CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) — Jaz Shelley scored 26 points, Isabelle Bourne had a double-double and Nebraska raced to a 90-57 win over No. 25 Illinois on Wednesday night.
The Cornhuskers shot 59% (36 of 61), had a 44-24 rebounding advantage and outscored the Illini 46-18 inside to avenge a 72-64 loss in the first meeting that started a four-game losing streak they just snapped.
Bourne had 16 points and 11 rebounds for the Cornhuskers (15-13, 7-10 Big Ten Conference). Sam Haiby added 12 points and Alex Markowski and Maddie Krull had 11 each.
Makira Cook scored 16 points for the Illini (20-8, 10-7) and Genesis Bryant and Adalia McKenzie added 10 each.
The Illini were without two frequent starters because of injury, the team announced shortly before tipoff. Sophomores Jayla Oden (hand) and Brynn Shoup-Hill (foot) have combined to start 40 games for Illinois this season.
Markowski made a layup with 33 seconds to go and Haiby hit a buzzer-beating floater to give Nebraska a 26-23 lead after one quarter. Bourne made three straight layups to start an 8-0 run in the middle of the second quarter to put the Cornhuskers on top and Haiby hit another buzzer shot for a 45-35 lead at the break.
Nebraska shot 69% in the first quarter to 59% for the Illini but the Cornhuskers hardly cooled off while Illinois finished the game at 23%.
The Huskers spoiled senior night for Illinois, as the team honored Geovana Lopes and Jada Peebles before the start of the game.
Head coach Shauna Green spoke about the two seniors afterward.
“They’ve been great for us. I appreciate them, and they’ve grown. They’ve both grown as players, they’ve grown as people, even in my short time here,” Green said. “It’s been fun to watch, and we’re just very grateful for them.
Illinois closes the regular season at Rutgers on Sunday when Nebraska is home against Northwestern.
Illinois Newsroom’s Brian Moline contributed reporting to this story.
NEBRASKA (15-13)
Bourne 8-13 0-0 16, Markowski 5-8 1-2 11, Haiby 5-10 2-2 12, Krull 5-9 0-0 11, Shelley 8-14 4-4 26, Coley 2-2 0-0 6, Mendelson 0-1 1-2 1, Stewart 2-2 0-0 4, Hake 1-1 0-0 3, Moriarty 0-1 0-0 0, Totals 36-61 8-10 90
ILLINOIS (20-8)
Bostic 4-6 0-0 8, Bryant 3-15 2-2 10, Cook 6-20 1-2 16, McKenzie 4-12 2-2 10, Peebles 3-8 0-0 7, Dewey 0-0 0-0 0, Lopes 1-2 0-0 2, Taponen 1-2 0-1 2, Rhodes 1-2 0-0 2, Totals 23-67 5-7 57
| Nebraska | 26 | 19 | 23 | 22 | — | 90 |
| Illinois | 23 | 12 | 12 | 10 | — | 57 |
3-Point Goals: Nebraska 10-24 (Bourne 0-4, Haiby 0-1, Krull 1-4, Shelley 6-11, Coley 2-2, Hake 1-1, Moriarty 0-1), Illinois 6-26 (Bryant 2-12, Cook 3-8, McKenzie 0-1, Peebles 1-5). Assists: Nebraska 16 (Shelley 6), Illinois 12 (Cook 5). Fouled Out: None. Rebounds: Nebraska 44 (Bourne 13), Illinois 24 (McKenzie 4). Total Fouls: Nebraska 11, Illinois 12. Technical Fouls: None. A: 3,547.
