Huskers Shoot for Big 12 North Win Against Cyclones

Nebraska Cornhuskers
(10-7, 1-3)
vs. Iowa State Cyclones
(14-4, 2-2)

Bob Devaney Sports Center (13,595) 
Lincoln, Neb.
Saturday, Jan. 24 ? 8 p.m.

Radio: Husker Sports Network
(98.1 KFGE Lincoln; 93.3 KTWI Omaha)
Television: Fox Sports Net
(Channel 37 in Lincoln)
Live Internet Audio: Huskers.com (Free)

The Nebraska women’s basketball team (10-7, 1-3) wraps up a week-long home stand by playing host to Big 12 North Division rival Iowa State (14-4, 2-2) in Lincoln on Saturday night.

Game time for the Huskers and Cyclones at the Devaney Center is set for a special 8:05 p.m. tip with a Fox Sports Net primetime national telecast. A live radio broadcast will be available across the Husker Sports Network, with Matt Coatney and Jeff Griesch on the call. Free live audio will also be available on Huskers.com.

Brent Stover will call the action for FSN, along with analyst Brenda VanLengen. Stover, VanLengen, Producer Eric Josephson, Associate Producer Carla Janeway and Keith Fletcher from the Big 12 Showcase will be making a 25-hour, three-game road trip of nearly 700 miles across the Big 12 region on Saturday and Sunday. FSN’s starting five will be on hand in Lawrence to watch Kansas take on No. 18 Kansas State on Saturday at 11 a.m., before driving to Lincoln for the 8 p.m. tip between the Huskers and Cyclones. The crew will then make the all night drive to Norman, Okla., for a noon tip between No. 3 Oklahoma and No. 14 Texas.

Nebraska’s clash with the Cyclones will be the second part of a men’s and women’s basketball doubleheader at the Devaney Center on Saturday, with the Husker men going head-to-head with Oklahoma State at 3 p.m. Fans holding tickets for the men’s game will receive free general admission to the women’s game.

The Husker women’s basketball program will be taking part in the Samaritans Feet project, encouraging fans to bring donations of new or lightly used shoes to the Devaney Center. The donations will be distributed to needy people across the United States and the world in an initiative started by IUPUI Coach Ron Hunter.

Nebraska notched its first Big 12 win of the season with a 67-58 win over Kansas on Wednesday night in Lincoln. Junior forward Cory Montgomery led the Huskers with 18 points and six rebounds, while junior guard Yvonne Turner added 17 points and three steals. Senior Tay Hester came off the bench to pitch in 10 points in a solid effort.

The Huskers own a five-game winning streak at the Devaney Center against Iowa State, which is coming off a 65-42 victory over Missouri in Ames, Iowa, on Wednesday. A deep and experienced Cyclone club features eight returning players who have started at least 20 career games and have combined for 415 career starts.

Turning it Up A Notch in Big 12 Play
Yvonne Turner has continued to increase her production as a junior, and is taking her game to another level during Big 12 action. The 5-8 guard is averaging a team-leading 14.8 points per game through four league games. She is shooting 44.7 percent (17-38) from the field, including a sizzling 44.0 percent (11-25) from three-point range. She has also knocked down 87.5 percent (14-16) of her free throws through four league contests.

In addition to her growing offensive numbers, Turner leads the Big 12 in conference games only with 3.3 steals per game and has had three or more steals in each of NU’s first four games.

Last season, the junior out of Omaha claimed a spot on the Big 12 All-Defensive team by leading the conference in league games with 2.6 steals per contest. She also made a splash on the offensive end, averaging 9.8 points per game while ranking second in the league with her 39.3 three-point percentage during Big 12 action.

For the season, Turner ranks second on the team in scoring with 12.0 points per game, while adding 3.1 rebounds, 1.6 assists and a team-leading 2.5 steals per contest. She had a season-high 21-point performance at No. 16 Texas, when she also matched her season-high with four steals. She hit 5-of-9 shots from the field, including 3-of-6 three-pointers to crack NU’s top-10 list in career threes. She was also a perfect 8-for-8 at the free throw line against the Longhorns.

Turner added 17 points on 6-of-11 shooting, including a 3-for-6 effort from long range in NU’s Wednesday night win over Kansas. She added 12 points on 4-of-7 shooting from three-point range in the Huskers’ one-point loss at Missouri on Jan. 17.

Earlier this season, Turner earned a spot on the all-tournament team at the Holiday Inn & Suites Express Midtown Thanksgiving Tournament. Turner capped a breakout sophomore season with a career-high 23 points and six assists against No. 5 Maryland in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Going head-to-head with Terrapin All-America guard Kristi Toliver, Turner hit a career-best five three-pointers. Turner also forced Toliver into six turnovers and limited the National Player-of-the-Year Finalist to 6-of-20 shooting from the field.

Turner Ranking High Among Big 12 Leaders in League Play
Through the first quarter of Big 12 Conference action, Yvonne Turner is making a strong case for all-conference recognition as a junior. The 5-8 guard from Omaha is tied for eighth in the league in scoring at 14.8 points per game, while tying for the Big 12 lead in steals with Texas A&M’s Danielle Gant at 3.3 steals per contest.

Turner also ranks fourth in the conference in three-point field goal percentage (44.0), while tying for second in the league with 2.8 three-pointers made per game. Turner is also tied for fifth in the conference with KU’s Danielle McCray for fifth in league-only free throw percentage (87.5).

Last season, Turner led the Big 12 with 2.6 steals per game in conference action and ranked fourth in the league by hitting 39.3 percent of her three-point attempts in Big 12 action.

VT for Three - You Bet
Yvonne Turner (nickname VT) leads the Huskers with 34 three-pointers through 17 games this year. Turner has been on fire over the last eight games, burying 19-of-41 attempts (46.3 percent) during that stretch.

With her next made three-pointer, Turner will match All-Big 12 guard Nicole Kubik (1998-99) for fifth on the Huskers’ junior single-season three-point made list. Turner cracked NU’s career top 10 in three-pointers at Texas and moved into a tie for ninth by hitting 3-of-6 attempts against Kansas on Wednesday. She matched Chelsea Aubry’s 78 career triples, and will move into a tie for eighth with Margaret Richards (2001-04) with her next made three. Turner needs just three more bombs to catch Brooke Schwartz (1997-00) in seventh place on NU’s career list.

Turner has also moved into Nebraska’s career top 10 in three-point percentage at 32.6 percent (78-239).

No Denying Turner Can "D" It Up
While Yvonne Turner has been making waves with her increased offensive production over the past year, she is undeniably one of the best defensive players in the Big 12 Conference.

Last season, Turner earned one of five spots on the Big 12 All-Defensive Team by registering a league-leading 2.6 steals per game in conference action. Her 81 steals on the year ranked as the second-best total by a Husker sophomore in history, while ranking eighth overall on NU’s single-season steals list.

