3 takeaways as Nebraska women’s basketball reaches Big Ten championship game

Jaz Shelley said that she’s been practicing for March and it sure looked like it on Saturday as her 30 points sparked Nebraska women’s basketball to a third straight win and a berth in the Big Ten championship game.

The 78-68 win over Maryland clinched the first Big Ten women’s championship game berth for the Huskers since 2014. It was also another quadrant-1 win which should boost their NCAA tournament resume even more.

Right now though, the Huskers are focused on winning the Big Ten championship. Shelley said this is why she came back to Nebraska women’s basketball. “This is why,” she said. “I’m so happy.”

The entire state of Nebraska is excited and if Iowa takes care of business, the Huskers will face Caitlin Clark for the Big Ten championship. Here are three takeaways.

Jaz Shelley put the Huskers on her back

We have seen Shelley do this over and over again throughout her career. She made the game-winning shot against Iowa and made three triples in the first quarter. She finished the game with six treys and 30 points, but she also dished out nine assists, which means she scored or assisted on nearly 50 points.

When Maryland made a run in the third and fourth quarters, Shelley always seemed to have the answer. She hit an incredible floater late and also grabbed a key offensive rebound. She also didn’t miss from the free throw line and cemented her legacy as one of the best players in Nebraska women’s baskeball history.

The Huskers can shoot

I’m not sure which Nebraska basketball team shoots the ball better from beyond the arc: Fred Hoiberg’s or Amy Williams’ crew.

Nebraska women’s basketball attempted 28 triples on Saturday and made 13. Logan Nissley continues to shine as a freshman and Nebraska had six different players hit treys. It was impressive and if the Huskers are going to pull off a Big Ten championship, they need to stay hot from 3-point range.

Nebraska women’s basketball is trending up

Regardless of what happens on Sunday, Nebraska has helped its NCAA resume immensely this week. This was the second straight quadrant-1 win. Nebraska women’s baskeball was projected as a No. 9 seed heading into the weekend, but you’d have to think they will have improved their seed line, maybe up to a seven seed.

A win over Iowa would help even more, especially doing it on a neutral floor this time, but Michigan is also headed to the NCAA tournament, just like Maryland and it will be interesting to see just how much this improves the seed for Nebraska in the NCAA women’s tournament.

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