Thursday Morning Sports – Husker Women’s Slow Start Forces Loss to Michigan, KHS Basketball Heads to Lincoln for HAC, Nebraska Men Host Iowa, Feist to Retire, Bowl Game Recap & Schedule, Local Sports Schedule

HUSKER WOMEN’S SLOW START FORCE LOSS TO WOLVERINES:

Nebraska’s Jaz Shelley scored a game-high 21 points, but the Huskers could not overcome an ice-cold first quarter in a 76-59 loss to No. 14 Michigan in front of 8,150 women’s basketball fans at Pinnacle Bank Arena on Wednesday night. 

Michigan opened the game with a 9-0 run and pushed the margin to 15 points late in the first quarter. The Huskers put up their fewest first-quarter points since the advent of the quarter system, trailing 19-5 at the end of 10 minutes after going just 2-for-13 from the field.

The slow start was instrumental in ending Nebraska’s five-game winning streak that included wins over No. 20 Maryland (Dec. 4) and No. 20 Kansas (Dec. 21). The Huskers slipped to 10-4 overall and 2-1 in the Big Ten, while the No. 14 Wolverines improved to 12-1 overall and 2-0 in the conference.

The Huskers will play their third consecutive game and sixth this season against a top-20 opponent when they travel to Bloomington to take on No. 4 Indiana on Sunday, Jan. 1. Tip-off between Nebraska and the unbeaten Hoosiers is set for noon. KGFW will broadcast the contest on New Year’s Day.

BEARCAT BASKETBALL SWEEPS FREMONT; HEADS TO LINCOLN FOR HAC 2nd ROUND:

The Kearney basketball teams held their higher ranking proudly over Fremont on Wednesday afternoon, sweeping the Tigers in the first round of the HAC Tournament at Kearney High School. 

With a 70-36 win inspired by Tatum Rusher’s 25 points, the Kearney girls improved to 5-2 on the year and take on #3 Lincoln Southwest at 2 PM today in the capital city. 

The Kearney boys erupted for three consecutive quarters of 21 or more points, downing Fremont 87-51. Now 7-1, the Bearcats travel to #3 Lincoln High for a rematch with the Links whom Kearney downed 56-50 back on Dec. 9. 

Pregame of the boys contest from Lincoln High begins at 3:30 PM with tip-off set for 3:45. Listen to the contest on 1340 KGFW, 96.1 FM, on the free KGFW mobile app, and online at KGFW.com with Austin Jacobsen on the call. 

HUSKER MEN HOST HAWKEYES:

Nebraska resumes Big Ten Conference action as the Huskers welcome the Iowa Hawkeyes to Pinnacle Bank Arena.  Tipoff is set for 6 p.m.

Nebraska (7-6, 0-2 Big Ten) used a strong start and a balanced attack in posting a 75-65 win over Queens on Dec. 20 as part of the Battle in the Vault.

Nebraska features a balanced attack with six players averaging at least 9.4 points per game, including three players in double figures.

Iowa (8-4, 0-1 Big Ten) has been off since a stunning 93-82 loss to Eastern Illinois on Dec. 21. The Hawkeyes were short-handed, as they were without starters Kris Murray and Connor McCaffery because of injuries.

Hear the game on KGFW at the conclusion of the Kearney High Boys Basketball broadcast.

FEIST SET TO RETIRE FROM FOOTBALL; WILL NOT RETURN TO HUSKERS:

One of the key contributors on Nebraska’s defensive line in 2022 announced Wednesday that he’s moving on from football. 

Defensive lineman Colton Feist announced in a social media post on Wednesday that he wouldn’t be returning to football next season. 

Feist started all 12 games along the defensive line for Nebraska in 2022. Feist, who joined the program as a walk-on, finished with 46 tackles, 7.0 for loss, half a sack and one pass breakup. The Yutan native also earned a Blackshirt at the start of the season. 

Prior to the end of the season, Feist said he would have a decision to make about whether he intended to take advantage of another year of eligibility. 

