LINCOLN, Neb. — In a thrilling matchup, Alexis Markowski had a standout performance, scoring a personal best of 28 points, as Nebraska clinched its inaugural victory over a ranked opponent by defeating No. 20 Michigan State 85-80 on Wednesday night.

The Cornhuskers were effective at the charity stripe, converting 11 of 16 free throws in the final quarter and netting 17 of 24 in the second half, totaling 28 out of 35 for the game. In comparison, the Spartans managed 14 of 19 from the foul line and faced the challenge of having three players foul out during the contest.

In addition to Markowski’s impressive scoring, Allison Weidner contributed 11 points and Britt Prince added 10 for the Cornhuskers (12-4, 3-2 Big Ten Conference). This marks the team’s second consecutive home win following a challenging stretch of three losses against ranked teams on the road.

For Michigan State (12-3, 3-3), Julia Ayrault led the scoring with 21 points, while Theryn Hallock chipped in 18, and Grace VanSlooten added 12. The Spartans had a robust start, scoring the first 11 points of the game and concluding the opening quarter with a 21-15 lead.

However, the second quarter saw Nebraska rally back as Logan Nissley and Amiah Hargrove opened up with 3-pointers, leading to a tie. Alberte Rimdal followed with another 3-pointer, putting Nebraska ahead 24-23. After Emma Shumate restored a brief lead for the Spartans with a 3-point shot, Nebraska went on a 15-point scoring run to lead 43-33 at halftime.

The Spartans struggled offensively, shooting only 37.5% for the game and committing 13 turnovers. In the third quarter, Michigan State could not draw closer than nine points, and Nebraska maintained a comfortable lead throughout the final period by consistently hitting free throws.

Looking ahead, Nebraska is scheduled to play against Rutgers on Sunday, while Michigan State prepares to host Washington.