With 142 career steals, Turner is approaching Nebraska’s all-time top 10 on that list, needing 46 steals to catch three-time first-team All-Big 12 guard Kiera Hardy (2004-07) in 10th at 188.

This season, Turner owns at least one steal in all 17 games, including two or more steals in 14 contests. She owns three or more steals in each of the first four games of Big 12 action, matching Texas A&M’s Danielle Gant for first in the league with 13 steals (3.3 spg). She has also matched Gant overall on the year with 43 steals through 17 games (2.5 spg). Turner and Gant rank just outside of the top 50 players in the nation in steals per game in the most recent NCAA statistics.

Turner owns career highs of eight steals against Florida (Nov. 17) and Arkansas-Pine Bluff (Jan. 2) during the 2007-08 season. Those totals rank among the top-10 single-game marks in NU history. She is one of only three Huskers to notch eight or more steals twice in a career. She owns season bests of four steals against Texas, Denver and Weber State this season.

Striving for Consistency
Yvonne Turner has provided a consistent presence defensively in the Nebraska backcourt for the past two seasons, starting 50 consecutive games and averaging 2.5 steals per game during that span. She has recorded at least one steal in 45 of those 50 games as a starter.

Offensively, Coach Connie Yori has been pushing Turner to provide a more consistent offensive presence for the Huskers with the absence of two-time All-Big 12 forward Kelsey Griffin due to a season-ending ankle injury.

Turner is answering the call. Over the last three games, Turner is averaging 16.7 points per game and shooting 52.6 percent (10-19) from three-point range. Over NU’s last 12 games, Turner has scored no fewer than eight points in any contest, averaging 13.3 points per game during that stretch.

Turner owns 24 career double-figure scoring efforts, including 12 in 17 games this season. She has produced double figures in 22 of NU’s last 37 games, after having just two in her first 41 contests.

She has scored 15 or more points five times this year, including three times in the last five games. Prior to this season, she had scored 15 or more points just three times in 61 career games.

Turner produced a season-high 21 points on 3-of-6 shooting from three-point range with four steals at No. 16 Texas on Jan. 14. She scored 19 points with two three-pointers and a pair of steals in just 19 minutes in a win over Long Beach State on Dec. 12. She added 17 points on 3-of-6 shooting from long range with three steals in NU’s win over Kansas on Jan. 21.

Turner produced one of her best all-around games this year with 15 points, five assists and four steals in NU’s 76-55 win at Denver (Nov. 24). She hit 4-of-9 shots from the field, including 3-of-6 three-pointers, while connecting on all four of her free throw attempts. She added 13 points, four rebounds and two steals against No. 18 Ohio State, after scoring 12 points in a win over 2008 NCAA qualifier Oral Roberts on Dec. 2.

Four of Turner’s career 15-plus-point games have come against top-25 opponents, and in four games this season against top-25 teams at game time, Turner has averaged 14 points per game.

She closed non-conference play with 15 points at LSU, after producing a team-best 13 points in NU’s win over No. 24 Arizona State. She scored 10 second-half points to help NU come back from a 16-point deficit against ASU.

Montgomery Producing in Big Way in First Season as Starter
In her first season as a starter, Cory Montgomery has been a force inside for the Huskers. The 6-2 junior forward from Cannon Falls, Minn., leads Nebraska in scoring and rebounding with 13.3 points and 7.5 rebounds per game. She earned the first Big 12 Player-of-the-Week honor of her career on Dec. 1.

Montgomery has produced double figures in each of the last three games, including 18 points, six rebounds and three assists in NU’s win over Kansas on Wednesday.

Montgomery, who scored 20 or more points in three straight games against Southern Utah, Denver and Butler, added her fourth 20-point effort of the season with 20 points and a career-high matching 11 rebounds in a win over Oral Roberts on Dec. 2. It was her second double-double of the season. She added her third double-double of the year and fourth of her career with 11 points and 10 rebounds at UTEP on Dec. 20.

She added 17 points and nine rebounds in a head-to-head battle with 2008 Big Ten Player of the Year Jantel Lavender in a 69-65 loss to No. 18 Ohio State on Dec. 6. Montgomery pumped in a career-high 22 points in NU’s win over Butler on Nov. 28. She also tied her career best with 11 rebounds to produce her first double-double of the year. She earned a spot on the all-tournament team in Albuquerque with 17 points and eight rebounds in a loss to New Mexico in the championship game. She finished the tournament averaging 19.5 points and 9.5 rebounds per game. She also added a block and a steal in both tournament games.

In Nebraska’s win over Southern Utah (Nov. 22), Montgomery tied her then-career high with 21 points while adding seven rebounds. Two days later, Montgomery helped carry Nebraska to a 21-point road win at Denver by scoring 20 points while adding a game-high nine boards. She opened the season with 13 points and five rebounds in just 16 minutes of action in NU’s win over Weber State (Nov. 14), before pitching in 11 points and nine rebounds in the Huskers’ victory at Creighton (Nov. 17).

Before producing her best Big 12 effort with 18 points against Kansas (Jan. 21), she had 15 points and eight boards at No. 16 Texas (Jan. 14). She added 10 points, seven rebounds and a career-high five steals at Missouri (Jan. 17). Montgomery has produced 12 double-figure scoring efforts so far this season.

Although 2008-09 marks her first year as a full-time starter, Montgomery is no stranger to producing solid numbers for the Huskers. Last season, she averaged 9.4 points and 4.5 rebounds per game as one of the most productive reserves in the Big 12, while also starting four games in place of an injured Kelsey Griffin at the end of the non-conference season.

In 2007-08, Montgomery scored in double figures 15 times. She set a season high with 21 points in a win over USC (Dec. 8, 2007), before matching that effort with 21 points and eight boards in 23 minutes off the bench in a victory at Iowa State (Jan. 19, 2008). She also produced the first double-double of her career with 16 points and a career-best 11 rebounds in Nebraska’s win over Robert Morris (Dec. 2, 2007).

Hometown Husker Kelley Stepping Up as Sophomore
Dominique Kelley has stepped up her game in every area early in her second season with the Huskers. The 5-7 sophomore guard out of Lincoln Northeast High School ranks third on the team in scoring with 9.9 points per game, while adding 3.2 rebounds per contest. Kelley also leads the Huskers with 2.9 assists per game and has added nearly one steal per contest. She is also shooting 80.3 percent at the free throw line.

Kelley was honored as a "Hometown Husker" during Wednesday night’s win over Kansas. As part of the festivities, Kelley’s younger sister, Taneah, a freshman at the University of Nebraska, sang the national anthem during pregame ceremonies. Kelley, who made the 50th consecutive start to open her career, scored seven of her nine points in the second half to help fuel NU’s victory over KU.

