A dominant victory to open the 2024-2025 season was just what the doctor ordered No. 23 Nebraska women’s basketball team on Monday afternoon against public enemy Omaha. The Huskers earned an 88-48 win, holding the Mavericks to 33.3% shooting while five Huskers scored in double figures.

Coming from an ACL tear, Allison Weidner did not hold back with 11 points. Reigning Big Ten Freshman of the Year Natalie Potts bonded returning senior Alexis Markowski with a team-high 14 points apiece while transferring Florida Petra Bozan and second-year Australian Jessica Petrie each added 12. Star recruit and Elkhorn North graduate Britt Prins scored 10 points in her Nebraska debut with a game-high five assists and a pair of steals.

The Huskers shot 57.6%, including a 5-for-15 showing from beyond the arc, while NU forced 24 turnovers but had 20 of their own. Leading 21-11 after the first quarter, a 26-4 burst in the second frame opened the floodgates for NU’s season opener.

Now Nebraska turns its attention to Saturday afternoon as it welcomes the Huskers to Southeast Louisiana. Here’s everything you need to know.

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SE Louisiana Scout

Head Coach: Ayla Guzardo | 8th season | 97-99 SLU Record | Spent one season as an assistant at SLU before taking over as head coach. Spent four seasons as an assistant coach at Akron, her alma mater.

Record year 2023-2024: 19-12 (14-4, Southland, T-2nd) | Southland Defensive Player of the Year, 1x All-Southland First Team, 1x All-Southland Defensive Team | Did not qualify for postseason play.

All-time series: Nebraska leads 2-0 (last game 2004, 82-35 NU)

Fun fact: Saturday will be only the third time the two programs will play each other and the first in twenty years. The Huskers are 2-0 in previous games with an 82-35 win on December 3, 2004 and an 83-59 win on November 25, 2000.

Main returns: Taylor Bell, G, Sr. | Cheyanne Daniels, F, Sr. | Jalencia Pierre, G, Jr. | Allasia Washington, G, Jr. | Arianna Patton, G, Sr. | Avari Berry, G, Soph. | Alexius Horne, G, Gr.

Most important additions: Lexi Alexander, F, Jr. (Nicholls) | Tyreana Sibley, G, Fr. (Recruiting) | Kaili Chamberlin, G, Sr. (States McNeese).

Key starting points: Hailey Giaratano, G (eligibility; now on coaching staff) | Kennedy Paul, F (eligibility) | Daija Harvey, G (eligibility).

Outlook: Ayla Guzzardo continues to reach new heights as Southeast Louisiana enters her eighth season as head coach following a four-year stint as an assistant at her alma mater in Akron. An 8-21 debut season in 2017-18 quickly turned into a 21-10 record and NCAA Tournament berth just two seasons ago.

Guzzardo and the Lions didn’t back down too much last year, finishing 19-12, finishing in second place in the Southland Conference and losing by one to Texas A&M-Corpus Christi in the conference tournament semifinals. Leading scorer (12.2 PPG) Hailey Giaratano was named to the All-Southland First Team for her season, but graduated and is now the program’s assistant coach and director of player development. Two others were eliminated from eligibility, but SLU’s core will return for the 2024-2025 season.

Senior guard Taylor Bell appears to be the team’s leader and she showed that with a team-high 15 points in a 79-45 win over Millsaps in the team’s season opener on Monday. She will team with Southland All-Defensive team selection Jalencia Pierre for two impact players on the front court. Additionally, Arianna Patton (Sr.) and Avari Berry (Soph.) both return at guard after playing at least 30 games last season.

Graduate guard Alexius Horne was a 2022-2023 All-Southland first-team selection but missed all of last season due to injury. She is back in the starting lineup and dropped 14 points in the season opener.

McNeese State transfer and 6-foot-4 forward Lexi Alexander was a big addition for the Lions this offseason. She was voted a preseason All-Southland pick while scoring a team-high nine points with a team-high nine rebounds in her SLU debut. Cheyanne Daniels was the third-leading scorer last season (8.6) and will assist Alexander in the Lions’ backcourt. She scored 14 points against Millsap.

Defending champion Lamar is again the favorite, but Southeastern still received five of the 24 first-place votes in the preseason poll. With tons of experience and depth returning, plus the impact addition of Alexander, this team could pack a punch if the Huskers start sleepwalking on Saturday. Don’t be surprised if you see this team in the NCAA tournament near the end of the season.

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