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Nebraska Women's Basketball Rolls Past Illinois

The Huskers snap a three-game losing streak with the victory.
Trevor Tarr|
Britt Prince scored 20 points to help Nebraska snap a three-game losing streak.
Britt Prince scored 20 points to help Nebraska snap a three-game losing streak. | Nebraska Athletics

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Nebraska CornhuskersIllinois Fighting Illini

The Huskers brought the heat, despite a cold day in Lincoln, during their 81-75 Big Red Beach Party win over the Illinois Fighting Illini.

No. 24 Nebraska women's basketball came out of the gates with its foot on the gas Saturday afternoon and reeled in a victory despite being outscored by double digits in the second half. Moving Amy Williams' squad to 15-5 through two-thirds of the regular season, a reeling team responded in a big way at Pinnacle Bank Arena.

The win breaks a three-game losing streak and moves the Huskers to 4-5 in conference play, while the Fighting Illini fall to 5-4. Both teams now share the same overall record.

After the first 10 minutes, Nebraska led by eight points, largely backed by capitalizing on the Fighting Illini's seven turnovers during the period. The Huskers also held the rebounding advantage, 9-7, which allowed them several second-chance opportunities on the offensive end.

After the break, Williams' squad picked up where they had left off. Defensive pressure continued to bother Illinois on the offensive end, as the Illini committed four more turnovers in the second quarter, bringing their first-half total to 11.

After the buzzer signaled the end of the second quarter, Nebraska walked into the locker room with a 41-23 advantage. That 18-point lead, however, wasn't as safe as it might have seemed.

The Illini found their rhythm during the third quarter, nearly doubling their point total while whittling the deficit to a dozen. Illinois shot 9-for-16 during the period while outscoring, outrebounding and outhustling the Huskers.

Still holding a double-digit lead entering the final 10 minutes, the Huskers just needed to close out the game. The Fighting Illini had other ideas, though, putting on another master class that included an 11-3 rebounding advantage. Nebraska's lead crept down to six points with a little under two minutes to go — plenty of time for the Illini to complete their comeback. However, Illinois could draw no closer, and the Huskers would survive the visitors' 52-point second-half surge and come away with a six-point win.

On the day, Nebraska saw four players reach double figures: Britt Prince (20), Logan Nissley (15), Jessica Petrie (15) and Petra Bozan (11).

The Huskers will return to action Wednesday night as they welcome the Northwestern Wildcats to Pinnacle Bank Arena. Currently at 8-11, the Wildcats will come to Lincoln as heavy underdogs, but the Big Red's recent three-game skid serves as a reminder that Nebraska cannot afford to enter games without urgency.

Nebraska Women's Basketball 2025-26 Schedule

  • Oct. 24 Nebraska 104, Mount Marty 40 (Exhibition)
  • Nov. 3 Nebraska 103, Northwestern State 46
  • Nov. 8 Nebraska 80, Samford 46
  • Nov. 12 Nebraska 84, Creighton 50
  • Nov. 16 Nebraska 82, North Dakota State 70 (Sanford Pentagon)
  • Nov. 19 Nebraska 103, Oral Roberts 58
  • Nov. 24 Nebraska 80, Purdue Fort Wayne 57 (Emerald Coast Classic)
  • Nov. 25 Nebraska 91, Virginia 82 (Emerald Coast Classic)
  • Dec. 3 Nebraska 92, Bradley 53
  • Dec. 6 Nebraska 101, Penn State 83
  • Dec. 9 Nebraska 87 vs. Omaha 35
  • Dec. 14 Nebraska 85, Illinois State 44
  • Dec. 21 Nebraska 87, Cal Baptist 56
  • Dec. 29 74 USC, Nebraska 66
  • Jan. 1 Iowa 86, Nebraska 76
  • Jan. 4 Nebraska 78, Purdue 62
  • Jan. 8 Nebraska 78, Indiana 73
  • Jan. 11 UCLA 83, Nebraska 61
  • Jan. 15 Michigan State 73, Nebraska 71
  • Jan. 21 Wisconsin 63, Nebraska 60
  • Jan. 24 Nebraska 81, Illinois 75
  • Jan. 28 vs. Northwestern 7 p.m. NPM/B1G+
  • Feb. 1 at Ohio State 5 p.m. BTN
  • Feb. 4 at Michigan 6 p.m. B1G+
  • Feb. 7 vs. Maryland 1 p.m. BTN
  • Feb. 12 at Minnesota 7 p.m. BTN
  • Feb. 16 vs. Iowa 11 a.m. FOX
  • Feb. 19 at Oregon 8 p.m. B1G+
  • Feb. 22 at Washington 2 p.m. BTN
  • Feb. 28 vs. Rutgers B1G+
  • March 4-8 Big Ten Tournament in Indianapolis

Home games are bolded. All times central.

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Trevor Tarr
TREVOR TARR

Trevor Tarr is the founder of Skers Scoop, a Nebraska football media outlet delivering original coverage through writing, graphics, and video content. He began his career in collegiate athletics at the University of South Dakota, producing media for the football team and assisting with athletic fundraising. A USD graduate with a background in journalism and sports marketing, Trevor focuses on creative, fan-driven storytelling in college football.

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