LINCOLN, Neb. ----- Texas' Stacy Stephens had a double-double and the Longhorns held the Huskers to their lowest point total of the season, as No. 21/20 Texas defeated Nebraska 61-54 in both teams' Big 12 opener here Wednesday night.
A season-high Devaney Center crowd of 3,394 saw the Huskers pull within four, 49-45, with 4:16 remaining in the contest on an Alexa Johnson putback off a Katie Robinette missed free throw. But the Longhorns (9-2, 1-0 Big 12), who held the Huskers to a season-low 33 percent from the floor, including 31.7 percent in the second half, helped Nebraska to its third straight loss in Big 12 openers.
Johnson tied her career high with 13 points and had a career-high eight rebounds, and senior Stephanie Jones scored 14 points to lead the Huskers. For Jones, it was the fifth time in six games that she reached double figure points, while Johnson matched her career high set earlier this season against Weber State.
The Huskers missed the scoring output of junior Keasha Cannon and freshman Katie Robinette, the Huskers' top two scorers coming into the contest. Texas held Cannon and Robinette to just eight points on 3-of-13 shooting after the pair had combined for more than 23 points per game coming into the contest.
Nebraska (10-3, 0-1 Big 12) hit a season-low 15.4 percent from long range, as the Huskers were just 4-of-26 from behind the arc. The Huskers also committed 19 turnovers and were outrebounded 46-42 for the game.
The Huskers held Texas to just 34.5 percent shooting from the field, while forcing 20 turnovers. Stephens led the Longhorns with 20 points and 14 rebounds, while Heather Schreiber and Tracy Cook each scored 13 and 12 points, respectively.
The Huskers opened the contest with a 7-0 run, as Shannon Howell scored a pair of baskets and Johnson added a three-pointer. Nebraska finished the half hitting 35.7 percent from the floor, but its 21 halftime points were the fewest scored by the Huskers in the opening period this season.
Nebraska, which committed 12 turnovers in the first half, looked to get the lead back with 4:37 remaining before the break, as Howell hit a three-pointer to put the Huskers ahead by one, 22-21. But the basket was whistled off as the Huskers were called for a three-second violation and NU went into the half down by six hitting just one basket in the final 5:00.
The Huskers will be back in action on Saturday, Jan. 5, when NU travels to Ames, Iowa, to take on No. 4/4 Iowa State at 1 p.m. The game will be seen on Fox Sports Net.