Senior forward Brenna Wise will play in her final regular season home game Thursday when No. 22 IU women’s basketball goes for a season sweep of Nebraska.
The Hoosiers defeated the Huskers 57-53 on Feb. 9. A senior night victory at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall would be the first time in four seasons that the Hoosiers won both regular season games.
IU is undefeated against Nebraska since Wise’s arrival to Bloomington. Wise transferred from the University of Pittsburgh in 2017 and is in her second season with IU. She has averaged 10.3 points and 6.4 rebounds per game in her two years wearing cream and crimson.
The Hoosiers won the only match between the two teams last season 82-78. Wise scored just four points, but her four rebounds and tight defense kept all but one of Nebraska’s forwards below double digits.
Wise put up 10 points in the road win against the Huskers on Feb. 9. Her 3-point shooting and rebounding were key for the Hoosiers and will be important factors Thursday.
During Wise's college career, IU is 42-20. She guided the program to its sixth ever tournament appearance last season and is on track to lead IU to another appearance this year. Wise has also helped IU win the most regular games in its history this season and brought its ranking as high as No. 12.
The Hoosier senior will play a key role in guarding Huskers’ sophomore forward Leigha Brown and junior center Kate Cain.
Brown averages just under 14 points per game. She uses her height to box out defenders, secure rebounds and draws fouls. The Hoosier defense prevented her from contributing in the first game between these teams and seeks to do the same Thursday.
Cain led Nebraska with 12 points in the team’s home loss to IU. She averages more than three blocked shots per game and will challenge Wise, sophomore forward Aleksa Gulbe and freshman forward Mackenzie Holmes in the paint.
Outside of Wise, IU will likely see high contributions from junior guard Ali Patberg and sophomore guard Grace Berger.
Patberg scored 29 points Feb. 22 against Minnesota and tallied 10 in the last game with Nebraska. Combined with her drives to the basket and ability to make contested shots, Patberg joins Wise as a key asset in the final home game of the season.
Berger scored the Hoosiers’ lone basket in the fourth quarter against the Huskers. She beat her defender off the dribble and hit a layup from the right side of the basket that gave IU the lead with roughly 30 seconds left.
The sophomore scored 14 second-half points in IU’s recent victory over Minnesota and will have a challenging night against a team that keeps opponents to 37% shooting.
