Potts Takes Fifth Big Ten Freshman Award
Photo Credit: NU Athletic Communications
Nebraska's Natalie Potts captured her fifth Big Ten Freshman-of-the-Week honor of the 2023-24 season, when the conference announced its awards on Monday, Jan. 15.
Potts, a 6-2 forward from O'Fallon, Mo., averaged 9.0 points, 4.5 rebounds and 2.0 steals as Nebraska split a pair of Big Ten games last week. On Sunday at Minnesota, Potts produced her 11th double-figure scoring effort of the season with 10 points and six rebounds. In Thursday's win over Illinois, Potts had eight points, three rebounds and a season-high three steals to help the Huskers to a victory over the Fighting Illini.
On the season, Potts leads all Big Ten freshmen in both scoring (11.2 ppg) and rebounding (5.8 rpg), including 11.7 points and 6.0 rebounds in Big Ten play. She also leads the Huskers with 10 steals over six conference games (1.8 spg). The two-time Missouri High School Player of the Year also leads Nebraska in blocked shots on the season.
In addition to the award for Potts, Nebraska junior Alexis Markowski was named to the Big Ten Weekly Honor Roll for the sixth time in nine weeks this season. Markowski notched back-to-back double-doubles last week, including game highs of 17 points and 14 rebounds at Minnesota for her Big Ten-leading 11th double-double of the year. She opened the week with 14 points and 15 rebounds in Nebraska's low-scoring 56-48 win over Illinois.
For the season, Markowski leads the Big Ten in rebounding (10.2 rpg), including 12.2 boards per game through six conference contests. She also ranks fifth in the Big Ten in scoring at 17.2 points per game. She has five double-doubles in Nebraska's first six conference games, helping the Huskers to a 4-2 start in Big Ten play and a 12-5 mark overall. The 6-3 center from Lincoln is the only Big Ten player averaging a double-double on the season.
Markowski and Potts will be back in action at Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln on Wednesday night when Nebraska plays host to Michigan. Tip-off between the Huskers and Wolverines is set for 7 p.m. (CT), with tickets on sale now at Huskers.com.
