Lincoln -- Stephanie Schmitz scored 18 of her career-high 27 points in the second half to lead Drake to an 88-77 upset win over Nebraska in front of 3,046 fans at the Bob Devaney Sports Center Thursday evening.
The win was the Bulldogs' first over Nebraska since an 85-82 win in the 1982 season, a span of seven games, and improved Drake's record to 2-3 on the season.
With the score tied at 64-all, Megan Wright 3-pointer triggered a 12-1 Bulldog run over the next 3:07 as Drake extended its lead to 76-65 with 4:48 remaining.
Nebraska (2-2) closed to within 76-71 on a Casey Leonhardt jumper with 3:46 remaining, but could get no closer as Kristin Santa hit a 3-pointer and Schmitz, whose previous career best was 21 against Northern Iowa last season, scored the final nine points, including seven-of-seven from the foul line.
The Huskers lost despite a career night from senior guard Brooke Schwartz, who finished with a career-high 31 points, on 13-of-18 shooting, and added a career-best six steals and five rebounds. Schwartz, whose previous career high was 25 against Wisconsin earlier this season, was one of three Huskers in double figures as Nicole Kubik added 15 points and nine assists, while senior forward Charlie Rogers added 15 points and a career-high 20 rebounds. Her 20 boards were the most since Pyra Aarden had 20 against Bowling Green in 1994, and tied for the sixth-highest total in school history.
Drake, which was out-rebounded by 24 in last season's meeting, controlled the glass in the win, out-boarding NU by a 51-46 total, including 20-14 on the offensive end.
"I thought Drake really came in hungry tonight," Nebraska Head Coach Paul Sanderford said. "They played with tremendous emotion and intensity. I thought they played harder than we did. They were really aggressive on the boards. "
Nebraska, which trailed 41-38 at the break, opened up the second half with a 15-2 spurt to build its largest lead of the evening, at 53-43, after a pair of Nicole Kubik free throws with 14:46 remaining in the half.
Trailing 55-45, Drake would respond with a 13-0 run behind Schmitz, a sophomore from Fond du Lac, Wis., who scored seven points, including a lay-up which gave Drake a 58-55 lead with 11:03 remaining.
"We had control of the game in the second half, but we relaxed," Sanderford said. "We took some bad shots and some quick shots. I was very disappointed in our shot selection and in our decision making in the second half. We're a better basketball team, but they deserved to win."
Nebraska would score the next four points, regaining the lead at 61-58 on a pair of Charlie Rogers free throws with 9:47 left. The teams battled back and forth until the Bulldogs' 12-1 run sealed the victory.
Erin Richards added 22 for Drake, while Haley Sames finished with 13 points and 10 rebounds.
The Huskers return to action next Monday, Dec. 6, when Nebraska plays host to Washington at 7:05 p.m. The game will be televised nationally by FOX Sports Net.