Huskers Take on Texas Tech on Valentine?s Day

Nebraska Cornhuskers
(10-12, 1-8)
vs. Texas Tech
(14-9, 4-5)

Bob Devaney Sports Center (13,595) 
Lincoln, Neb.
Saturday, Feb. 14 ? 12:05 p.m.
Promotion: WBCA Pink Zone (Cancer Awareness)
Television: Fox Sports Net
(National, Channel 37 in Lincoln)
Radio: Husker Sports Network
(98.1 KFGE Lincoln; 93.3 KTWI Omaha)
Live Internet Audio: Huskers.com (Free)

The Nebraska women’s basketball team (10-12, 1-8) wraps up a three-game stretch against Big 12 South opponents by squaring off with Texas Tech (14-9, 4-5) on Saturday at the Bob Devaney Sports Center.

A special 12:05 p.m. tip-off is set for the Valentine’s Day showdown with the Lady Raiders, who will join the Huskers in promoting cancer awareness as part of the WBCA’s Pink Zone campaign. Both teams will wear various pink accessories, while fans are encouraged to wear pink to the game.

The game will be televised live nationally by Fox Sports Net, with Kevin Eschenfelder and Brenda VanLengen calling the action. It will be Nebraska’s fourth nationally televised game on FSN this season.

The contest will also be carried live on radio across the Husker Sports Network, with Matt Coatney and Jeff Griesch calling the action. Free live audio will be available on Huskers.com.

Both Nebraska and Texas Tech faced off against a top-10 Texas A&M team in their last contests. The Huskers suffered an 86-43 loss to the Aggies in College Station on Feb. 8, before the Lady Raiders surprised the Aggies with a 60-53 win in Lubbock on Wednesday. Nebraska will be trying to snap a five-game conference losing streak dating back to a Jan. 21 win in Lincoln over Kansas. The Lady Raiders had dropped back-to-back conference games before knocking off Texas A&M on Wednesday. Texas Tech suffered a 31-point setback at No. 16 Texas on Sunday, Feb. 8, before notching its biggest win of the year against A&M.

Cory Montgomery has been firing on all cylinders for the Huskers over the last four games. The 6-2 junior forward from Cannon Falls, Minn., is averaging 20.5 points and 8.8 rebounds over the past four contests, increasing her Big 12 averages to 15.4 points and 7.0 rebounds per game. She is shooting 49.3 percent from the field while hitting 12-of-13 free throws during the past four contests.

An All-Big 12 candidate both on the court and in the classroom, Montgomery has produced double figures in seven of NU’s last eight games with 15 or more points in six of those contests.

Short-Handed Huskers Taking Lumps Against Top Teams
Although Nebraska has dropped 10 of its last 12 games, 11 of those contests have come against 2008 postseason teams, including nine games against teams that advanced to last year’s NCAA Tournament. Five of the losses have come to AP Top 16 teams during that stretch, while a fifth came to an Iowa State team that was ranked 22nd in the USA Today/ESPN Coaches poll at game time.

The young Huskers had a third member of their 14-player roster undergo season-ending surgery three weeks ago. Layne Reeves, a freshman guard from Lubbock, Texas, had surgery to repair of torn meniscus on Friday, Jan. 23. Reeves joins two-time first-team All-Big 12 forward Kelsey Griffin and junior center Nikki Bober on NU’s inactive list.

The Huskers have played their last six games without a senior starter in the lineup. Tay Hester, NU’s lone active senior, has come off the bench over the last six contests.

Young Huskers Battling More Experienced Big 12 Foes
Nebraska’s projected starting lineup for Saturday’s game with Texas Tech has combined for just 175 career starts. Although Texas Tech features one of the Big 12’s most inexperienced starting fives, the Lady Raiders have still combined for 212 starts entering Saturday’s game.

In contrast, the last opponent for both the Huskers and Texas Tech - Texas A&M - featured a starting five that has combined for 343 starts entering this weekend - nearly the combined total of NU and Tech (387).

Texas Tech does feature senior starters in Dominic Seals (54) and Maria Moore (44), along with juniors Jordan Murphree (69) and Ashlee Roberson (29). True freshman Kierra Mallard has made 16 starts in her young Texas Tech career, which is still more individual starts than Husker sophomores Kaitlyn Burke and Catheryn Redmon have made in the NU lineup.

