LINCOLN, Neb. (WOWT) – State senators convened at the capitol on Wednesday to get the 109th Legislative Session under way.

With a number of new faces to get acquainted with in addition to swearing in all the state senators for a new term, there was only one piece of legislation introduced on Day 1: Resolution LR1 was filed to “recognize, honor, and thank Former President Carter for his service to the United States of America and the people of the world.”

The other order of business was the election of committee chairs.

On Thursday, things will get underway in earnest as senators begin with the first round of bill introductions, giving Nebraskans a first look at what lawmakers will consider debating in the coming weeks.

A proposal involving women’s college athletics is expected to come together: Gov. Jim Pillen will address the Legislature on Thursday morning alongside university athletes on a proposal he requested.

The governor will return to the Unicameral next week for his State of the State address, when he will share his priorities for the session.

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Nebraska Cornhuskers vs. #20 Michigan State Spartans

Wednesday, January 8, 2025, 7 p.m. (CT)

Pinnacle Bank Arena – Lincoln, Nebraska

Tickets: Huskers.com / 1-800-8-BIG-RED

Special Event: Youth Sports NightT

elevision/Live Stream: NPM/B1G+ Larry Punteney (PBP), Kara Graham (Analyst)

Live Radio: Huskers Radio Network (6:30 p.m.)Matt Coatney (PBP), Jeff Griesch (Analyst)Lincoln (107.3 FM), Omaha (590 AM), Huskers.com, Huskers App

Live Stats: Huskers.com (statbroadcast – public)

Nebraska Cornhuskers (11-4, 2-2 Big Ten)

12 – Jessica Petrie – 6’2 – So. – F – 4.5 ppg, 2.9 rpg

40 – Alexis Markowski – 6’3 – Sr. – C/F – 13.5 ppg, 8.0 rpg

2 – Logan Nissley – 6’0 – So. – G – 6.9 ppg, 1.6 rpg

14 – Callin Hake – 5’8 – Jr. – G – 7.9 ppg, 3.3 rpg

23 – Britt Prince – 5’11 – Fr. – G – 12.4 ppg, 4.1 rpg

Off the Bench

5 – Alberte Rimdal – 5’9 – Sr. – G – 6.7 ppg, 2.1 rpg

44 – Petra Bozan – 6’3 – Fr. – F/C – 5.7 ppg, 3.7 rpg

33 – Amiah Hargrove – 6’2 – Fr. – F – 4.6 ppg, 3.0 rpg

15 – Kendall Moriarty – 6’1 – Sr. – G – 3.7 ppg, 1.7 rpg

3 – Allison Weidner – 5’10 – RJr. – G – 3.3 ppg, 3.1 rpg

32 – Kendall Coley – 6’2 – Gr. – F/G – 2.9 ppg, 1.3 rpg

22 – Natalie Potts [Out] – 6’2 – So. – F – 14.4 ppg, 7.4 rpg

4 – Kennadi Williams – 5’4 – Fr. – G – Redshirt

Head Coach: Amy Williams (Nebraska, 1998) Ninth Season at Nebraska (148-115); 18th Season Overall (341-224)

Michigan State Spartans (12-2, 2-1 Big Ten)

40 – Julia Ayrault – 6’2 – Gr. – F – 16.2 ppg, 7.8 rpg

15 – Ines Sotelo – 6’3 – Fr. – C – 5.8 ppg, 2.8 rpg

1 – Jaddan Simmons – 5’9 – Gr. – G – 7.0 ppg, 4.4 rpg

4 – Theryn Hallock – 5’10 – Jr. – G – 12.1 ppg, 1.9 rpg

11 – Jocelyn Tate – 5’10 – Jr. – G/F – 8.4 ppg, 5.1 rpg

Off the Bench

14 – Grace VanSlooten – 6’3 – Jr. – F – 13.5 ppg, 7.2 rpg

33 – Juliann Woodard – 6’0 – Fr. – F – 6.5 ppg, 1.8 rpg

35 – Kennedy Blair – 5’9 – RFr. – G – 5.4 ppg, 2.2 rpg

5 – Emma Shumate – 6’1 – Jr. – F – 4.7 ppg, 1.4 rpg

22 – Nyla Hampton – 5’7 – Gr. – G – 4.6 ppg, 1.7 rpg

2 – Abbey Kimball – 5’10 – Jr. – G – 4.0 ppg, 1.6 rpg

Head Coach: Robyn Fralick (Davidson, 2004) Second Season at Michigan State (34-11); 11th Season Overall (226-87)

Scouting the Spartans

#20 Michigan State comes into Lincoln with a 12-2 record, including a 2-1 start to Big Ten play. In Robyn Fralick’s second year as the Spartans coach, she has developed an aggressive defense that ranks #7 nationally in turnovers forced (25.8 pg) and eighth in turnover margin (+20).

The Spartans also carry a plus 4.9 rebound margin on the season. Through three Big Ten games, MSU has maintained a plus 10.7 turnover margin, but have been beat on the boards by 4.3 rebounds a game. On the season, Michigan State is averaging 83.6 points per game while holding opponents to 56.8 points per game. In conference play, those numbers have fallen to 70.3-65.7.

In the first three conference games, MSU is hitting 36.1 percent from the floor, including 25.7 percent from three, also knocking down just 65.7 percent of their free throws. These numbers are quite a bit lower than it’s overall field goal (45.0%), 3pg (33.4%), and free throw (70.6%) on the season.

Julia Ayrault leads the Spartans averaging team bests of 16.2 points and 7.8 rebounds per game, including 17 three pointers.

Junior guards Theryn Hallock (12.1 ppg) and Jocelyn Tate (8.4 ppg) offer some experience for MSU. Tate has been efficient in scoring early this season as the only Michigan State player to start all 14 games. Hallock leads the Spartans with 3.1 assists and ranks third on the team with 16 threes.

Oregan transfer, Grace VanSlooten ranks second on the team in scoring (13.5 ppg) and rebounding (7.2), while leading MSU with 18 blocks. Arizona State transfer Jaddan Simmons has contributed 7.0 points, 4.4 rebounds, 2.9 assists, and 2.1 steals per game.

Two more transfers in Emma Shumate (Ohio State) and Nyla Hampton (Bowling Green/Ball State) have added threats as well. Shumate leads the Spartans with 18 made threes while starting seven games and averaging 4.7 points per game. Hampton, has tallied 4.6 points per games.

Nebraska leads the all-time series with MSU 12-6, the Huskers won both meetings a year ago. A Big Ten opener with the Spartans (80-74) and a 73-61 win in the quarterfinals of the Big Ten Tournament. Michigan State has never won a game a road game over Nebraska.

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) — An Illinois man was arrested Tuesday after a high-speed chase in central Nebraska.

About 10:15 a.m., a trooper saw an SUV going 125 mph on Interstate 80 near Kearney, according to the Nebraska State Patrol.

The driver refused to pull over, the patrol said, so the trooper gave chase.

The SUV got off I-80 at the Kearney interchange and headed south on Highway 44, authorities said.

The chase continued for several miles to the intersection with Highway 6/34, where troopers said the driver — 23-year-old Elias Areyzaga — ran a stop sign.

Areyzaga then crossed railroad tracks at a high speed, lost control and crashed in a field, the patrol said.

He was arrested and taken to a Kearney hospital to be checked out.

Areyzaga was then booked into the Buffalo County Jail on suspicion of flight to avoid arrest and willful reckless driving.