Kelley produced the best all-around game of her young career with a career-high 21 points to help NU to a 67-54 win over Butler (Nov. 28). She hit 5-of-8 shots from the field and set career bests by going 11-for-12 at the line. She added five rebounds, three assists, two steals and her first career blocked shot against the Bulldogs.

Kelley’s effort in Albuquerque came a week after producing the best week of her career with two solid performances against Creighton and Southern Utah. She tied her then-career high with 16 points, while adding four assists and three rebounds to shoot the Huskers to victory at CU. Kelley hit 7-of-11 shots from the field, including both of her three-point attempts against the Bluejays. Her second three of the night put the Huskers ahead for good with 3:10 left in the game. She also played a career-high 31 minutes against CU.

After celebrating her 20th birthday on Nov. 20, Kelley finished with 14 points and a career-high six assists, while adding four rebounds and two steals in a win over Southern Utah (Nov. 22). She added 12 points against Oral Roberts, before contributing 16 points and 9-of-10 free throw shooting against Cal State Bakersfield on Dec. 9.

Kelley owns nine double-figure scoring efforts in 17 games this season, after managing double-digit point totals just seven times in 33 starts a year ago. Last season, Kelley set a school record by starting all 33 games as a true freshman. She finished the year averaging 6.4 points, 2.9 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game.

Redmon Providing Solid Production as Starter
Sophomore Catheryn Redmon has provided a drastic change of direction for the Huskers inside over the last 10 games as a starter. The 6-3 center from Grand Prairie, Texas is averaging 8.7 points, 7.8 rebounds and 2.4 blocks per game in the starting lineup. She has scored 87 points, pulled down 80 boards and blocked 24 shots in NU’s last 10 contests, after getting just 18 points, 11 rebounds and three blocks in NU’s first seven games.

In fact, Redmon’s totals from the last 10 games have far surpassed her totals from her first 23 career games, when she produced 57 points, 47 boards and 12 blocks.

Last Saturday (Jan. 17), she produced arguably the best game of her career with 12 points, 11 rebounds and a career-high five blocked shots at Missouri. It was her third double-double in the last 10 games.

Just two days after two-time first-team All-Big 12 forward Kelsey Griffin underwent season-ending ankle surgery (Dec. 4), Redmon made her first career start against 2008 Big Ten Player of the Year Jantel Lavender and No. 18 Ohio State. In the first half against the Buckeyes, Redmon outscored Lavender, 8-6, to help the Huskers to a 10-point halftime lead. The Buckeyes rallied for a late victory against NU, but Redmon posted the first double-figure scoring effort of her career. Three days later, Redmon earned her second career start and provided a memorable effort in a win over Cal State Bakersfield.

Redmon erupted for her first career double-double with 13 points and 15 rebounds against the Roadrunners, while also adding career-bests with three blocked shots, two steals and 28 minutes played. Redmon produced a double-double in the second half alone, going off for 11 points, 12 rebounds, two blocks and two steals after halftime, including seven points, seven boards and both blocks in the final seven minutes.

Redmon added her second straight double-digit rebounding effort with 10 boards to go along with six points, two blocks and a steal in NU’s run past Long Beach State. She added her second career double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds at UTEP on Dec. 20, her third straight double-figure rebounding effort.

In NU’s win over No. 24 Arizona State on Dec. 28, Redmon scored 10 or her 12 points in the second half to help fuel the Huskers’ comeback from a 16-point first-half deficit. She added six rebounds and matched a career best with three blocks against ASU.

Redmon added solid numbers in her 2009 Big 12 debut against All-American Courtney Paris. Redmon scored eight points, grabbed nine rebounds and had three blocked shots going head-to-head with Paris.

Redmon Rips Down 15 Rebounds in Second Start
Sophomore Catheryn Redmon added her name to the Husker record book with a big rebounding effort in NU’s win over Cal State Bakersfield on Dec. 9. The 6-3 center from Grand Prairie, Texas, became the first Husker to record 15 or more rebounds in a game since Keasha Cannon-Johnson pulled down 17 boards against Louisiana-Lafayette on Dec. 14, 2003. Redmon’s performance came six years to the day after another former Husker center from Texas - Amanda Cleveland - grabbed 15 rebounds in a win over Texas Southern on Dec. 9, 2002.

Redmon’s performance marked just the 69th time in 1,037 games that a Husker player has recorded 15 rebounds. Her mark is tied for the 41st-highest rebounding total in school history. It also marked just the ninth time this decade that a Husker has grabbed 15 or more boards in a game.

Redmon’s previous single-game high came with six boards, most recently against Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Jan. 2, 2008. Her 15 rebounds also surpassed her season rebounding total of 13 for NU’s first eight games of 2008-09.

She owns four double-digit rebound totals in her 10 games as a starter.

Balanced Big Red Helps Huskers to Winning Ways
Nebraska has displayed impressive balance through 17 games with nine players averaging 3.6 or more points per game, while nine Huskers have played in every game and averaged at least 9.6 minutes per contest. Overall, the Huskers had at least seven players score in 15 their first 17 games this season, putting just six players in the scoring column in losses at UTEP on Dec. 20 and No. 16 Texas on Jan. 14.

Junior forward Cory Montgomery leads the Huskers in scoring and rebounding with 13.3 points and 7.5 rebounds per game, while junior Yvonne Turner has contributed 12.0 points and a team-best 2.5 steals per game. Sophomore Dominique Kelley has added 9.9 points and a team-best 2.9 assists per game.

Scouting The Iowa State Cyclones
One of the deepest and most experienced teams in the Big 12 Conference this season, Iowa State brings a 14-4 overall record and a 2-2 Big 12 mark to Lincoln for Saturday’s game with the Huskers.

Iowa State’s roster features eight players, including five seniors, who have started 20 or more games in their careers as Cyclones, collectively combining for 415 career starts. Heather Ezell (97), Nicky Wieben (88) and Alison Lacey (71) have each started more than 70 games in their ISU careers.

In comparison, Nebraska’s active roster has combined for 183 career starts, with no individual starting more than 50 career games heading into Saturday’s showdown.

The Cyclones are coming off a 65-42 home win over Missouri on Wednesday night, after dropping a pair of road games to ranked Big 12 foes (at No. 5 Baylor, 68-57 and at No. 17 Kansas State 59-52) last week.

Iowa State is a perfect 10-0 at Hilton Coliseum, but just 2-3 in true road games. The Cyclones do own a road win in the state of Nebraska this year with a narrow 63-59 victory at Creighton on Nov. 23. Three of ISU’s four losses have come to top-25 foes, including a 38-point loss to defending NCAA runner-up Stanford on Nov. 29. The Cyclones’ other setback came at the hands of intrastate rival Iowa (66-46) on Dec. 7.

ISU owns top-25 wins over Vanderbilt (55-51) and Oklahoma State (63-55) in Ames, along with solid home wins over Minnesota and on the road against San Diego State.

