Remembering a former Nebraska offensive lineman who died in an automobile accident.
A former Cornhusker offensive lineman was killed in a car accident this weekend. The Polk County Sheriff’s Office pronounced Cole Pensick deceased on Saturday morning.
Pensick played inside offensive line at Nebraska from 2009 to 2013. He was named second-team All-Big Ten center in 2013, when the Huskers went 9-4 (5-3).
The Lincoln, Nebraska native appeared in all 13 games that season, starting 12, 11 at center and one at guard. Pensick was one of two in-state prospects and the first athlete to commit to Nebraska’s 2009 recruiting class.
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Rutgers women’s basketball seeks to get over the league hump with a road victory over Nebraska.
The Rutgers women’s basketball team will travel to Lincoln, Nebraska, to play Nebraska at the Pinnacle Bank Arena on Saturday. The Scarlet Knights (6-17, 0-10) are aiming to break their 12-game losing skid.
The Cornhuskers (14-7, 6-4) will enter the contest with a 5-4 record over their last nine games. They are presently ranked sixth in the Big Ten, eight positions ahead of last-place Rutgers.
Nebraska has the highest combined team rebounds per game (RPG) in the conference at 42.5. With an average of 37.7 team RPG, the Knights are only slightly behind the Cornhuskers and rank fifth in the conference. Expect both teams to compete on the boards.
Nebraska’s defense is outstanding, allowing opponents to score only 62.8 points per game (PPG), ranking fourth in the Big Ten. If Rutgers wants to win, it must mount a balanced offensive effort.
Alexis Markowski is a player to keep an eye on for the Cornhuskers, averaging a team-high 16.6 points and 10.4 rebounds. The 6-foot-3 center and forward has scored the sixth most points in the Big Ten and leads the conference in RPG. She also leads the conference in offensive RPG, averaging 3.1 per game for the Huskers. The Knights must keep Markowski down low and off the offensive glass, as she is a strong force in the paint.
Jaz Shelley is another Cornhusker worth keeping an eye on. The Australian graduate student guard trails Markowski in scoring (12.3 PPG) but leads Nebraska in steals. Shelley’s playmaking ability has given the Cornhuskers a significant advantage, as she leads the club with 5.2 assists per game.
If Rutgers is to win its first game in over two months, it must start each half strong and keep its foot on the accelerator for the entire 40 minutes.
In their last two losses, the Knights have struggled in both the first and third quarters. Just last week, Wisconsin defeated Rutgers 22-3 in the first quarter. In Rutgers’ most recent loss, Michigan State outscored them 25-11 in the third quarter.
These extended scoring droughts can rapidly knock any team out of a game, especially with sophomore guard Kaylene Smikle likely out again due to injury and sophomore guard Mya Petticord’s status uncertain after sitting on the bench against the Spartans (16-5, 6-4).
The Knights must start strong and avoid the offensive dry periods they’ve had all season. It will also be critical for Rutgers to slow the ball on offense, preventing opponents from scoring off turnovers.
The Knights are still looking for their first conference win of the season and will attempt to finally get the monkey off their back on Saturday at 3 p.m. versus Nebraska. The game will be on Big Ten Plus and 88.7 WRSU-FM.
