Milwaukee - Kiera Hardy scored a game-high 21 points to become Nebraska's sophomore single-season scoring leader while shooting the Husker women's basketball team to a 66-57 win over Marquette in the opening round of the 2005 SportsView.TV Postseason WNIT in front of 650 fans at the Al McGuire Center on Thursday evening.
Nebraska improved to 18-13 overall on the season for its second straight 18-victory season. The Huskers will advance in the WNIT to take on the winner of Friday night's game between Creighton and Iowa at Carver Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City. Marquette ended its season with an 18-12 mark.
Nebraska Coach Connie Yori said she was excited for her team after the victory.
"I am so happy for our players," Yori said. "They deserve a lot of credit. They had a great week of practice and they came here to win a postseason game. They got that done and hopefully we can get a home game in the second round and try to get another victory."
Hardy hit 8-of-18 shots from the field, including 4-of-9 three-pointers to finish with a game-high 21 points. It was Hardy's 14th 20-point scoring effort of the season, while moving her to 583 points on the year. Hardy vaulted past two-time All-American Karen Jennings for the top spot on the Husker sophomore scoring list. Jennings scored 574 points for NU in 1990-91. Hardy also improved her sophomore single-season record three-point total to 78 on the season. She needs just seven more to tie NU's overall single-season mark.
Big 12 Newcomer-of-the-Year Jelena Spiric added a strong effort with 11 points and eight rebounds, while Chelsea Aubry scored 11 points, including a career-best three three-pointers, and pitched in six boards for the game.
Senior guard Jina Johansen added a solid passing game with nine assists, while adding two points and three rebounds to keep the Husker offense rolling. Johansen improved her NU senior season assist mark to 185 on the year and needs just 10 more to tie Meggan Yedsena's school-record total of 195 in 1991-92.
Nebraska hit 46.2 percent (24-52) shots from the field for the game, including 7-of-15 (46.7 percent) three-pointers. The Huskers snapped out of a six-game shooting slump, shooting better than 41 percent for the first time since a road win at Texas A&M on Feb. 16.
Carolyn Kieger led Marquette with 14 points and six assists, while Jasmine McCullough pitched in 13 points and a team-high eight rebounds. Christina Quaye game the Golden Eagles three players in double figures with 10 points and six boards.
As a team, Marquette hit 40 percent (22-55) from the field, but knocked down just 2-of-20 (10 percent) three-pointers. The Golden Eagles missed their first 17 three-pointers on the night. Marquette outrebounded Nebraska 32-31, but the Huskers forced 17 Golden Eagle turnovers, while committing just 16 turnovers of their own.