Lincoln - Nebraska used an 18-1 run early in the first half to build a comfortable lead, but the Huskers still needed last-minute heroics from Margaret Richards to hold off Louisiana-Lafayette, 61-59, at the Bob Devaney Sports Center on Sunday afternoon.
With the win, Nebraska improved to 7-1 on the season and remained unbeaten at home with a 5-0 record. Louisiana-Lafayette slipped to 3-3 on the year with the loss.
Nebraska Coach Connie Yori said she was proud of the way her players overcame a rough shooting performance to find a way to win.
"It was not the way we drew it up, but it’s a win and that’s what we wanted," Yori said. "Our first 10 to 15 minutes of the game I thought we played as hard or harder than we have played all season. But we didn’t really have our legs under us for most of the game, and I think that affected our shooting a little bit. We didn’t make any excuses though, and we found a way to win. We’re not the prettiest 7-1, but we’re still 7-1."
Nebraska’s 7-1 record matches its best eight-game start to open a season since rolling to an 8-0 record in 1996-97. The Huskers also started the season 7-1 in 1997-98, 1998-99 and 2001-02.
After trailing by as many as 15 points at 26-11 with 7:41 remaining in the first half, the Ragin’ Cajuns continued to chip away at the Husker lead until taking a 54-53 lead with six minutes left in the game. ULL took its biggest lead of the game at 59-55 with 3:20 remaining on a three-pointer by Bernette Tolston.
The Huskers, who produced an emotional 60-55 win over No. 13 Ohio State on Friday night, shut the Ragin’ Cajuns out the rest of the way, and Richards provided all the offense Nebraska would need by scoring the game’s final six points.
Richards, who finished with just eight points, hit a free throw with 2:15 remaining to make it a one-possession game at 59-56, before getting behind the ULL defense in transition for a layup with 1:32 left to cut the lead to 59-58. With 54 seconds remaining, Richards hit a three-pointer to give NU the lead at 61-59.
After a missed jumper by Ragin’ Cajun center Anna Petrakova and a defensive rebound by Keasha Cannon-Johnson with 36 seconds left, Nebraska was unable to get a shot off to give ULL one last attempt. With 4.1 seconds remaining, Petrokova received an inbounds pass at the high post and drove to the basket but missed a left-handed layup as time expired.
Petrakova, a junior from Moscow, Russia, finished with a game-high 23 points, to go along with 14 rebounds and four blocked shots.
Cannon-Johnson, a 5-10 senior guard from Kansas City, Kan., led the Huskers by producing her eighth career double-double and her second of the season by scoring 13 points and pulling down a career-high 17 rebounds. She added three assists and one steal.
Senior center Katie Morse added 15 points, six rebounds and two assists as the only other Husker in double figures.
The Huskers shot a season-low 33.3 percent (22-66) from the field, but were able to overcome their shooting woes by pulling down 17 offensive rebounds while committing a season-low 13 turnovers.
Louisiana-Lafayette shot 42.9 percent (24-56) from the field, but the Ragin’ Cajuns were outrebounded, 41-38, and committed 16 turnovers.
Nebraska will conclude its four-game homestand next Sunday, Dec. 21, when the Huskers play host to in-state rival Creighton at the Devaney Center at 2:05 p.m.