No. 22 Maryland women’s basketball at Nebraska preview

Maryland women’s basketball’s road trip got off to an ideal start when it upset Michigan State on the road, ending a four-game losing streak. 

The Terps will try and turn that into a winning streak in Lincoln when they visit Nebraska on Saturday afternoon. The game will tip at 2 p.m. EST and be broadcast on Big Ten Plus.

Nebraska Cornhuskers (16-7, 5-7 Big Ten)

Led by ninth-year head coachAmy Williams, Nebraska rattled off 12 straight wins to start its season thanks to a relatively weak non-conference schedule in which it handled business well enough to go undefeated.

As is common in the Big Ten, once conference play started, it was a different story for the Huskers. They have been a streaky team, capable of handling the conference’s lesser teams but falling against the teams at the top of the standings. Coming into the contest against Maryland, they have lost two straight to No. 9 Ohio State and No. 8 Michigan.

Players to watch

Britt Prince, sophomore guard, 5-foot-11, No. 23 – After an impressive freshman year, in which Prince earned all-conference honors, she has only raised her level during her second season in Lincoln. A dynamic scorer from multiple levels, Prince is averaging 18 points per game — good for ninth in the conference — and will be Maryland’s primary focus. She had 13 points when the Huskers upset Maryland in College Park last year.

Amiah Hargrove, sophomore forward, 6-foot-2, No. 33 – Unlike Prince, Hargrove was not a major contributor her freshman year, coming off the bench and averaging less than five points per game. But she has also taken a massive leap and is now one of the team’s biggest threats. Hargrove averages 13 points and six boards as a game as a stretch forward, giving the team both size and spacing. She shoots 42.6% from beyond the arc.

Callin Hake, senior guard, 5-foot-8, No. 14 – Hake starts in the back court alongside Prince as a veteran do-it-all leader for the Cornhuskers. She averages eight points, almost four assists and over one steal per game. She’s also a threat from 3-point range, where she’s just under 40% on the season.

Strength

Causing and avoiding turnovers. Nebraska has a turnover margin above five, putting it in the top 35 nationally in that category. It forces its opponents into over 18 giveaways per game, but perhaps more importantly, averages just 13.7 itself. This could be an advantage against the Terps, who rely on creating offense in transition and can be prone to bunches of turnovers.

Weakness

Defense. The Cornhuskers have not been a particularly successful defensive team this season, particularly since the start of conference play. Against the Big Ten, they’ve allowed roughly 77 points per game. Maryland should have exploitable 1-on-1 matchups in Lincoln.

Three things to watch

1. Familiar face. Nebraska junior Emily Fisher spent her first two years at Maryland, where she was primarily a reserve guard despite showing flashes of potential. Unfortunately for Fisher, she has had a similar role after transferring to Nebraska, appearing in just 15 games for an average of seven minutes per game.

2. Can Maryland get revenge? Maryland losing by 20 points on its home floor to the Huskers was the low point of its season last year. The Terps get the opportunity to return the favor in Lincoln in a game they need to regain winning momentum. 

3. Walker’s usage. Kyndal Walker made a huge impact against Michigan State, scoring 12 points off the bench while starting point guard Addi Mack struggled and went scoreless. It is unlikely Frese would change her starting lineup, but Walker could have an opportunity to seize a larger role against the Huskers.