Feist is the latest defensive player to announce they won’t be returning to Nebraska in 2023. Edge rusher Garrett Nelson announced Tuesday he was pursuing a professional career and wouldn’t return. Ochaun Mathis and Ernest Hausmann also are among the defensive contributors who won’t return for the Big Red next season. 

NCAA BOWL GAME SCORES/SCHEDULE:

WEDNESDAY:

Military Bowl: Duke 30-13 UCF

Liberty Bowl: Arkansas 55-53 Kansas (OT)

Holiday Bowl: No. 15 Oregon 28-27 North Carolina

Texas Bowl: Texas Tech 42-25 Ole Miss

THURSDAY:

Pinstripe Bowl: Syracuse v. Minnesota – 1 PM

Cheez-It Bowl: Oklahoma v. No. 13 Florida State – 4:30 PM

Alamo Bowl: No. 21 Texas v. No. 12 Washington – 8 PM

NFL SCORES/SCHEDULES:

THURSDAY:

Dallas Cowboys @ Tennessee Titans – 7:15 PM (Amazon Prime)

Local Results & Schedules:

THIS WEEK IN LOCAL SPORTS:

WEDNESDAY:

• KEARNEY HIGH:
  • Girls Basketball: Heartland Athletic Conference Tournament @ Kearney High School:
    • #6 KHS 70-36 #11 Fremont
  • Boys Basketball: Heartland Athletic Conference Tournament @ Kearney High School:
    • #6 KHS 87-51 #11 Fremont

THURSDAY:

• KEARNEY HIGH:
  • Girls Basketball: Heartland Athletic Conference Tournament
    • #6 Kearney @ #3 Lincoln Southwest – 2 PM
  • Boys Basketball: Heartland Athletic Conference Tournament
    • #6 Kearney @ #3 Lincoln High – 3:45 PM
      • KGFW Pregame at 3:30 PM
• KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
  • Girls Basketball: Amherst Holiday Tournament
    • York v. Hastings St. Cecilia – 1:30 PM
    • Amherst v. Kearney Catholic – 4:45 PM
  • Boys Basketball: Amherst Holiday Tournament
    • York v. Hastings St. Cecilia – 3 PM
    • Amherst v. Kearney Catholic – 6:30 PM
• UNK:
  • N/a
• KGFW Sports Schedule:
  • Kearney Girls Basketball v. TBA (TBD)
  • Kearney Boys Basketball v. TBA (TBD)
  • Nebraska Men’s Basketball v. Iowa (5 PM – 8:45 PM)

FRIDAY:

• KEARNEY HIGH:
  • Girls Basketball: Heartland Athletic Conference Tournament Semifinal @ Lincoln North Star
    • #6 Kearney v. TBA
  • Boys Basketball: Heartland Athletic Conference Tournament @ Lincoln East
    • #6 Kearney v. TBA
• KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
  • Girls Basketball: Amherst Holiday Tournament
    • TBD (Consolation 11 AM / Final 2 PM)
  • Boys Basketball: Amherst Holiday Tournament
    • TBD (Consolation 12:30 PM / Final 3:30 PM)
• UNK:
  • N/a
• KGFW Sports Schedule:
  • Kearney Girls Basketball v. TBA (TBD)
  • Kearney Boys Basketball v. TBA (TBD)
  • Sports Nightly (6 PM – 8 PM)

SATURDAY:

• KEARNEY HIGH:
  • Girls Basketball: Heartland Athletic Conference Tournament Final @ Lincoln North Star
    • #6 Kearney v. TBA
  • Boys Basketball: Heartland Athletic Conference Tournament @ Lincoln East
    • #6 Kearney v. TBA
• KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
  • N/a
• UNK:
  • Women’s Basketball: @ Lincoln University – 1 PM
  • Men’s Basketball: @ Lincoln University – 3 PM
• KGFW Sports Schedule:
  • Kearney Girls Basketball v. TBA (TBD)
  • Kearney Boys Basketball v. TBA (TBD)

SUNDAY:

• KEARNEY HIGH:
  • N/a
• KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
  • N/a
• UNK:
  • N/a
• KGFW Sports Schedule:
  • Nebraska Women’s Basketball @ Indiana (12 PM – 3 PM)