Nebraska headed to Big Ten final after Jaz Shelley scores 30 against Maryland

Nebraska never trailed while beating Maryland 78-68 in the semifinals of the Big Ten tournament.

The championship game is at 11 a.m. on Sunday on CBS. Nebraska will play the winner of Iowa-Michigan.

It comes three months after the Nebraska volleyball team played in the national championship match on ABC.

Nebraska (22-10) has won six of its past seven games and reached the title game as the No. 6 seed — three wins in three days.

Nebraska got a break when regular season league champion Ohio State lost in the quarterfinals, and took advantage to reach the tournament’s championship game.

It’s the first time in 10 years Nebraska has made the Big Ten tournament championship game.

Shelley scored a game-high 30 points, including all of the points during Nebraska s11-0 run to end the first quarter. She had a season-high six 3-pointers. She also scored on some determined drives to the basket, and finished 10 for 16 shooting. She also had nine assists.

Alexis Markowski added nine points and 13 rebounds. From there Nebraska had so many significant contributions. Annika Stewart had nine points to help when Markowski was in foul trouble. Kendall Coley made two 3-pointers. Callin Hake had seven points and was good on defense.

Nebraska led 60-59 to start the fourth quarter. Nebraska’s 13-point lead from late in the first half was nearly gone, but the Huskers had never trailed in the game.

But Nebraska extended its lead when Shelley and Logan Nissley each hit quick 3-poiners, and Natalie Potts also made a big basket.

Nebraska outscored the Terps 18-9 in the fourth quarter

Nebraska finished 13 for 28 on 3-pointers.

Maryland (19-13) was led by Shayanne Sellers with 15 points.

Nebraska got the game’s first major advantage with 1:30 left in the first quarter, when Nebraska started an 11-0 run when all the points came from Shelley

First she scored on a drive to the basket. Next Shelley made a crossover move that made the defender fall, and hit a 3-pointer. It That was the start of three consecutive 3-pointers in 62 seconds.

Shelley hit another 3, and then slapped hands with Markowski’s, the Huskers’ inside-outside running mates. Her final 3 came just before the end of the first quarter to put Nebraska up 25-12.

In the second quarter Maryland was able to keep up with the Huskers by driving to the basket and scoring. Maryland was 9 for 11 on layups in the quarter.

Nebraska countered by…