Three experienced senior starters in Ezell (11.8 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 3.3 apg, 1.7 spg), Wieben (8.9 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 1.1 bpg) and Amanda Nisleit (7.7 ppg, 4.8 rpg) provide the nucleus of Iowa State’s starting lineup. Ezell has been ISU’s top gun, connecting on 49-of-121 (40.5 percent) of her three-point attempts. Wieben, who has returned to the lineup after a season-ending knee injury a year ago, provides the Cyclones with their top offensive and defensive presence inside. Nisleit, who was forced into the starting role last year after a season-ending knee injury to fellow senior Toccara Ross, is having the most productive year of her career.

Lacey, a 6-0 junior guard in her third year as a starter, adds impressive production with 10.4 ppg, 5.8 rpg and 3.1 assists per game, but has hit just 27.5 percent (22-80) of her three-point attempts this season, including just 3-of-16 shooting in ISU’s first four Big 12 contests. She entered the year hitting 40.6 percent (132-325) of her career attempts from long range. However, Lacey can get hot in a hurry. She hit 9-of-13 threes in a win over Michigan on Nov. 23, 2007, and connected on 7-of-11 threes at Colorado on Jan. 13, 2008. She owns 13 career games with four or more three-pointers.

Sophomore Kelsey Bolte, another big guard at 6-1, provides an explosive shooting presence on the wing. Bolte is averaging 9.8 points and 4.9 rebounds, while knocking down 30-of-75 (40 percent) of her three-pointers.

Seniors Jocelyn Anderson and Toccara Ross, who both own extensive starting experience in their careers at Iowa State, provide production and stability as role players off the bench. Junior Denae Stuckey, who was a part-time starter for the Cyclones last year and has started two games this season, adds more depth and a different look in the backcourt, while freshmen Ashley Arlen (4.8 ppg, 3.8 rpg), Whitney Williams (3.4 ppg, 1.2 rpg) and Alexis Yackley (2.8 ppg, 0.6 rpg) have also been regular contributors this season.

Overall, Iowa State is hitting 40 percent of its shots from the field, including 33.3 percent of its three-point attempts. ISU is making 7.8 three-pointers per game, which ranks among the top 10 teams nationally. The Cyclones own a scoring margin of plus-12.4 (67.3-54.8) and a plus-8.8 team rebounding margin. Iowa State owns a plus-1.6 team turnover margin, but carries a negative-2.7 team turnover margin so far this season in Big 12 action.

Nebraska vs. Iowa State Series History
Nebraska leads the all-time series with Iowa State, 38-31, entering Saturday night’s game in Lincoln. The Huskers own a five-game homecourt winning streak against the Cyclones at the Devaney Center, including a 55-45 win over ISU on March 5, 2008.

Last season’s win by the Huskers in the regular-season finale capped a season sweep of the series with the Cyclones, following an 82-72 victory by NU at Hilton Coliseum in Ames on Jan. 19. It was the Huskers’ first sweep of ISU since the 1994-95 season. The win was also NU’s 20th victory of the year and gave Coach Connie Yori her 300th career win.

In a low-scoring affair, senior Danielle Page led NU with 11 points, five rebounds and three blocks in her final game at the Devaney Center. Yvonne Turner added 11 points and Kelsey Griffin pitched in 10 points and seven rebounds. Alison Lacey led ISU with 14 points and six rebounds, while Heather Ezell added 11 points. As a team, Iowa State hit just 18-of-52 shots from the field, including 9-of-22 three-pointers.

Nebraska hit 22-of-48 attempts, including 8-of-17 threes. In the two games against ISU last season, NU combined to hit 19-of-36 three-pointers, including 11-of-19 shooting from long range in Ames. The Huskers’ win at Hilton snapped a 10-year losing streak in Ames dating back to 1997.

Overall, Nebraska owns a 20-10 record against Iowa State in Lincoln, while the Cyclones carry a 16-14 edge at Hilton Coliseum.

Huskers Soar Past Jayhawks, 67-58
Cory Montgomery scored 18 points and Yvonne Turner added 17 to lead Nebraska to its first Big 12 Conference win of the year with a 67-58 victory over Kansas at the Devaney Center on Wednesday. The win was Nebraska’s sixth straight in the series over the Jayhawks in Lincoln.

Nebraska trailed by one at the half but bolted out of the locker room on a 15-3 surge in the first 7:26 of the second half, holding KU to just one field goal to take a 47-36 lead with 13:03 to play. Dominique Kelley led NU with five points and Catheryn Redmon and Tay Hester each pitched in four points during the stretch.

Kelley, a Lincoln native who was honored as a "Hometown Husker" during the game, scored seven of her nine points in the second half after being strapped with foul trouble in the first half. Hester posted her best performance in Big 12 play of the season with 10 points off the bench on 5-of-7 shooting from the field. Hester had hit just one field goal and scored just four points in NU’s first three Big 12 games. Hester and Nicole Neals, who hit a pair of three-pointers, combined for 16 points off the bench, as NU outscored the Jayhawk reserves, 16-0.

Nebraska’s big edge in bench scoring helped offset a huge night by KU star Danielle McCray, who pumped in a career-high 30 points on 12-of-18 shooting. McCray added eight rebounds, three steals and three blocks. Sophomore center Krysten Boogaard added 18 points and 13 boards. Those two Jayhawks combined for 48 of KU’s 58 points.

Nebraska hit 42.6 percent (26-61) of its shots from the field, including 36.8 percent (7-19) from three-point range. NU also connected on 8-of-11 free throws. The Huskers were outrebounded, 35-27, by the Jayhawks but pulled down 13 offensive boards, compared to just 11 for KU. Nebraska also turned up the defensive pressure on Kansas, forcing 22 turnovers while committing just 10 of its own, including just three miscues in the second half.

Kansas lost despite hitting 51.1 percent (24-47) of its shots from the field, including 4-of-8 three-pointers. KU did hit just 6-of-11 free throws.

Kansas held a slim 33-32 halftime lead after hitting a blistering 60.9 percent (14-23) of its shots from the field. McCray led KU with 13 first-half points on 6-of-7 shooting from the floor, while Boogaard added 12 points and seven boards in the opening half.

Don’t Call It A Comeback
Nebraska has embraced a never-say-die attitude during Coach Connie Yori’s seven seasons in Lincoln. The Huskers’ comeback from a 16-point first-half deficit against Arizona State was NU’s second-biggest comeback under Yori, trailing only a 19-point second-half deficit at San Diego on Dec. 28, 2002.

NU’s win over the No. 24 Sun Devils marked the eighth time the Huskers have battled back from a double-digit deficit under Yori, including the sixth time Nebraska was able to overcome a double-digit second-half deficit.

Huskers Have Success Against Top 25 Foes
Nebraska has made a habit of knocking off top-25 opponents during Coach Connie Yori’s seven seasons at the helm. In fact, the Huskers’ most recent win over No. 24 Arizona State marked the 11th victory over a ranked foe during Yori’s tenure.

