The Nebraska women’s basketball team got off to a slow start in its second game in Greece.
The Huskers, fresh off a 101-49 win in Athens on Tuesday, trailed for most of the opening quarter against the Patras All Stars. It was never close to a daunting deficit, but they struggled early in an exhibition game expected to be one-sided.
However, after trailing 13-19 in the first period, Nebraska closed the quarter on a 6-0 run to tie it and outscored its opponents 33-4 in the second quarter. Similar to Tuesday, the team cruised from there, winning 111-48.
After the slow beginning, Nebraska once again dominated on both ends. It hit 11 3-pointers, shooting 36.7% from beyond the arc and 48.1% overall. The Huskers also got to the free throw line often, converting 22 of 31 attempts. Defensively, they forced 29 Patras turnovers and held the opposition to 36.5% shooting on the game. All 10 available Huskers had at least one steal.
While the defense was unimpressive early, a lack of offense was key to the first quarter deficit. Fifth-year transfer guard Darian White scored Nebraska’s first five points with an and-one layup and another strong drive to the rim, but after a Kendall Coley mid-range jumper made the score 10-12 less than halfway through the quarter, the Huskers went four minutes without a made field goal. White snapped that streak with a layup, then assisted on Kendall Moriarty’s buzzer-beating three to tie the game after one quarter.
Nebraska settled in from there. White, Moriarty and Maddie Krull combined to put up 10 more unanswered points to open the second quarter. After Callin Hake’s free throw with 5:32 to go until halftime, the difference stayed in double-digits for the rest of the game,
Alexis Markowski missed her first six shots before finally converting late in the second quarter. Six of her final eight attempts went in as the junior center ended up leading the game in points and rebounds with a 19-point, 14-rebound double-double. She was one of five Huskers who scored in double figures, while three more players added nine points.
White finished the game with 15 points, crashing the glass and getting to the rim often. Four of her nine rebounds came on the offensive end, and she dished out five assists to go along with three steals. White, one of the team’s four newcomers and only transfer, showed the aggressiveness that helped her become a star at Montana State.
The two available true freshmen — forward Natalie Potts and guard Logan Nissley — once again showed flashes of what they could bring to the team this upcoming season. Nissley made just one of five 3-point attempts this game, but managed to put up nine points, six rebounds and two steals. Potts had 12 points, six rebounds, four steals and two assists. The 6-foot-2 forward got out in transition often, whether by result of her own steals or from running the floor after other Petras turnovers and missed shots.
Nebraska’s starting lineup reflected something close to what might be expected next season, featuring Jaz Shelley, White, Krull, Annika Stewart and Markowski. Of course, Allison Weidner — who isn’t available to play on this trip — started while healthy last season and will factor into that picture.
The Huskers will play one more game in Greece, this time in Crete on Monday. That game, like the others, will be played at 11 a.m. Central Time.
