The Oregon Ducks pulled out an 80-76 win against the Nebraska Huskers Thursday, thanks in large part to the efforts of junior guard Tiara Bolden. The game was a crucial one for Nebraska, and the loss will almost certainly keep the Huskers out of March Madness this year.
That's a disappointing reality for a team who began the season with a 12-0 record, but things could get worse before they improve. Many fans suspect that Britt Prince may hit the transfer portal this season — and the loss would be tough for the Huskers to bounce back from.
Prince enjoyed a powerful freshman season for the Huskers last year and came into the 2025-26 season surrounded by a degree of excitement that she's earned. She's averaging 17.3 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 4.2 assists in 32.2 minutes of play so far this season, and hasn't shown any significant signs of slowing down. The Nebraska native is considered the face of the school's program, but it would be difficult to fault her if she opted to explore her options elsewhere.
The Huskers could not afford the loss to Oregon
Nebraska went into Thursday's game knowing the team had to win. The Huskers have three consecutive March Madness appearances under their belts, and needed to win Thursday's game (as well as their final two regular season matches) to hope to make a fourth.
The Huskers, who began the season on a 12 win run, have come close to taking over in their recent losses. The problem isn't if they are capable of taking over and beating ranked opponents, because they've proven that they can come awfully close, but that they very likely have just run out of time for that to make a difference this season.
Oergon could see a boost from last night's game
But the game was certainly a good one for the Oregon Ducks, who may see a boost that they can carry over through their final regular season games this month. The Ducks didn't exactly play with any kind of consistency last night, but they managed to lock in for a terrific 16-4 run during the fourth quarter that ensnared the win.
If the Ducks win one more of their final two games they'll match last year's 20-12 record, which was enough to get them a 10th seed in the tournament. They'll play Indiana Sunday, and close out the season with a match against Purdue next Wednesday.