Huskers Climb into AP Top 25
Lincoln - The Nebraska women's basketball team jumped into The Associated Press Top 25 on Monday following a 98-35 win over 2026 NCAA Tournament qualifier Western Illinois at Pinnacle Bank Arena Saturday.
Nebraska, which improved to 2-0 with the victory, got a game-high 19 points in just 20 minutes from Naismith Trophy Preseason Player of the Year candidate Britt Prince to lead five Huskers in double figures against the Leathernecks.
Through two games, Prince is averaging 21.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 2.5 steals for the Huskers, while fellow junior Amiah Hargrove has added 16.0 points and a team-best 8.5 rebounds.
Forwards Natalie Potts (11.5 ppg, 5.0 rpg) and Ashlyn Koupal (11.5 ppg, 3.5 rpg) give the Huskers four players averaging in double figures early in the season, while Emily Fisher (8.5 ppg, 4.5 rpg) and Allison Weidner (7.5 ppg, 3.0 apg, 2.5 spg) have added punch to a deep Husker lineup.
Defensively, the Huskers have turned up the heat, forcing 33 turnovers by the defending Ohio Valley Conference champions from Western Illinois, who featured 2026 Mid-Major and OVC Player of the Year Mia Nicastro.
Nebraska, which earned enough votes to be 26th in the preseason poll, replaced North Carolina State at No. 25 in the first regular-season AP Poll. The Huskers spent seven consecutive weeks in the top 25 in 2025-26 before slipping out of the Jan. 26, 2026 rankings.
The Huskers are one of 10 Big Ten Conference teams in the top 25, joining No. 2 Michigan, which opened the year with a win over UConn, and No. 3 USC. Defending national champion UCLA and Iowa put four Big Ten teams in the top 10, tying for 10th, while No. 16 Washington, No. 17 Ohio State, No. 18 Minnesota, No. 19 Maryland and No. 22 Illinois are ahead of the Huskers.
Michigan State is also receiving votes.
The Huskers will be back in action on Tuesday night to complete a three-game season-opening home stand against North Carolina A&T. Head Coach Tarrell Robinson enters his 15th season at the helm for the Aggies. He has led North Carolina A&T to eight postseason tournament appearances, including a trio of NCAA Tournament bids in his tenure. The Aggies feature preseason first-team Coastal Athletic Association forward Paris Locke.
Tickets are available now at Huskers.com, including special $15 general admission seats as part of Nebraska's "We Win, You Win!" promotion. For more details, visit Huskers.com/Tickets.