Nebraska has not had a senior in the starting lineup in the past six games. NU’s two most experienced starters are junior guard Yvonne Turner and sophomore guard Dominique Kelley who have joined each other in the Huskers’ starting five for each of the past 55 games.

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 14.2 points and 7.4 rebounds per game, including 15.4 points and 7.0 boards in Big 12 action. She earned the first Big 12 Player-of-the-Week honor of her career on Dec. 1.

Montgomery has produced double figures in seven of NU’s last eight games, including three straight 20-plus point performances from Jan. 27 to Feb. 4. She produced her fourth double-double of the year with 22 points and a career-best 14 rebounds against No. 8 Baylor on Feb. 4. She played a career-high 38 minutes and also tied a career-best with three assists going head-to-head with BU’s Danielle Wilson.

Montgomery’s effort against the Lady Bears followed on the heels of a career-high 24 points to go along with nine rebounds at Colorado on Jan. 31.

Her performance at CU, which included 9-of-16 shooting from the field and a 2-for-3 showing from three-point range, capped the most productive week of her career. She averaged 22.5 points and 7.5 rebounds per game, following a 21-point, six-rebound effort at No. 14 Kansas State on Jan. 27.

In her three-year career, Montgomery owns nine 20-plus scoring performances, including seven this season.

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.

Montgomery pumped in 22 points in NU’s win over Butler on Nov. 28. She also contributed 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.

She had 18 points and six rebounds in NU’s win over Kansas on Jan. 21, and contributed 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.

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 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 15 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 16 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).

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 12.3 points per game through nine league games. She opened Big 12 play by hitting 13-of-28 (46.4 percent) of her three-point attempts, but missed 19 straight attempts after suffering a minor shoulder injury in the second half against Iowa State. She bounced back in the second half against No. 8 Baylor, knocking down three straight three-pointers to lead a furious second-half comeback against the Lady Bears.

She still leads the Huskers with 17 three-pointers through nine league contests and 39 overall on the year. Turner ranks second on the team in scoring overall and in league games. She has also increased her assist and steals numbers in conference action, averaging 2.7 assists and 2.6 steals in Big 12 play. At Colorado, she dished out a season-high seven assists, while matching her season best with four steals.

Turner trails only Missouri’s RaeShara Brown and Texas A&M’s Danielle Gant in Big 12 games and overall in steals per game. Turner is averaging 2.4 steals per contest on the season. She has two or more steals in seven of NU’s first nine league games, including four steals at Texas and Colorado.

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 11.6 points per game, while adding 3.3 rebounds, 2.0 assists and a team-leading 2.4 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.

She produced a 17-point effort against No. 8 Baylor (Feb. 4), when she hit three three-pointers and went 6-for-6 at the free throw line. Turner added 17 points on 6-of-11 shooting, including a 3-for-6 effort from long range in NU’s win over Kansas (Jan. 21). She added 12 points in losses at Missouri (Jan. 17) and to Iowa State (Jan. 24), combining to go 6-for-13 from three-point range in those two contests.

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 nine games 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 ranks 16th in Big 12 games with 12.3 points per game, while ranking third in the Big 12 with 2.6 steals per contest.

Turner is tied for eighth in the league with 1.8 three-pointers made per game in Big 12 action.

VT for Three
Yvonne Turner (nickname VT) leads the Huskers with 39 three-pointers through 22 games this year. Turner has hit 24-of-71 three-point attempts (33.8 percent) over the last 13 games, despite missing 19 consecutive long-range attempts from the second half of the Iowa State game to the second half of the Baylor game. Before her recent three-game slump, Turner had connected on 47.7 percent (21-44) of her attempts dating back to the Long Beach State game on Dec. 12. After missing her first three attempts against No. 8 Baylor, she knocked down three straight three-pointers in the second half against the Lady Bears.

With a trio of three-pointers against Baylor, Turner moved into a tie with Kate Galligan (1994-95) for fourth 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 seventh against Baylor. Turner owns 83 career triples, moving ahead of Brooke Schwartz (1997-00) on NU’s three-point list. She needs 13 threes to catch Amanda Went (1998-01) for sixth on the Husker career chart.