Included in those victories is a 103-99 triple overtime win over No. 2 and eventual national champion Baylor on Jan. 12, 2005, which marks the highest ranked team Nebraska has ever defeated.

The Huskers also posted an 18-point win over No. 9 Kansas State in 2004, and a 29-point win over No. 14 Iowa State in 2005 - NU’s largest victory margin in history over a top-25 foe. Nebraska’s 56-45 win over No. 15 Texas last season at the Devaney Center also marked the lowest point total ever allowed by the Huskers against a ranked opponent.

Before Yori’s arrival at Nebraska in 2002-03, the Huskers had not defeated a top-10 team since a 73-67 win over No. 9 Iowa on Dec. 8, 1996, and had never beaten a top-five opponent.

Griffin to Redshirt in 2008-09 After Dec. 4 Ankle Surgery
Two-time first-team All-Big 12 forward Kelsey Griffin underwent surgery on her injured left ankle on Dec. 4 and will miss the entire 2008-09 season. The 6-2 senior from Eagle River, Alaska, injured the ankle on Aug. 28, and did not practice or play for NU this season. She was one of five preseason first-team All-Big 12 players chosen by the league coaches this season, and will enter her final season with 1,348 points and 665 rebounds. She has not previously redshirted at Nebraska, opening her career with 74 consecutive starts from 2005-06 to 2007-08.

A three-year starter in Nebraska’s lineup, Griffin led the Huskers to back-to-back NCAA Tournaments in 2007 and 2008, including a first-round NCAA Tournament victory over Xavier last year in College Park, Md. Griffin is also a two-time first-team academic All-Big 12 selection and earned a spot on the 2007 Big 12 Good Works Team. She ranks 11th on NU’s career scoring list, seventh in rebounding and eighth in blocked shots.

"Kelsey is one of the toughest players I have ever coached, but this injury has not allowed her to recover. It is time for surgery," Yori said. "I think Kelsey is one of the top 15 or 20 players in the nation, so obviously losing her is going to affect us this season, especially against a Big 12 Conference schedule that has six top-25 teams, including four in the top 10 right now."

Griffin is expected to return for the Huskers next season to lead a team that will feature a six-player senior class, including 2008 All-Big 12 Defensive Team member Yvonne Turner, and current Husker scoring and rebounding leader Cory Montgomery. The 2009-10 Huskers are also expected to return current sophomore starters Dominique Kelley and Catheryn Redmon, along with top reserve sophomore Kaitlyn Burke.

Bober Lost for Season After Dec. 30 ACL Tear
Nebraska’s inside game suffered a second major hit in December when junior Nikki Bober tore the anterior cruciate ligament in her right knee during practice on Dec. 30. Bober missed Nebraska’s game against LSU on Jan. 1, and underwent season-ending surgery on her knee on Jan. 2. Bober is expected to rejoin the Huskers’ inside game as a senior along with Kelsey Griffin and Cory Montgomery next season.

Bober, a 6-4 center from Murdock, Neb., appeared in NU’s first 12 games this season, making her first career start against Southern Utah. She averaged 1.9 points, 2.8 rebounds and 0.7 blocks per game in 11.2 minutes per contest. Although Bober’s numbers don’t jump off the page, she was expected to make greater contributions against the larger post players in the Big 12 Conference.

In the last game before her injury, Bober played a career-high 25 minutes and was a major player in Nebraska’s dramatic come-from-behind win over No. 24 Arizona State on Dec. 28. Bober blocked a career-high four shots and pulled down five rebounds to go along with two points and an assist against the Sun Devils.

Last season, Bober appeared in all 16 Big 12 Conference contests, averaging 1.6 points and 1.8 rebounds per game. Bober’s loss leaves the Huskers with only four active players taller than 6-0 on their roster, including Cory Montgomery (6-2), Catheryn Redmon (6-3) and Jessica Periago (6-4) and freshman Harleen Sidhu (6-1).

Burke Finding Shooting Touch After Suffering Broken Finger
Kaitlyn Burke has provided the Huskers with regular contributions at both ends of the court as a sophomore. The 5-7 guard from North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada enters the Iowa State game averaging 5.1 points, 1.5 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game. She also ranks third on the team with 15 made three-pointers.

Last season against Iowa State, Burke connected on 6-of-10 three-point attempts, including a 4-for-7 effort in Ames and 2-of-3 shooting at the Devaney Center. She averaged 9.0 points and 4.0 assists in two games against ISU last season.

Burke erupted for a season-high 13 points on 6-for-11 shooting at Missouri last Saturday. It was her third double-figure scoring effort of the year, and her second in the last six games. She poured in 12 points on 4-of-7 shooting from the field in NU’s win over No. 24 Arizona State on Dec. 28. Burke hit 2-of-3 three-pointers and hit her first two free throws of the season, while matching her career high with three steals. She added seven points on 3-of-5 shooting from the field to go along with two rebounds, two assists and a steal at LSU, before contributing eight points and two assists against No. 4 Oklahoma.

She produced a career-high eight assists without a turnover coming off the bench in Nebraska’s win over Long Beach State on Dec. 12. She owns NU’s best assist-to-turnover ratio at 2.1-to-1 (32-to-15).

Burke opened the year with 12 points on 4-of-7 shooting from three-point range in a win over Weber State on Nov. 14, and added six points on 2-of-4 shooting from three-point range in a win at Creighton. She suffered a broken finger on her shooting hand in the opening minutes of NU’s win over Southern Utah on Nov. 22. She still started Nebraska’s first eight games, but came off the bench in each of the next eight contests before drawing her ninth start of the year in Wednesday’s win over Kansas.

Last season, Burke starred in a supporting role for the Huskers as a true freshman. The former childhood actress played starring roles in Nebraska’s wins in California in December, erupting for career highs of 15 points, five three-pointers and seven assists in a career-best 34 minutes off the bench in NU’s win at Cal State Bakersfield on Dec. 13. She provided an impressive encore by leading the Huskers in scoring, rebounding and assists with 14 points, a career-high seven boards and five assists in a 75-52 run past Long Beach State on Dec. 15. She added 12 points on 4-of-7 three-point shooting, to go along with six assists in NU’s win at Iowa State on Jan. 19.

Burke averaged 5.4 points, 1.5 rebounds and 2.4 assists in 2007-08, and led NU with 78 assists, including five in a win over Xavier in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. Her 78 assists ranked second among all Big 12 freshmen, trailing only Oklahoma’s Danielle Robinson (130). Burke also ranked second on the team with 33 three-pointers, which ranked fifth among Big 12 freshmen. Her 5.4 points tied for 11th among league freshmen.

