Nebraska drops MSU women in Big Ten tourney

Minneapolis — Alexis Markowski had 22 points and 12 rebounds, Natalie Potts added 15 points and 11 rebounds and fifth-seeded Nebraska beat fourth-seeded Michigan State, 73-61, in the third round of the Big Ten Tournament on Friday.

The Cornhuskers (21-10) advance to play eighth-seeded Maryland, which defeated top seed and No. 4-ranked Ohio State, 82-61, earlier Friday. Nebraska beat Maryland 87-81 on Dec. 31.

Jaz Shelley added 17 points and seven assists and Logan Nissley scored 13 points for Nebraska.

Julia Ayrault scored 25 points, the only Spartan (22-8) in double figures on a team that had five players average double digits.

Markowski scored 12 of her 16 first-half points in the second quarter, including 10 straight, and the Cornhuskers went into the break ahead, 36-29. The lead reached 20 after Nissley connected for three straight from behind the arc and Potts added another to end the third quarter. The lead remained in double figures in the fourth quarter.

Both teams shot 44% but the Cornhuskers had a 44-30 rebounding advantage, including 18-8 on the offensive glass that led to a 17-8 edge on second-chance points.