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 152 career steals, Turner is approaching Nebraska’s all-time top 10 on that list, needing 36 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 22 games, including two or more steals in 17 contests. She has produced two or more steals in seven of NU’s first nine Big 12 games, ranking third in the league with 23 steals (2.6 spg). She also ranks third overall with 53 steals through 22 games (2.4 spg), trailing Missouri’s RaeShara Brown and Texas A&M’s Danielle Gant on both league charts. Turner ranks 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 Colorado, 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 55 consecutive games and averaging 2.4 steals per game during that span. She has recorded at least one steal in 50 of those 55 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 NU’s last 17 games, Turner has scored no fewer than six points in any contest, averaging 12.4 points per game during that stretch.

Turner owns 26 career double-figure scoring efforts, including 14 in 22 games this season. She has produced double figures in 24 of NU’s last 42 games, after having just two in her first 41 contests.

She has scored 15 or more points six times this year, including four times in the last nine 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. She also produced 17 points and a pair of steals against No. 8 Baylor on Feb. 4.

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.

Five of Turner’s career 15-plus-point games have come against top-25 opponents, and in seven games this season against AP Top-25 teams at game time, Turner has averaged 12.4 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.

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 9.6 points per game, while adding 3.2 rebounds per contest. Kelley also leads the Huskers with 2.7 assists per game and has added nearly one steal per contest. She is also shooting 81.1 percent at the free throw line.

Kelley was honored as a "Hometown Husker" during NU’s win over Kansas on Jan. 21. 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 has made 55 consecutive starts to open her career, had a 16-point, four-assist effort at Colorado on Jan. 31. It was Kelley’s highest scoring performance of her career in a Big 12 game. Kelley also matched Yvonne Turner for team-high scoring honors with 12 points against Iowa State in Lincoln on Jan. 24. Kelley owns 11 double-figure scoring efforts this season.

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 11 double-figure scoring efforts in 22 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 15 games as a starter. The 6-3 center from Grand Prairie, Texas is averaging 7.3 points, 7.3 rebounds and 2.3 blocks per game in the starting lineup. She has scored 110 points, pulled down 109 boards and blocked 34 shots in NU’s last 15 contests, after getting just 18 points, 11 rebounds and three blocks in NU’s first seven games. Twelve of those games have come against 2008 posteason teams, including 10 NCAA Tournament squads from a year ago.

In fact, Redmon’s totals from the last 15 games have far surpassed her totals from her first 23 career games, when she produced 57 points, 47 boards and 12 blocks.

Redmon produced arguably the best game of her career with 12 points, 11 rebounds and a career-high five blocked shots at Missouri (Jan. 17). It was her third double-double in the last 13 games. She just missed her fourth double-double, finishing with 12 points and nine rebounds at Colorado on Jan. 31.

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 1,042 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 five double-digit rebound totals in her 15 games as a starter.

Scouting The Texas Tech Lady Raiders
A talented and experienced Texas Tech team comes to Lincoln to face the Huskers on Saturday. The Lady Raiders own a 14-9 record and a 4-5 Big 12 mark, after a win over No. 12 Texas A&M in Lubbock on Wednesday night. Texas Tech owns Big 12 wins over Texas, Texas A&M and Kansas in Lubbock, along with a 66-60 road win at Colorado. Tech also owns quality non-conference victories over UCLA and Arkansas. The Lady Raiders are No. 33 in the most recent CollegeRPI.com rankings with a No. 14 Strength of Schedule.

Senior forward Dominic Seals leads the Lady Raiders with 13.7 points and 7.8 rebounds per game, while freshman center Kierra Mallard gives Tech one of the most productive inside duos in the Big 12. Mallard is averaging 9.8 points and 8.1 rebounds per game. Both post players have increased their production in Big 12 play, with Seals averaging 13.8 points and 7.9 boards per game, while Mallard has nearly averaged a double-double with 10.3 points and 9.3 rebounds per game in league action.

Senior point guard Maria Moore has helped stabilize the Texas Tech backcourt this season by averaging 9.0 points, 3.6 rebounds and a team-leading 3.4 assists per game. In Big 12 action, Moore has averaged 10.7 points and 2.6 assists per game. Moore trails only junior guard Jordan Murphree on the team with 30 steals. Murphree leads Tech with 33 steals, while ranking second in scoring with 10.0 points per contest. She has contributed 3.8 rebounds per contest.

