark (54-52 Neb). Prince hit a jumper as the shot clock went to zero but the refs deemed that she let it go too late (replay seems to uphold that judgment). Turnovers are biting the Huskers now.

Callin Hake got set on defense and a Cardinal player ran her over for the offensive charge. Rimdal got trapped in the corner and Amy Williams used a timeout to bail out her offense. The score still stands at 54-52 Nebraska.

Louisville outscores the Huskers in the next two minutes to tie the game at 56. Eeeek Prince commits her fourth foul - this one of the offensive variety. The Cards take advantage of the possession and take the lead (58-56 Lou). There is 1:15 left.

Prince ties it back up! (58-58) with 59 seconds left.

Jess Petrie blocks the shot but the refs say she got the arm. (59-58 Lou) with 30 seconds left.

PRINCE IS CALLED FOR THE CHARGE. She fouls out with 25 seconds left. I think that was the right call but it stinks for the team to lose their point guard.

Curry is fouled with 21 seconds left. She makes both (61-58 Lou). Prince is in tears on the sideline.

Nissley’s three is no good and Rimdal forces the jump ball (possession favors Louisville) with 11 seconds left. The Cardinals do not have a timeout so they can’t advance the ball.

Hargrove fouls Cochran and she makes one free throw (62-58 Lou) with 10 seconds left.

Turnover Nebraska. Markowski fouls Cochran with five seconds left. She makes one (63-58 Lou).

Final. Louisville 63 Nebraska 58

Stats and Thoughts

The Huskers played a pretty decent game. Louisville has a good defense that forced them into late shot clock situations, but the Cardinals do that to a lot of teams. The pressure on the guards kept them from feeding Markowski more and Nebraska had fewer points in the paint (32-20). The Huskers outshot the Cardinals 44% (23-52) to 37% (25-67). Louisville put up a high volume of shots and made just enough to come away with the win.

Points off turnovers were massively in favor of Louisville (27-5) as were turnovers overall (24-13). Rebounding also favored the Cards, but by a lesser margin 39-35. Nebraska assisted 19 of their 24 baskets.

Prince led Husker scoreres with 14, Markowski contributed 12 and Hargrove 10. Markowski completed another double double with 10 rebounds; Hargrove had nine.

It was a good season for the ladies. I think they had higher aspirations - potentially a Sweet 16 appearance, but it was really difficult for them to overcome the loss of Natalie Potts early in the season. Many Huskers stepped up and played well, but she combines offensive and defensive production in a way that is hard to replicate. Allison Weidner’s injury was also significant as it discombobulated the guard rotation and was a big mental blow to the group. Amy Williams and her team showed a lot of resilience and grit in handling all that was thrown their way.

Until next year. Go Big Red!