Burke brought her talents to the Devaney Center stage in her career-opening performance against UTEP on Nov. 9. She poured in 13 points, including a trio of three-pointers, to help the Huskers to an 81-74 win over the Miners. She added a solid encore in Nebraska’s win over Ole Miss on Nov. 11, when she scored nine points, grabbed two steals and dished out an assist in 21 minutes to conclude a strong opening weekend.

Burke turned her focus from feature films such as Questar’s Ms. Bear (1997) and Bear with Me (2000), to athletics seven years ago, after appearing with such Hollywood stars as Lindsay Lohan, Tyra Banks and Henry Winkler. Last year, Burke played on the international stage as a member of the Canadian Junior National Team and was one of the first members of the Canadian National Development Academy in 2006-07.

Huskers Set Three-point Record in Season-Opening Win
Nebraska connected on a school-record 12 three-pointers to open the season in a 96-47 win over Weber State at the Devaney Center on Nov. 14. NU’s 12 triples surpassed the previous school mark of 11 threes set Jan. 19, 2008, in a win over Iowa State at Hilton Coliseum in Ames.

The game with Weber State marked the ninth time in school history that a Nebraska team hit 10 or more three-pointers in a game, but just the second time the Huskers had ever hit double-figure threes in a non-conference game (Ohio State, Dec. 12, 2003).

Nebraska made it 10 games with 10 or more threes in history by connecting on 10-of-22 three-point attempts in a loss at LSU on Jan. 1.

Turner Sparks Husker Turnover Turnaround
With Big 12 All-Defensive Team selection leading the way with 81 steals, Nebraska’s defense ranked fifth in the Big 12 with a plus-1.22 turnover margin in 2007-08. The Huskers forced 627 total turnovers for an average of 19.0 turnovers forced per contest, which ranked third in the league.

Those 627 turnovers forced come in striking contrast to Coach Connie Yori’s first two seasons at Nebraska. In Yori’s first season in 2002-03, NU forced opponents into just 451 turnovers on the year, before forcing just 444 turnovers in 2003-04, an average of just 14.8 turnovers per game.

The last time a Nebraska team forced more than 600 turnovers in a season came in 1999-00, when the Huskers forced opponents into 688 turnovers.

Through the first 17 games of 2008-09, Nebraska is forcing an average of 18.4 turnovers per game and has forced three opponents (Oral Roberts, Denver and Southern Utah) into 25 turnovers each. Turner is again leading the way for NU with 43 steals, giving her 124 steals over her last 50 games (2.5 spg). She has at least one steal in every game for NU this season with nine games of three or more steals.

Turner has 142 career steals and needs 46 more to crack Nebraska’s all-time top 10 in that category.

Kuhlmann Providing the Huskers with Pop Off the Bench
Kala Kuhlmann has been one of Nebraska’s top guards off the bench through the first 17 games this season. The 5-8 junior guard from Charter Oak, Iowa, is averaging 4.0 points and 2.1 rebounds per game.

Kuhlmann has scored in double figures in three of NU’s 17 games, including a career-high 13 points in the season-opening win over Weber State. She added 12 points, including 10 in the first half, in the Huskers’ run past Long Beach State on Dec. 12. She pitched in 11 points in a win at Denver on Nov. 24. Entering the season, Kuhlmann had produced double figures just once in her first 57 career games.

She also provided a solid effort at No. 16 Texas on Jan. 14 with five points while tying her career high with five assists. Kuhlmann has hit 7-of-20 three-point attempts this season, after connecting on just 6-of-23 long-range tries through her first two seasons in Lincoln.

Although she did not play the part of a scorer through her first two seasons in Lincoln, Kuhlmann has a history of success in the scoring column. The No. 4 scorer in Iowa High School history, Kuhlmann poured in 2,337 points in four seasons at Charter Oak-Ute High School.

Husker Schedule Filled with Top 25 Foes
The most recent Associated Press and USA Today/ESPN Coaches Top 25 polls bear a striking resemblance to Nebraska’s 2008-09 schedule. In fact, the Huskers could play as many as nine regular-season games against current top-25 teams. Big 12 foe Oklahoma is the highest ranked Husker foe, coming in at No. 3 in the Jan. 19 AP Poll. No. 5 Baylor comes to Lincoln on Feb. 4, before the Huskers travel to No. 8 Texas A&M on Feb. 8. The Huskers who lost at current No. 14 Texas on Jan. 14, before gearing up for a pair of Big 12 North Division battles with No. 18 Kansas State (Jan. 27, Feb. 25). The Huskers will face No. 24 Oklahoma State to wrap up the regular season in Stillwater, Okla., on March 7.

Outside of conference action, the Huskers dropped a narrow 69-65 decision to current No. 19 Ohio State (Dec. 6), before notching a 62-58 win over then-No. 24 Arizona State at the Devaney Center on Dec. 28. The Huskers also suffered a 62-51 loss at The Pit to current No. 23 New Mexico on Nov. 29.

In addition to the eight Husker opponents currently ranked in the AP Top 25, Iowa State was ranked 20th in the Jan. 12 AP poll before dropping out of the rankings on Monday. Arizona State and LSU have both been ranked in the poll at least one week during the season, while UTEP and Texas Tech have received votes.

NU Earned Votes in USA Today/ESPN Poll For Five Straight Weeks
Nebraska received votes in five regular-season USA Today/ESPN Coaches Top 25 polls this season, most recently earning four votes on Dec. 16. The Huskers are one of eight Big 12 Conference schools that have received votes in the coaches poll this season, joining Oklahoma, Texas A&M, Baylor, Texas, Kansas State, Oklahoma State, Iowa State and Texas Tech.

Huskers Enter 2008-09 After Six Seasons of Growth
The Huskers entered the 2008-09 season with high hopes after returning 12 letterwinners and four starters from a team that advanced to the second round of the 2008 NCAA Tournament. Nebraska finished with a 21-12 overall record and a 9-7 Big 12 mark in 2007-08, despite a lineup that featured four first-time starters and a roster filled with 10 freshmen and sophomores.

The Huskers, who were the only Big 12 team that had 10 players compete in every league game last season, were hoping a year of experience and a strong offseason would help them take another step forward in 2008-09.

However, Nebraska’s expectations were tempered with a season-ending ankle injury to two-time first-team All-Big 12 forward Kelsey Griffin on Aug. 28. Griffin had surgery on Dec. 4 and will redshirt in 2008-09.

Griffin was expected to lead the Huskers in 2008-09, after amassing 1,348 points and 665 rebounds in her career. She will contend for All-America honors in 2009-10.

Junior Yvonne Turner has stepped up her game in Griffin’s absence. Turner earned a spot on the Big 12 All-Defensive Team in 2007-08 after leading the conference in steals during league action. She also ranked fourth in the league in three-point field goal percentage.