Junior guard Ashlee Roberson rounds out Tech’s starting five with solid averages of 5.6 points and 5.6 rebounds per contest.

Texas Tech also brings one of the deepest benches in the league to Lincoln. The Lady Raiders have featured 11 regular contributors throughout the season, with all 11 individuals starting at least one game. Senior guard LaVonda "Tiny" Henderson has made 12 starts while averaging 2.4 points, 2.1 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game.

Tilmila Martin (5.7 ppg, 1.4 rpg), freshman post Jordan Barncastle (4.5 ppg, 3.2 rpg), Keisha Walker (4.5 ppg, 1.3 rpg) and Maddy Brown (4.0 ppg, 1.3 rpg) all fill roles for the Lady Raiders off the bench.

As a team, Texas Tech is averaging 65.2 points per game, while surrendering 60.1 points per contest. The Lady Raiders are shooting 40.2 percent from the field, while holding the opposition to 37.5 percent shooting. Tech has struggled at times from long range, hitting just 30.7 percent of its three-point attempts, while allowing opponents to connect on 33.3 percent of their three-point tries. Tech has hit 69.1 percent of its free throws on the year.

The Lady Raiders own a plus-2.2 team rebounding margin on the year and a plus-1.4 team turnover margin. However, in Big 12 play, Tech carries a plus-0.4 rebounding margin and a minus-1.8 turnover margin.

Nebraska vs. Texas Tech Series History
Texas Tech has dominated the all-time series with Nebraska, owning a commanding 13-2 advantage. The Lady Raiders own the longest active winning streak of any Big 12 team against the Huskers, reeling off 12 straight wins dating back to NU’s last victory in 1997.

The Huskers defeated Texas Tech 62-57 on Feb. 9, 1997. Since then, the Lady Raiders have won five straight at the Devaney Center, six straight in Lubbock and one more game at the Big 12 Tournament.

In the last meeting between the two teams in Lincoln, the Lady Raiders escaped with a 70-69 victory on Valentine’s Day 2007. That result followed a 61-59 loss to Tech in Lubbock on Jan. 21, 2006.

Each of the last four games in the series have been decided by 10 points or less.

Huskers Fall at No. 10 Texas A&M
Cory Montgomery scored a game-high 15 points, but No. 10 Texas A&M played suffocating defense on its way to an 86-43 win at Reed Arena on Feb. 8.

Nebraska slipped to 10-12 overall and 1-8 in the Big 12, while Texas A&M improved to 18-4 and 6-3 in the league. Texas A&M forced a season-high 28 turnovers by the Huskers and converted them into 28 points. The Aggies held NU to just 46 field goal attempts and just 13 made field goals on their way to the victory.

Texas A&M, which entered the game as one of the nation’s top defenses, holding opponents to less than 55 points per game and 35 percent shooting from the field, limited the Huskers to just 28.3 percent shooting, including just 1-of-12 shooting from three-point range. NU was a perfect 16-for-16 at the free throw line. Nebraska’s 43-point loss tied for the second-largest margin of defeat in school history.

Montgomery finished as the only Husker in double figures with 15 points and a team-high six rebounds, while hitting 7-of-14 shots from the field. The rest of the Huskers combined to go 6-for-32 from the floor.

The Aggies’ defense created easy opportunities for them throughout the day, as A&M hit 61 percent (36-59) of its shots from the field, including 3-of-6 three-pointers. A&M also hit 11-of-17 free throws, while outrebounding NU, 33-26. The Huskers went just 5-for-21 from the field and pulled down just eight rebounds in the second half against the Aggies.

Sydney Carter and Takia Starks led A&M with 13 points, while Tanisha Smith pitched in 11 points for Texas A&M. Ten Aggies scored in the game, as the A&M bench outscored the NU bench 47-4 on the afternoon. Only six Huskers found the scoring column on the day, including eight points from Yvonne Turner and seven points from Catheryn Redmon.

Nebraska got out to a solid start, scoring the game’s first four points and shooting to a 6-2 lead with 15:55 left in the first half. Sydney Colson then sparked a Texas A&M 10-0 run with suffocating perimeter defense that resulted in a transition layup for Colson and a pair of baskets for Starks.

