Nebraska women's basketball prepares for Omaha matchup

NEBRASKA WOMEN vs. OMAHA WOMEN

Where: Pinnacle Bank Arena, Lincoln, Nebraska 12 p.m.

TV | Radio: BTN+ | IMG College Sports Network (107.3 FM in Lincoln, 590 AM in Omaha)

Omaha (2021-2022 statistics)

Probable starters;Ht.;Yr.;PPG

C – Elena Pilakouta;6-3;Sr.;9.8

G – Deanay Watson;5-10;Sr.;10.9*

G – Sam Mitchell;5-6;Sr.;5.9

G – Katie Keitges;5-8;Jr.;4.5

G – Grace Cave;5-7;So.;7.4

*at Southeast Missouri State

NEBRASKA (2021-2022 statistics)

Probable starters;Ht.;Yr.;PPG

C –Alexis Markowski;6-3;So.;12.8

F – Isabelle Bourne;6-2;Jr.;11.1

G – Jaz Shelley;5-9;Jr.;13.1

G – Trinity Brady;5-11;So.;N/A

G – Allison Weidner;5-10;So.;7.2

Omaha scouting report: The Mavericks return four starters from last season’s 7-19 team. Pilakouta, one of the better post players in the Summit, will have to get going on offense — and stay out of foul trouble — for Carrie Banks’ team to have a chance. It’d help, too, if Cave — a dynamic guard from Weeping Water — has a big game in PBA in front of what should be a good cheering section. Omaha lost several players to transfer in the offseason and gained Watson — a bigger, more physical guard who can defend — from SEMO. Another transfer, Aaliyah Stanley, comes from Eastern Michigan. The Mavs’ 2021-2022 weakness — 3-point shooting — will be tested against a Nebraska team that denies pretty well inside the arc. If Cave can hit three or four trios and her teammates can cumulatively add three or four of their own, Omaha may be able to hang around. Banks’ teams can defend just about anyone.

Nebraska scouting report: The Huskers will always start a game trying to feed Bourne — who can be instant offense with her quickness — and Markowski, who worked hard on her finishing moves in the offseason. From there, NU has to find a backcourt identity beyond Shelley and Weidner, a good 1-2 combo who are in need of a third player to join them. Will that be Brady, who hasn’t played in nearly two years? Will it be Maddie Krull, the South Dakota transfer who is very familiar with Omaha? The Huskers will expect more offensively this season out of their two Kendalls — Coley and Moriarty — and more defensively out of Annika Stewart, who remains a tough stretch “four” to cover because of her 3-point shooting. Omaha may not have an easy answer for her or Markowski, a gifted offensive player who shot 50% from 3 last season. A 15-to-20-point win is likely, but Nebraska may have to sweat for three quarters in front of a large youth crowd on hand for a sportsmanship rally.