Monday’s game will be Nebraska’s first clash of the season with an AP Top 25 foe, while NET No. 23 USC has already played five games against AP Top-25 opponents this season, including No. 1 UConn and No. 2 South Carolina, along with then-No. 9 NC State, then-No. 21 Washington, and then-No. 24 Notre Dame.
One of the nation’s top offensive teams, the Huskers improved to 12-0 and produced 80 points for a school-record 12th consecutive game their last time out with an 87-56 victory over California Baptist
at PBA (Dec. 21). NU improved to 8-0 at home this season with the victory.
Nebraska Cornhuskers #20 vs USC Trojans #17
Monday, Dec. 29, 2025, 2 p.m. (CT)
Lincoln, Nebraska (Pinnacle Bank Arena)
Tickets: Huskers.com / 1-800-8-BIG-RED
Live Video: B1G+
Live Radio: Huskers Radio Network (1:30 p.m.)
Matt Coatney (PBP), Jeff Griesch (Analyst)
Lincoln (107.3 FM), Omaha (1490 AM/97.3 FM/97.7 HD3), Huskers.com, Huskers App
Live Stats: Huskers.com (statbroadcast – public)
#20 Nebraska Cornhuskers (12-0, 1-0 Big Ten)
4 – Petra Bozan – 6’3 – So. – F – 9.3 ppg, 4.4 rpg
12 – Jessica Petrie – 6’2 – Jr. – F – 12.2 ppg, 5.3 rpg
1 – Hailey Weaver – 6’0 – Gr. – G – 4.5 ppg, 2.8 rpg
14 – Callin Hake – 5’8 – Sr. – G – 8.8 ppg, 2.9 rpg
23 – Britt Prince – 5’11 – So. – G – 18.6 ppg, 3.6 rpg
Off the Bench
33 – Amiah Hargrove – 6’2 – So. – F – 12.4 ppg, 6.6 rpg
21 – Eliza Maupin – 6’3 – Sr. – F – 8.4 ppg, 4.0 rpg
2 – Logan Nissley – 6’0 – Jr. – G – 7.2 ppg, 2.8 rpg
5 – Claire Johnson – 5’9 – So. – G – 5.8 ppg, 1.5 rpg
15 – Kennadi Williams – 5’4 – RFr. – G – 3.7 ppg, 1.0 rpg
34 – Emily Fisher – 6’0 – Jr. – G/F – 1.9 ppg, 2.4 rpg
00 – Alanna Neale – 5’10 – Fr. – G – 1.3 ppg, 0.3 rpg
22 – Natalie Potts – 6’2 – RSo. – F – 0.0 ppg, 0.0 rpg
3 – Allison Weidner [Out] – 5’10 – Gr. – G – Redshirt
Head Coach: Amy Williams (Nebraska, 1998)
10th Season at Nebraska (170-123); 19th Season Overall (363-232)
#17 USC Trojans (9-3, 1-0 Big Ten)
8 – Gerda Raulusaityte – 6’3 – Jr. – F – 3.8 ppg, 3.9 rpg
9 – Jazzy Davidson – 6’1 – Fr. – G – 16.1 ppg, 6.7 rpg
10 – Malia Samuels – 5’6 – Jr. – G – 3.2 ppg, 2.7 rpg
11 – Kennedy Smith – 6’1 – So. – G – 11.3 ppg, 5.0 rpg
25 – Kara Dunn – 5’11 – Sr. – G – 12.4 ppg, 1.6 rpg
Off the Bench
3 – Londynn Jones – 5’4 – Sr. – G – 12.4 ppg, 1.6 rpg
0 – Vivian Iwuchukwu – 6’3 – So. – F – 4.1 ppg, 2.7 rpg
7 – Yakiya Milton – 6’5 – Jr. – F – 3.3 ppg, 3.5 rpg
13 – Dayana Mendes – 6’3 – So. – G/F – 2.8 ppg, 2.6 rpg
6 – Laura Williams – 6’2 – RFr. – F – 2.8 ppg, 2.6 rpg
4 – Rian Forestier – 5’11 – So. – G – 2.6 ppg, 0.9 rpg
24 – Brooklyn Shamblin – 5’9 – So. – G – 0.0 ppg, 0.7 rpg
12 – JuJu Watkins [Out] – 6’2 – Jr. – G – Redshirt
Head Coach: Lindsay Gottlieb (Brown, 1999)
Fifth Season at USC (102-39); 16th Season Overall (337-167)
Scouting the Trojans
Coach Lindsay Gottlieb has kept the Trojans in the top 25 this season despite a new-look roster that has been without JuJu Watkins, the reigning national player of the year. Watkins, who led USC to the Elite Eight and the Big Ten regular-season title last year, was injured early in a 96-59 second-round NCAA Tournament win over Mississippi State at the Galen Center in LA (March 24). Watkins averaged 23.9 points, 6.8 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 2.2 steals last season.
