Monday Afternoon Sports – UNK Men Facing Lincoln, Husker Freshmen Earn Conference Awards Again, Lopers Named to All-Academic Team, Super Bowl Matchup Set, Local Sports Schedule

UNK MEN HOST LINCOLN IN MAKEUP GAME:

UNK (7-12, 3-10) hosts Lincoln today in a game that was postponed in early January due to COVID issues within the Blue Tigers (1-15, 0-3) program.

The contest between the Tigers and Lopers tipped-off from the Health and Sports Center at 3 PM.

AWARDS ROLL IN AGAIN FOR MARKOWSKI, McGOWENS:

Two standout Husker freshmen have once again claimed Big Ten honors this week. 

Nebraska’s Alexis Markowski captured her fifth Big Ten Freshman-of-the-Week award and after a pair of 20-point efforts, Bryce McGowens was named Big Ten Freshman of the Week.

Markowski capped another strong week with a game-high 23 points to go along with seven rebounds, a career-high two assists, two steals and a blocked shot in Nebraska’s 81-66 victory over Purdue on Sunday afternoon. She opened the week with team highs of 15 points and eight rebounds in Nebraska’s 77-33 run past Wisconsin on Thursday.

In addition to her freshman award, Markowski was also named to the Big Ten Weekly Honor Roll for the first time in her career.

McGowens averaged 26.0 points and 5.0 rebounds per game in two games last week. McGowens enters Tuesday’s game at Michigan (8 p.m. CT on BTN and Huskers Radio Network) averaging 16.7 points per game which is second nationally among all true freshmen.

SEVEN LOPERS NAMED TO CROSS COUNTRY ALL-ACADEMIC:

The Nebraska-Kearney cross country team has four women and three men on the 2021 U.S. Track & Field/Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) All-Academic team.

In order to qualify for All-Academic distinction, a student-athlete must have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.25 on a 4.0 scale and finish in the top-30 percent of their respective regional championship meet, among other qualifiers.

Those earning All-Academic Honors include: Ben Arens of Ainsworth, Luke Stuckey of McCool-Junction, Justin Vrooman of Juniata, Grace Bonsall of Kearney, Elizabeth Polk of Polk, Hannah Pollan of Elkhorn, and Destiny Reinke of Imperial.

SUPER BOWL MATCHUP SET IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA:

The Rams will play the Cincinnati Bengals in Super Bowl LVI. For the second consecutive season, a team will be hosting a Super Bowl matchup in their home stadium — the Tampa Bay Buccaneers won the Super Bowl last year on home turf.

The Bengals advanced to the Super Bowl following their 27-24 overtime victory over the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship game Sunday. It marks the Bengals’ first Super Bowl appearance since the 1988 season

The Rams defeated the 49ers 20-17 in the NFC championship game at SoFi Stadium to reach their first Super Bowl since the 2018 season. The Rams’ victory ended their six-game losing streak to the rival 49ers.

The game will be broadcast by NBC on Sunday, February 13. 

FORMER HUSKER TAYLOR LEADS BENGALS TO UPSET IN ARROWHEAD:

Two years ago, the Cincinnati Bengals were the NFL’s worst team. Now they’re headed to the Super Bowl to play the Los Angeles Rams – in the Rams’ home stadium.

Former Nebraska Cornhusker quarterback Zac Taylor – who’s last Big 12 contest was played at Arrowhead Stadium – led the Bengals to the upset win over the Kansas City Chiefs. 

The Bengals rallied from an 18-point hole to stun Kansas City 27-24 in overtime Sunday for their first trip to the big game since the 1988 season. 

HUSKER WOMEN BEAT DOWN PURDUE:

Alexis Markowski scored 20 of her game-high 23 points in the second half to help Nebraska build a 22-point lead on its way to an 81-66 women’s basketball win in front of nearly 5,000 fans on Sunday afternoon at Pinnacle Bank Arena.

