Late Lead Slips Away At No. 25 Nebraska

Thursday, January 8

Lincoln, Neb.

8 P.M. ET

Indiana University

11-6,0-5Big Ten

Nebraska

14-2,3-2Big Ten

Indiana

Nebraska

1/8/2026 10:27:00 PM | Women's Basketball

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LINCOLN, Neb. – Indiana women's basketball had a fourth-quarter lead but couldn't hang on as it fell at No. 25 Nebraska, 78-73, on Thursday night.

KEY MOMENTS

Sophomore forward Zania Socka-Nguemen and senior guard Shay Ciezki combined for all of IU's 20 points in the first quarter, as they went 64.3 percent from the floor to keep up with the Huskers (14-2, 3-2 B1G).
Indiana (11-6, 0-5 B1G) saw the deficit grow on an 13-2 run by Nebraska as the home team led by as many as 12 late in the second quarter. Back-to-back buckets from Ciezki and senior guard Jerni Kiaku pulled the Hoosier back within six.
After trailing 38-30 at the break, Indiana showed life late in the third as it turned a 12-point deficit into just five on a transition jumper by Ciezki with xxxx to play. IU pulled within two on a Ciezki and-1 with 2:04 to play. A 4-point play by freshman forward Maya Makalusky with 1:16 on the clock in the third pulled Indiana ahead 51-49.
It would be tied 53-all headed into the fourth period, as the lead swayed to Indiana with buckets from Ciezki and Socka-Nguemen with 5:30 to play. The Huskers used a late 7-0 run to go up 72-65 with 2:58 remaining.
Indiana came within as few as three with 1:22 to play as Nebraska was able to cling on to the lead late.

NOTABLE

Ciezki finished the night with a game-high 31 points. Her 31 points are the most in a Big Ten regular season game since MacKenzie Holmes had 33 vs. Ohio State (Feb. 21, 2023).
Socka-Nguemen had her fourth double -double of the season as she tied a season-high 19 points and 11 rebounds in her first start since late November.
Makalusky also finished in double-digits with 12 points, all scored in the second half. She connected on three 3-pointers and now has 28 makes from the arc on the season.
Indiana finished the night 50.9 percent from the floor.
Ciezki and Socka-Nguemen combined for 26 of IU's 30 points at halftime.

UP NEXT
Indiana is back at home on Sunday when it hosts No. 14 Iowa on Sunday night in a 5 p.m. ET tip on Big ten Network.

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