INDIANAPOLIS — Alexis Markowski delivered a commanding performance with 19 points and 10 rebounds to propel 10th-seeded Nebraska to an emphatic 84-60 victory over Rutgers in the opening round of the Big Ten Conference Tournament on Wednesday night.
With this win, the Cornhuskers (20-10) advance to face seventh-seeded Illinois in the second round on Thursday, a team that previously defeated them by nine points.
Amiah Hargrove contributed 13 points and Alberte Rimdal added 12 off the bench for Nebraska. The Cornhuskers defeated Rutgers 69-62 earlier in the season, marking this as their second clash. Britt Prince chipped in with 10 points and five assists, while Markowski extended her school record for double-doubles to 51.
For the Scarlet Knights (11-19), Destiny Adams was outstanding from the free-throw line, hitting all 13 attempts to lead with 25 points and 10 rebounds. Awa Sidibe and Mya Petticord both contributed 11 points. Rutgers made five 3-pointers and finished with 36% shooting, helped by an 8 of 14 showing in the fourth quarter where they tallied 23 points.
Nebraska displayed sharp shooting, hitting 55% of their shots, including an impressive 13 of 31 from beyond the arc by eight different players. Each of the four players who scored in double figures made two 3-pointers, with Logan Nissley also making a contribution from long range.
Markowski scored 14 of her points in the first half, including sparking a late 11-0 run in the first quarter, giving Nebraska a commanding 22-13 lead. Markowski, Prince, and Hargrove each connected from 3-point territory during this run, helping Nebraska, who averages eight three-pointers a game, to sink eight by halftime.
Rimdal and Markowski each added a second 3-pointer in the second quarter as Nebraska extended their advantage to 39-24. The Cornhuskers continued their long-range barrage early in the second half and closed the third quarter with an eight-point run, establishing a 61-37 lead.