Husker backcourt starters Tay Hester and Dominique Kelley also return after joining each other in the starting lineup for all 33 games a year ago. Cory Montgomery fills the void left by honorable-mention All-Big 12 pick Danielle Page inside for the Huskers.

2008 Huskers Claim Third NCAA Tournament Victory
The Huskers notched their third NCAA Tournament win in school history with a 61-58 victory over ninth-seeded Xavier at College Park, Md., on March 23. Nebraska made its eighth NCAA Tournament appearance, joining trips in 1988, 1993, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2000 and 2007.

Nebraska, which earned the No. 8 seed in the Spokane Regional, led the Atlantic-10 Conference Tournament champion Musketeers from start to finish. The Huskers’ last win had come against New Mexico (76-59) on March 13, 1998 in Norfolk, Va. Nebraska earned its first NCAA Tournament victory against San Diego (81-58) on March 17, 1993, at the Bob Devaney Sports Center in Lincoln.

Huskers Post 11th 20-Win Campaign, Second Straight Under Yori
Nebraska secured its 11th 20-win season in school history with its 55-45 win over Iowa State in the regular-season finale at the Devaney Center on March 5. The Huskers added win No. 21 with their third-ever NCAA Tournament win by beating Xavier in the first round on March 23.

NU’s 21 wins tied for the seventh-best total in school history, while the Huskers posted their first back-to-back 20-win campaigns since 1998 and 1999. This season, the Huskers will take aim at becoming the first team in NU history to post three straight 20-win seasons.

Over the last five seasons under Coach Connie Yori, the Huskers have averaged 19.6 wins per season. In the previous five years, the Huskers averaged just 14.6 wins per season.

NU Showing North Division Dominance over Last Three Years
Nebraska completed 2007-08 season sweeps of Missouri, Colorado and Iowa State, with a 55-45 win over the Cyclones in Lincoln to close the 2008 regular season on March 5. The Huskers finished with a 7-3 regular-season mark against the North to push its record against divisional foes to 22-8 over the last three years - the best mark by any school.

NU was just seven points shy of going a perfect 10-0 against the North in 2008, losing on the road to Kansas, 62-61, at home to Kansas State, 77-75, and at KSU, 69-65. In the loss at KU, Danielle McCray hit a free throw with 1.4 seconds left to claim the win. In the home loss to K-State, Nebraska had two shots inside six feet to tie the game in the final five seconds, and at Manhattan the Huskers had a shot on the left block with 10 seconds left that would have tied the game.

Kansas State, which posted a 9-1 mark against North Division foes in 2007-08, is 17-13 over the past three seasons against divisional foes. Iowa State is also 17-13 over the last three campaigns, including a 5-5 mark in 2007-08 (Does not included 2008-09 Big 12 action).

Early in 2008-09, Nebraska is 1-1 against the North, with a one-point road loss at Missouri (67-66) on Jan. 17, before notching a nine-point home win over Kansas (67-58) at the Devaney Center on Jan. 21.

Griffin Earns Preseason First-Team All-Big 12 Honors
Nebraska senior Kelsey Griffin claimed one of five spots on the Preseason All-Big 12 team named by the league’s women’s basketball coaches and announced on Oct. 15. Griffin, a 6-2 forward from Eagle River, Alaska, joined Preseason Big 12 Player-of-the-Year Courtney Paris from Oklahoma, Kansas State’s Shalee Lehning, Oklahoma State’s Andrea Riley and Texas A&M’s Takia Starks on the Preseason All-Big 12 team.

A two-time first-team All-Big 12 selection (top 10 players in the league), Griffin averaged 15.3 points and 7.2 rebounds per game last season, while leading the Huskers to a 21-12 overall record, a 9-7 league mark, and the second round of the 2008 NCAA Tournament. She ranked among the top 10 players in the Big 12 in both scoring and rebounding and was at her best in Big 12 play, when she averaged 16.8 points and 8.2 rebounds despite playing the entire season with a cracked rib.

Griffin carried the Huskers to their third NCAA Tournament victory in a decade by scoring 26 points in Nebraska’s win over Xavier in the first round at College Park, Md.

In her three-year career as a starter at Nebraska, Griffin has amassed 1,348 points and 665 rebounds. She also ranks in the top 10 on the NU career chart with 68 blocked shots.

Griffin, who was also a preseason first-team All-Big 12 selection in 2007-08, has extended Nebraska’s streak to four straight seasons with at least one first-team All-Big 12 selection. Kiera Hardy was also a two-time preseason first-team all-league choice in 2005-06 and 2006-07.

The Huskers join Oklahoma as the only other school to have at least one preseason first-team all-conference pick each of the past four years. Eight of the league schools have had one or fewer selections during that span.

Huskers Join Baylor, Oklahoma Among Big 12’s Best
Along with back-to-back NCAA Tournament berths and 20-win seasons, the Huskers notched their second consecutive winning record in Big 12 Conference regular-season action by finishing with a 9-7 league mark.

In Coach Connie Yori’s sixth season at Nebraska, a 13-player Husker roster filled with 10 freshmen and sophomores helped NU to its fourth consecutive .500 or better Big 12 season. Nebraska joins Baylor and Oklahoma as the only Big 12 programs to accomplish that feat in the last four years.

NU’s 2007-08 success came against a league that was rated the best in the nation and sent eight teams to the NCAA Tournament. Along with sending No. 2 Texas A&M, No. 3 Oklahoma State, No. 3 Baylor, No. 4 Oklahoma, No. 5 Kansas State, No. 7 Iowa State, No. 8 Nebraska and No. 8 Texas to the NCAA Tournament, the Big 12 also had three conference teams (Colorado, Kansas, Texas Tech) earn opening-round byes in the 48-team Postseason WNIT field.

Nebraska has earned five consecutive postseason tournament appearances - the longest stretch in school history. NU earned a trip to the 2007 NCAA Tournament and finished with a 22-10 overall record along with a 10-6 conference mark in 2006-07.

Huskers Face Nation’s Best in 2008-09
Nebraska will face one of the toughest regular-season schedules in school history in 2008-09 with nine games against teams that finished 2007-08 among the top-25 RPI teams in the nation.

A total of 21 games will come against teams that competed in postseason tournaments in 2008, including 15 games against 2008 NCAA Tournament teams.

Nebraska’s home schedule features big names and big games nearly every night in 2008-09. NU’s home schedule featured a date with 2008 Big Ten co-champion Ohio State, which has advanced to six straight NCAA tournaments. After battling the Buckeyes on Dec. 6, the Huskers knocked off perennial Pac-10 power No. 24 Arizona State, 62-58, on Dec. 28. The Sun Devils have advanced to at least the second round of four straight NCAA tournaments.

The Big 12 promises to feature a postseason atmosphere every night at the Devaney Center. Oklahoma, Baylor, Iowa State and Kansas State all joined NU in the second round of the 2008 NCAA Tournament, while Colorado, Texas Tech and Kansas all advanced to at least the third round of the Postseason WNIT.