Fellow freshman Allison Weidner scored all of her career-high 14 points in the first half to help the Huskers take a 35-23 halftime lead that Purdue was unable to cut to single digits the rest of the way. Nebraska improved to 15-4 overall and 4-4 in the Big Ten with its second straight victory, while Purdue slipped to 13-8 overall and 4-6 in the conference.

Nebraska’s victory marked its 100th women’s basketball win inside Pinnacle Bank Arena since opening the building with a victory over UCLA on Nov. 8, 2013. The Huskers improved to 11-1 at home in 2021-22.

The Huskers continue their four-game Big Ten home stand on Tuesday when they play host to Rutgers. Tip-off between the Big Red and the Scarlet Knights at Pinnacle Bank Arena is set for 7 p.m.

HUSKER VOLLEYBALL NABS PENN STATE TRANSFER:

The Nebraska volleyball team added a talented transfer Sunday, when four-time All-America middle blocker Kaitlyn Hord announced that she will play her final season with the Huskers.

Hord earned All-America recognition each of her four seasons at Penn State, including first-team honors in 2019, second-team accolades in 2021 and third-team recognition in 2020. She was an honorable-mention All-American as a freshman in 2018.

Hord has one year of eligibility remaining after the NCAA granted all student-athletes an extra season of eligibility due to the global pandemic. She will join the Nebraska program this summer, and Head Coach John Cook says Hord is a great addition for the Huskers not only because of her talent, but because of her personality and character.

A Kentucky native, Hord totaled 1,022 kills, 522 blocks and hit .409 in her four seasons at Penn State. She ranks in the top five among all active Division I players in career hitting percentage and blocks per set (1.31).

MONDAY SPORTS NIGHTLY SCHEDULE:

On Monday’s Sports Nightly, Allison Weider will guest on the program after the Huskers Women’s Basketball win over Purdue on Sunday, while Fred Hoiberg will have a press conference previewing the Michigan contest. 

HUSKER MEN TRAVEL TO MICHIGAN ON TUESDAY:

The Nebraska men’s basketball team hits the road on Tuesday looking for its first road win of the season, as the Huskers travel to Ann Arbor for a matchup with the Michigan Wolverines. Tipoff is set for shortly after 8 p.m. (central).

The Huskers (6-15, 0-10 Big Ten) were in position for their first Big Ten win before a late Rutgers comeback allowed the Scarlet Knights to escape with a 63-61 victory Saturday night.

Michigan (10-8, 4-4 Big Ten) saw its three-game win streak snapped in an 83-67 loss to No. 10 Michigan State on Saturday.

NEBRASKA WRESTLING TO HAVE FINAL FOUR DUALS TELEVISED:

The four remaining Husker wrestling duals will be televised nationally, as Nebraska faces Michigan (Feb. 4), Penn State (Feb. 6), Illinois (Feb. 13) and Iowa (Feb. 20) all on BTN.

In addition, BTN will also air the first, second and fourth sessions of the Big Ten Wrestling Championships from Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln. The consolation and seventh-place matches in session two and three will be aired on B1G+.

NEBRASKA BOWLING FINISHES THIRD IN TEXAS:

The Nebraska bowling team finished the Prairie View Invitational in 3rd place with an 8-3 record. Full game results here.

Nebraska will be back to the lanes next week at the Columbia 300 Saints Invite in Valley, Missouri, from Feb. 4-6.