Sophomore Kennedy Smith adds a strong defensive identity as USC’s lone returning starter. The 6-1 guard is averaging 9.9 points and 4.3 rebounds while being a lockdown defender. Smith ranks second on the team with 1.9 steals while also ranking second with 3.5 assists. Smith’s length, athleticism and physicality can affect all five opposing offensive players, but she is hitting only 31.4 percent of her shots from the field, including just 16.3 percent (8-49) of her three-pointers. She had seven points as a starter in USC’s 75-55 win over Nebraska in LA on New Year’s Day.
Jazzy Davidson is a leading contender for national freshman-of-the-year honors. The 6-1 guard is averaging 16.8 points and 6.7 rebounds, while adding team bests of 3.7 assists, 2.5 blocks and 2.0 steals. She is a three-time Big Ten Freshman of the Week.
UCLA transfer Londynn Jones has added an explosive long range threat. The 5-4 senior ranks second on the team in scoring at 12.4 points per game primarily off the bench. She owns a team-best 21 threes (.375) while hitting a team-best 83.9 percent of her free throws. Jones had 11 points and five turnovers against the Huskers in a win for the Bruins in LA last season.
Georgia Tech transfer Kara Dunn gives the Trojans three players averaging double figures at 11.3 points and 5.0 rebounds per game. Dunn, who is USC’s most consistent long-range threat (.388), scored 22 points and hit three threes for Georgia Tech two years ago in an 80-72 loss at Pinnacle Bank Arena. Dunn’s 13-point first half at PBA included a half-court buzzer beater that gave the Yellow Jackets a 32-22 halftime lead. Dunn put up 16 points, 14 rebounds and four steals in No. 17 Tech’s win over the No. 23 Huskers in Atlanta last season.
Malia Samuels has been USC’s primary No. 4 starter, averaging 3.2 points and 2.7 rebounds. She is a solid defender and a low volume shooter. She has hit just 25 percent (3-12) of her free throws, but ranks third on the team in steals and owns USC’s second-best assist-to-turnover ratio. Samuels scored two points in 12 minutes off the bench last year against the Huskers, as one of only two active Trojans (joining Kennedy Smith) to find the scoring column in last year’s game against Nebraska.
Gerda Raulusaityte has assumed the role of fifth starter. The 6-3 forward from Lithuania has managed 3.8 points and 3.9 rebounds per game. Vivian Iwuchukwu has provided a dominant physical presence as well, especially at the defensive end. The 6-3 forward from Nigeria has split six starts in 12 games with Raulusaityte and is averaging 4.1 points and 2.7 rebounds.
Yakiya Milton (3.3 ppg, 3.5 rpg), Dayana Mendes (2.8 ppg, 2.6 rpg) and Laura Williams (2.8 ppg, 2.6 rpg) round out USC’s regular contributors.
USC is an outstanding defensive team, holding quality opposition to just 54.3 points per game on 35.2 percent shooting, including 24.2 percent from three-point range. USC foes have hit just 63.3 percent of their free throws. The Trojans have also won the battle of the boards 39.8-37.9, while owning an impressing plus-6.2 turnover margin.
Offensively, USC has managed 70.7 points per game on 41 percent field goal shooting, including 30.1 percent from long range. The Trojans have connected on just 66.5 percent of their free throws.