While the Huskers’ 15-game home schedule features nine contests against 2008 postseason clubs, the road will offer even more challenges. Nebraska will play 12 road games against 2008 postseason qualifiers, including a New Year’s date with LSU in Baton Rouge, La. The Tigers have advanced to five consecutive NCAA Final Fours. NU also traveled to UTEP, which advanced to the 2008 NCAA second round, and 2008 NCAA qualifier New Mexico.

In Big 12 action, NU’s road schedule includes trips to NCAA Elite Eight qualifier Texas A&M, NCAA Sweet 16 participant Oklahoma State, and journeys to Texas, Iowa State and Kansas State, which all advanced to the 2008 NCAA second round.

Huskers to be a Fixture on FSN in 2008-09
Nebraska will be featured four times on Fox Sports Net national television games in 2008-09. The Huskers will battle Arizona State, Iowa State, Colorado and Texas Tech in national television matchups this season.

Nebraska’s marquee non-conference matchup with perennial Pac-10 power Arizona State at the Bob Devaney Sports Center in Lincoln on Dec. 28 was one of only two out-of-conference games in the Big 12’s 26-game national package for women’s basketball this season. The other was defending national champion Tennessee’s showdown at Texas on Sunday, Dec. 14.

Nebraska’s second appearance on FSN will come on Saturday, Jan. 24, when the Huskers take on Iowa State at the Devaney Center. The special Saturday tip time with the Cyclones will be at 8 p.m. The NU-ISU women’s game will be the second of two televised basketball games at the Devaney Center on Jan. 24, as the Husker men will battle Oklahoma State at 3 p.m.

One week later, FSN will follow the Nebraska women’s basketball team to Boulder when the Huskers clash with Colorado at the Coors Events Center on Saturday, Jan. 31, at 2 p.m. central time.

Nebraska will wrap up its regular-season FSN national television appearances on Saturday, Feb. 14 at noon, when the Huskers play host to Texas Tech at the Devaney Center.

In addition to Nebraska’s national telecasts on Fox Sports Net, the Huskers will also appear frequently on Fox Sports Midwest in the state of Nebraska. The Huskers will debut on Fox Sports Midwest on Saturday, Jan. 17, when they travel to Columbia to take on the Missouri Tigers. Tip-off is set for 5 p.m.

The Huskers will appear on Fox Sports Midwest again on Tuesday, Jan. 27, at 7 p.m., when they travel to Manhattan, Kan., to challenge Kansas State. On Wednesday, Feb. 18, the Huskers’ clash with Iowa State in Ames will be televised on Fox Sports Midwest at 7 p.m. NU will wrap up its scheduled Fox Sports Midwest appearances on Saturday, Feb. 28, at 7 p.m., when the Huskers collide with Kansas in Lawrence.

Nebraska has also been added to the Fox Sports Southwest schedule with its road game at Texas on Jan. 14.

Big 12 Hits 1 Million in Home Attendance Again in 2007-08
For the second straight season and third time overall Big 12 Conference women’s basketball teams attracted more than one million fans to their home arenas in 2007-08.

The Big 12 has led the nation in attendance in each of the past nine years and is the only league to hit the one million fan milestone in NCAA history. In addition to 2006-07 and 2007-08, the conference also recorded one million fans in 2001-02. The 2006-07 cumulative attendance of 1,023,576 is the NCAA record. In 2007-08, the Big 12 recorded 1,014,309 patrons.

2008-09 Fastbreakers Backboard Banquet Schedule
The Fastbreakers have announced their Backboard Banquet Schedule for the 2008-09 season. Each Backboard Banquet will be held 90 minutes before tip-off each game. Each meal will be served by Premier Catering and reservations can be made by calling Rose Sousek in the Nebraska women’s basketball office at (402) 472-6462.

Backboard Banquet Schedule - Dinner
Wednesday, Feb. 4 (Baylor) - 5:30 p.m.
Tuesday, March 3 (Colorado - Senior Night) - 5:30 p.m.

For more information on the Fastbreakers Backboard Banquets, visit Fastbreakersonline.com or call Connie Renken at 450-1785.

Join Fastbreaker Bus Trips to Colorado, Kansas

The Fastbreakers are planning two more bus trips to Nebraska women’s basketball games during the 2008-09 season. Make plans now to join the Fastbreakers’ trips to Colorado (Jan. 31) and Kansas (Feb. 28). The cost of the trip to Colorado is $90 per person, plus the cost of a hotel room, and requires a $50 non-refundable deposit. The cost of the bus trip to Kansas is $50 per person (pre-paid).

The Fastbreakers also organized a highly successful trip to Nebraska’s exhibition game at the Hearland Events Center in Grand Island on Nov. 5.

Sign up for the Fastbreaker Bus Trips at the Fastbreaker tables on the upper concourse during home basketball games or contact Connie Renken (450-1785), Kathy Branchaud (432-8990), Larry Meyer (525-1176) or Louis Kirkbride (432-5943).

Nebraska’s History of Success at Home
Since the Bob Devaney Sports Center opened in 1976-77, the Huskers are 331-116 (.740) in games played in the arena, including 121-75 (.617) in conference games. NU finished 2007-08 with a 14-2 home record, tying for the second-highest home victory total in school history. It marked the fifth straight year under Coach Connie Yori that Nebraska has notched 10 or more home wins in a season, the longest stretch in school history.

Nebraska’s success at home in 2007-08 was even more remarkable considering the strength of the Huskers’ home schedule. Eleven of NU’s 16 home games came against teams that advanced to the postseason in 2008, with the Huskers rolling to an impressive 9-2 record. Not only did Husker foes advance to postseason play, 10 of the 11 opponents won at least one game in a postseason tournament, including 2008 NCAA Elite Eight qualifier Texas A&M. Included among the five Husker home foes that did not advance to postseason play in 2008, were traditional powers USC and Ole Miss, which was coming off a trip to the NCAA Elite Eight in 2007.

Since 2003-04, NU is 67-20 (.770) at the Devaney Center, with no more than four losses in any season. Nebraska is 7-2 at the Devaney Center in 2008-09 with its only losses to current No. 3 Oklahona and No. 19 Ohio State.

Huskers Average More Than 5,000 Per Game in Big 12 Play
Nebraska drew its largest crowd of 2007-08 with 6,756 fan watching the Huskers take on Oklahoma State during ESPN2’s "February Frenzy" on Feb. 10. During Big 12 Conference play, the Huskers attracted four crowds of more than 5,000 in eight home games, averaging 5,059 fans per game during the league season.

Overall, the Huskers averaged 3,705 fans per game in 16 home contests, drawing nearly 60,000 fans to the Devaney Center in its 16 home games in 2007-08.

In 2006-07, Nebraska averaged 4,110 fans per game, after averaging 3,201 fans in 2005-06.