Local Results & Schedules:

THIS WEEK IN LOCAL SPORTS:

SATURDAY:

• KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
  • BOYS BASKETBALL: Centennial Conference Tournament @ GICC
    • #2 Kearney Catholic v. #1 Hastings St. Cecilia @ GICC
      • #2 Kearney Catholic 53-45 (Tournament Champions)
• UNK:
  • WOMENS BASKETBALL: v. Fort Hays State @ Health & Sports Center
    • FHSU 76-63
  • MENS BASKETBALL: v. Fort Hays State @ Health & Sports Center
    • FHSU 71-56
• HASTINGS COLLEGE:
  • MENS BASKETBALL: v. Dordt University @ Lynn Farrell Arena
    • Dordt 84-40
  • WOMENS BASKETBALL: v. Dordt University @ Lynn Farrell Arena
    • Dordt 77-34

MONDAY:

• KEARNEY HIGH:
  • N/a
• KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
  • N/a
• UNK:
  • MENS BASKETBALL: v. Lincoln (COVID Make-Up game) – 3 PM @ Health & Sports Center
• HASTINGS COLLEGE:
  • N/a

TUESDAY:

• KEARNEY HIGH:
  • SWIMMING & DIVING: Dual v. GISH – 4:30 PM @ Kearney High School
• KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
  • SWIMMING & DIVING: Dual v. GISH – 4:30 PM @ Kearney High School
• UNK:
  • N/a
• HASTINGS COLLEGE:
  • WOMENS WRESTLING: @ York College – 5 PM

WEDNESDAY:

• KEARNEY HIGH:
  • Collegiate Signing Day @ Kearney High School Auditorium – 4 PM
• KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
  • N/a
• UNK:
  • N/a
• HASTINGS COLLEGE:
  • WOMENS BASKETBALL: v. Doane – 6 PM @ Lynn Farrell Arena
  • MENS BASKETBALL: v. Doane – 7:45 PM @ Lynn Farrell Arena

THURSDAY:

• KEARNEY HIGH:
  • WRESTLING: Dual v. GISH – 7 PM @ Kearney High School
• KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
  • GIRLS BASKETBALL: @ Adams Central – 5:30 PM
• UNK:
  • WOMENS BASKETBALL: @ Central Oklahoma – 5:30 PM
  • MENS BASKETBALL: @ Central Oklahoma – 7:30 PM
• HASTINGS COLLEGE:
  • N/a

FRIDAY:

• KEARNEY HIGH:
  • GIRLS BASKETBALL: v. Grand Island – 6 PM @ Kearney High School
    • Pregame on KGFW at 5:45 PM
  • BOYS BASKETBALL: v. Grand Island – 7:45 PM @ Kearney High School
    • Pregame on KGFW at 7:30 PM
• KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
  • WRESTLING: @ Arcadia-Loup City Invite – 3 PM
• UNK:
  • M/W T&F: @ Concordia Classic, Seward, NE
  • M/W T&F: @ Husker Invite, Lincoln, NE
• HASTINGS COLLEGE:
  • M/W T&F: @ Concordia Classic, Seward, NE

SATURDAY:

• KEARNEY HIGH:
  • SWIMMING & DIVING: Kearney Invite – 9:30 AM @ Kearney High School
  • GIRLS BASKETBALL: @ Omaha South – 5:30 PM
    • Pregame on KGFW at 5:15 PM
  • BOYS BASKETBALL: @ Omaha South – 7:15 PM
    • Pregame on KGFW at 7 PM
• KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
  • SWIMMING & DIVING: Kearney Invite – 9:30 AM @ Kearney High School
  • GIRLS BASKETBALL: @ Columbus Scotus – 2 PM
  • BOYS BASKETBALL: @ Columbus Scotus – 4 PM
• UNK:
  • M/W T&F: @ Husker Invite, Lincoln, NE
  • WOMENS TENNIS: @ Drake, Des Moines, IA
  • WOMENS BASKETBALL: @ Newman – 1:30 PM
  • MENS BASKETBALL: @ Newman – 3:30 PM
• HASTINGS COLLEGE:
  • MENS WRESTLING: @ Missouri Valley Open
  • WOMENS WRESTLING: @ Grand View Open
  • SOFTBALL: Doubleheader @ Ottawa University
  • M/W TENNIS: @ Bethany College
  • WOMENS BASKETBALL: @ Mount Marty University – 2 PM