The Husker women are looking to keep pace with the men and win their 11th game of the season. Early in her tenure, Amy Williams was a defense-first coach but it has been easy to see a change in philosophy
in the two or three recent seasons toward more offensive production and pace. Her penchant for playing everyone on the roster has helped push pace and keep players fresh.
Now, she has the scorers to keep the fireworks going all 40 minutes.
If last season’s team was known for fourth quarter comebacks, this season’s team seems determined score early and often so that they don’t need late game heroics.
Nebraska Cornhuskers (24/RV) vs. Illinois State Redbirds
Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, 11 a.m. (CT)
Lincoln, Nebraska (Pinnacle Bank Arena)
Tickets: Huskers.com / 1-800-8-BIG-RED
Live Video: B1G+
Live Radio: Huskers Radio Network (10:30 a.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)
Scouting the Illinois State Redbirds
Illinois State is a strong defensive team that is holding its opposition to just 64.1 points through 10 games. Redbird foes are shooting just 40.3 percent from the field and 27.1 percent from three-point range. No ISU opponent has scored more than 76 points.
Illinois State comes to Lincoln following a 64-46 win over Eastern Illinois (Dec. 7) that snapped a four-game Redbird losing streak. The stretch included losses to Northern Iowa, Wake Forest, East Carolina and Rice. ISU’s other loss this season came with a 75-65 setback at Illinois (Nov. 9). The Redbirds own wins over Dayton, Chicago State, Loyola Chicago and Saint Louis.
Illinois State features sophomore Doneelah Washington from Lincoln. The 6-1 forward out of Northeast High School is averaging 12.9 points and a team-best 9.3 rebounds per game to go along with team bests of 15 blocks and 24 steals. Redshirt senior Addison Martin has joined Washington in the starting five for all 10 games, while leading the Redbirds with 14.2 points per game.
Trista Fayta gives the Redbirds three players who have started all 10 games this season.The 5-8 sophomore from Green Bay, Wis., is averaging 11.4 points, 4.1 rebounds and a team-best 5.6 assists. Senior Bella Finnegan has contributed 6.8 points and 2.5 rebounds, while leading ISU with 16 threes. Jaeden Pratt rounds out Illinois State’s probable starting five. The 5-10 freshman from Ankeny, Iowa, is averaging 6.3 points and 4.4 rebounds, while shooting 47.7 percent from the field, 35.3 percent from three-point range and 83.3 percent at the free throw line.
NET 12 Nebraska Cornhuskers (10-0, 1-0 Big Ten)
4 – Petra Bozan – 6-3 – So. – F – 8.9 ppg, 4.3 rpg
12 – Jessica Petrie – 6-2 – Jr. – F – 12.2 ppg, 5.5 rpg
1 – Hailey Weaver – 6-0 – Gr. – G – 4.5 ppg, 2.6 rpg
14 – Callin Hake – 5-8 – Sr. – G – 8.9 ppg, 2.8 rpg
23 – Britt Prince – 5-11 – So. – G – 19.9 ppg, 3.4 rpg
Off the Bench
33 – Amiah Hargrove – 6-2 – So. – F – 12.3 ppg, 6.6 rpg
21 – Eliza Maupin – 6-3 – Sr. – F – 8.1 ppg, 3.9 rpg
2 – Logan Nissley – 6-0 – Jr. – G – 7.6 ppg, 2.8 rpg
5 – Claire Johnson – 5-9 – So. – G – 6.0 ppg, 1.6 rpg
15 – Kennadi Williams – 5-4 – RFr. – G – 2.9 ppg, 0.8 rpg
34 – Emily Fisher – 6-0 – Jr. – G/F – 2.2 ppg, 2.2 rpg
00 – Alanna Neale – 5-10 – Fr. – G – 1.7 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 (168-123); 19th Season Overall (361-232)
Illinois State Redbirds (5-5, 0-1 Missouri Valley)
22 – Doneelah Washington – 6-1 – So. – F – 12.9 ppg, 9.3 rpg
24 – Addison Martin – 6-1 – RSr. – F – 14.2 ppg, 6.4 rpg
3 – Trista Fayta – 5-8 – So. – G – 11.4 ppg, 4.1 rpg
4 – Jaeden Pratt – 5-10 – Fr. – G – 6.3 ppg, 4.4 rpg
33 – Bella Finnegan – 6-0 – Sr. – G – 6.8 ppg, 2.5 rpg
Off the Bench
21 – Nevaeh Thomas – 6-1 – Jr. – F – 11.5 ppg, 6.0 rpg
11 – Kya Hurt – 5-8 – Fr. – G – 8.8 ppg, 2.2 rpg
32 – Zanyra Adams – 5-9 – RSo. – G – 3.8 ppg, 1.8 rpg
23 – Grace Nelson – 5-10 – RFr. – G – 1.5 ppg, 0.8 rpg
8 – Madison Austin – 6-3 – Fr. – F – 1.4 ppg, 1.3 rpg
12 – Jordan Fenske – 5-11 – Fr. – G – 1.0 ppg, 1.0 rpg
5 – Morgan Bruno – 5-11 – So. – G – 0.0 ppg, 0.0 rpg
2 – De’Shawnti Thomas – 5-10 – RSr. – G/F – 0.0 ppg, 1.2 rpg
Head Coach: Kristen Gillespie (NC State, 1999) Ninth Season at Illinois State (162-100); 15th Season Overall (267-165)
As a team, NU ranks ninth nationally in scoring offense (90.3 ppg), while ranking third in field goal percentage (.530) and 10th in scoring margin (32.3 ppg).
NU ranks fourth nationally in assists per game (21.9 apg) and sixth in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.71). Two Huskers rank in the top 60 nationally in assist-to-turnover – Callin Hake (20th, 3.00) and Britt Prince (59th, 2.21) – but do not lead the team in that category. Redshirt freshman Kennadi Williams leads the Huskers with 28 assists-to-5 turnovers (5.60) but is two assists shy of making the national minimum of 3.0 assists per game. Williams has dished out 12 assists with no turnovers over the last three games. UConn’s KK Arnold (4.88) and TCU’s Maddie Scherr (4.88) officially lead the nation in assist-to-turnover ratio.
Nebraska vs. Illinois State Series History
Sunday’s game between Nebraska and Illinois State will be just the second meeting in history between the two schools. The Huskers won 79-70 in the season opener at Redbird Arena in Normal, Ill., on Nov. 22, 1996. Nebraska Head Coach Amy Williams (Gusso) played in the game against the Redbirds. The game was the first of a nine-game, season-opening win streak for the 1996-97 Huskers that included a 73-67 win over No. 9 Iowa in the Big Kona Classic. NU started that season 16-1 overall.
Jill’s Thoughts and Prediction
I expect the Huskers to follow their recent pattern in playing a closer first quarter than expected before they figure out the Redbirds’ defense and start to put the pedal to the metal. No one has scored more than 76 against the Redbirds, but the Huskers should get that mark, especially after their depth takes over and Illinois State is the more tired team in the second half.
Nebraska 91 Illinois State 68
