Nebraska pulled off a stunning upset in the Big Ten Women’s Basketball Tournament, defeating Illinois 72-65 in a tightly contested matchup on Friday night. The Cornhuskers, seeded lower than the Fighting Illini, delivered a gritty performance to advance to the next round.
Led by a standout performance from guard Jaz Shelley, Nebraska capitalized on a strong second-half surge to erase a halftime deficit. Shelley finished with 21 points, six assists, and four rebounds, proving instrumental in the Cornhuskers’ comeback. Forward Alexis Markowski also dominated in the paint, adding 18 points and 12 rebounds to secure a double-double.
Illinois, which entered the game as the favorite, started strong behind Makira Cook’s sharp shooting. Cook tallied 19 points, but the Illini struggled with Nebraska’s defensive adjustments in the second half. The Cornhuskers ramped up their pressure, forcing Illinois into crucial turnovers down the stretch.
Nebraska’s turning point came midway through the fourth quarter when an 8-0 run gave them the lead for good. A pair of three-pointers from Shelley and a key block by Markowski helped seal the victory. The Cornhuskers also dominated the rebounding battle, outrebounding Illinois 38-30.
“We believed in ourselves,” Shelley said after the game. “We knew if we executed our game plan and stayed aggressive, we could pull this off.”
With the win, Nebraska moves on to face a higher-seeded opponent in the next round, hoping to continue their Cinderella run. Meanwhile, Illinois’ tournament hopes take a significant hit as they await their NCAA Tournament fate.
Nebraska’s upset adds another layer of excitement to the Big Ten Tournament, proving that anything can happen in March.