Tuesday's state hoops: Nebraska tops No. 8 Michigan women, 79-58

Lincoln, Neb. — Freshman Alexis Markowski scored a season-high 20 points in her first start, and Nebraska built a big lead early and went on to a 79-58 victory over eighth-ranked Michigan on Tuesday night.

The Cornhuskers (13-1, 2-1 Big Ten) beat a top-10 opponent for the first time in seven years with a strong bounce-back from their first loss of the season at Michigan State.

Michigan stars Naz Hillmon and Leigha Brown had trouble getting going offensively against the Big Ten's top field-goal defense team. The two combined for nine points on 3-of-14 shooting in the decisive first half.

Emily Kiser led the Wolverines (12-2, 3-1) with 13 points. Hillmon, the reigning Big Ten player of the year, and Brown finished with 10 points apiece, which was a season low for Hillmon.

Nebraska led by as many as 18 late in the third quarter. Any time Michigan looked ready to pull within single digits, the Huskers had an answer. Usually it was the 6-foot-3 Markowski, who was strong in the post all night while going 7 for 10, or Jaz Shelley or Annika Stewart hitting timely 3-pointers.

Shelley had a double-double with 12 points and 12 rebounds.

When the final buzzer sounded, the Huskers rushed to midcourt and dogpiled.

Bella Cravens, who started the Huskers’ first 13 games, was in street clothes at the end of the bench because of an undisclosed injury and was replaced by Markowski.

Markowski scored the game's first basket, finished 7 for 10 and had seven rebounds while spending a large portion of the game defending Hillmon.

The Huskers held Michigan to one field goal over six minutes spanning the first and second quarters, allowing them to go on a 13-2 run and lead 23-8.

The game marked the return of Michigan's Brown to Pinnacle Bank Arena. Brown spent two years with the Huskers and was their leading scorer as a sophomore two years ago. She announced her transfer to Michigan in April 2020, saying she wanted to go to school closer to her home in Auburn, Indiana.

Brown was unable to play in last season's 64-62 win over Nebraska in Ann Arbor because she had COVID-19.

This wasn't the return she would have envisioned. She was 3 of 13 from the field and committed six of Michigan's 15 turnovers.

More men's basketball

Eastern Michigan 85, Western Michigan 79: Noah Farrakhan scored 25 points and Eastern Michigan topped Western Michigan 85-79 on Tuesday night in its first Mid-American Conference game of the season.

Bryce McBride scored 18 points for Eastern Michigan (6-6, 1-0), which snapped its six-game road losing streak. Thomas Binelli scored 11 points and Darion Spottsville scored 11 and grabbed nine rebounds.

Lamar Norman Jr. scored a career-high 34 points for the Broncos (4-10, 0-3), who have now lost four games straight. Cameron Kimble scored 10 and Titus Wright grabbed 11 rebounds.

Toledo 84, Central Michigan 54: Ryan Rollins had 21 points as Toledo easily defeated Central Michigan 82-54 on Tuesday night.

Ra'Heim Moss had 13 points for Toledo (10-4, 2-1 Mid-American Conference), which snapped its four-game road losing streak. JT Shumate added 12 points. RayJ Dennis had 10 points and six rebounds.

Kevin Miller had 14 points for the Chippewas (2-11, 1-1). Harrison Henderson added 13 points. Brian Taylor had eight rebounds.