Nebraska womens basketball wins thriller over Texas A&M in NCAA tournament. Nebraska women’s basketball continued their impressive season on Friday in Corvallis, defeating Texas A&M in the first round of the NCAA tournament.
This victory represents Nebraska’s first win in three NCAA tournament appearances under head coach Amy Williams. Williams, in her eighth year as head coach, had the Huskers well-prepared, as they were the sixth seed in the region, the highest seed they’ve achieved under her leadership.
The game began positively for Nebraska, with the team starting on a 6-0 run. They effectively controlled the inside defensively, causing problems for the Aggies. However, junior center Alexis Markowski got into foul trouble early in the first quarter, forcing Nebraska to bench one of their star players and primary inside forces.
Following Markowski’s departure, Nebraska faced offensive challenges. They struggled to make 3-pointers in the first quarter and relied on interior scoring, which became difficult without Markowski. Senior guard Jaz Shelley, the team’s second-leading scorer, also had a tough start, scoring only two points and shooting 1-of-5 from the field in the opening quarter.
In contrast, Texas A&M performed well from beyond the arc, making 3-of-6 3-point attempts, but they struggled to score inside, shooting 1-of-8 on two-point field goals in the period. Despite Nebraska’s offensive difficulties and the Aggies scoring consistently, the Huskers maintained a 14-12 lead at the end of the first quarter.
Nebraska found momentum at the start of the second quarter. Freshman guard Logan Nissley made a 3-pointer early on, igniting the team’s 3-point shooting. Senior guard Darian White also contributed, and White assisted Nissley for another 3-pointer.
Texas A&M faced challenges as well, with one of their key players, sophomore forward Janiah Barker, getting into foul trouble and having to sit out the rest of the half. This loss affected the Aggies’ offensive rhythm, and they went scoreless for the last four minutes of the quarter.
Nebraska, however, also struggled offensively after their initial run, and Shelley remained unable to score in the second quarter. Despite this, the Huskers maintained a lead of 27-20 going into halftime.
Nissley continued to shine in the third quarter, opening the period with two more 3-pointers. Junior guard Kendall Moriarty added another 3-pointer, becoming the first Nebraska player besides Nissley to score a 3-pointer in the game, contributing to a 9-0 run for the Huskers.
Although Texas A&M managed to score, Nebraska dominated the third quarter with a balanced offensive performance, with six different players scoring in the period. This balanced attack helped Nebraska extend their lead to as much as 17 points.
However, Texas A&M fought back in the third quarter, going on an 8-0 run towards the end, led by senior guard Aicha Coulibaly, narrowing the gap to 48-38 by the end of the quarter.
In the fourth quarter, Texas A&M continued to pressure Nebraska defensively, allowing Coulibaly to excel offensively. Their efforts helped them reduce the deficit to a single possession halfway through the quarter, eventually tying the game with a minute remaining.
With less than a minute left, Markowski’s layup put Nebraska ahead 58-56, but Coulibaly responded with a crucial putback and one, giving Texas A&M a one-point lead. However, Nebraska regained the lead as Nissley converted two free throws after an off-ball foul by Texas A&M.
In the final moments, Texas A&M had a chance to take the lead, but Nebraska’s defense stopped Barker’s drive. Nebraska then secured a 61-59 win after Shelley made one of two free throws, and Texas A&M missed a potential game-winning shot from beyond the arc.
This victory marks Williams’s first NCAA tournament win at Nebraska. With many returning players from the 2021 tournament team, Williams achieved the elusive tournament win she had been seeking.
Nebraska advances to play No. 3 seed Oregon State, the regional host, on Sunday, with an opportunity to reach the Sweet Sixteen for the first time since 2013.