The Huskers went five minutes without scoring and only managed three field goal attempts during A&M’s run, before Turner stopped the surge with a layup to pull NU within 12-8 with 10:55 left. After a steal and layup by Colson, Montgomery hit a jumper to keep the Huskers within 14-10 before Adaora Elonu scored the Aggies’ first basket of the game in their halfcourt offense with 9:08 left in the half.

Montgomery then hit another jumper before a Colson three-pointer helped spark another A&M surge. The Aggies took their first double-digit lead on a three-point play from Carter with 3:57 left in the half, and carried a 40-25 lead into the locker room.

Montgomery led NU with 11 points and six rebounds in the first half. Montgomery went 5-for-8 from the field, but was the only Husker to hit more than one shot from the field in the first 20 minutes. Turner added six points, four rebounds and two first-half assists, while Dominique Kelley and Redmon each contributed four first-half points.

The Aggies put 10 players in the scoring column in the first half, led by Colson’s nine points and five steals. A&M hit 18-of-33 shots from the field, including 2-of-3 three-point attempts, while forcing 15 NU turnovers. Texas A&M scored 14 points off those turnovers.

The Huskers hit just 8-of-25 field-goal attempts, including an 0-for-5 effort from long range. NU was a perfect 9-for-9 at the free throw line, and outrebounded the Aggies, 18-15, in the opening period. Nebraska also forced seven A&M turnovers, but managed just four points off the Aggie miscues.

Texas A&M outscored Nebraska, 12-0, on fastbreak points in the first half, and the Aggie bench outproduced the Husker bench, 19-0, in the first 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 Texas Tech game averaging 4.9 points, 1.4 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game. She also ranks second on the team with 19 made three-pointers.

Burke erupted for a season-high 13 points on 6-for-11 shooting at Missouri on Jan. 17. It was her third double-figure scoring effort of the year, and her second in the last seven 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-to-1 (38-to-19).

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 six straight starts beginning with a win over Kansas on Jan. 21.

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 22 games of 2008-09, Nebraska is forcing an average of 18.0 turnovers per game and has forced four opponents (Colorado, Oral Roberts, Denver and Southern Utah) into 25 or more turnovers, including a season-high 26 by Colorado on Jan. 31. Turner is again leading the way for NU with 53 steals, giving her 134 steals in her 55 career games as a starter (2.4 spg). She has at least one steal in every game for NU this season with 10 games of three or more steals.

Turner has 152 career steals and needs 36 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 this season. The 5-8 junior guard from Charter Oak, Iowa, is averaging 3.2 points and 1.9 rebounds per game.

Kuhlmann has scored in double figures three times this season, 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-21 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. 2 in the Feb. 9 AP Poll. No. 7 Baylor came to Lincoln on Feb. 4, before the Huskers traveled to current No. 12 Texas A&M on Feb. 8. NU also traveled to No. 13 Texas on Jan. 14, before facing No. 16 Iowa State on Jan. 24. The Huskers also met No. 20 Kansas State in Manhattan on Jan. 27). The Huskers will play the rematches with Iowa State on Feb. 18 in Ames, and Kansas State on Feb. 25 in Lincoln.

Outside of conference action, the Huskers dropped a narrow 69-65 decision to current No. 18 Ohio State (Dec. 6), before notching a 62-58 win over then-No. 24 Arizona State at the Devaney Center on Dec. 28. The Sun Devils dropped out of the poll after losing to NU, but they are currently on the second-longest winning streak in school history to improve to 17-6. ASU is threatening to re-enter the polls, coming in at No. 27 this week.

In addition to the seven Husker opponents currently ranked in the AP Top 25, Arizona State, New Mexico and LSU have all been ranked in the poll at least one week during the season, and Oklahoma State had been in each of the top 25 rankings until the Jan. 26 poll. ASU, OSU and LSU are all among the top teams in the nation receiving votes this week. UTEP and Texas Tech have also received votes in the poll during the course of the season.

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.

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 Showed 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 1-4 against the North, including a nine-point home win over Kansas (67-58) at the Devaney Center on Jan. 21. The Huskers suffered a one-point road loss at Missouri (67-66) on Jan. 17, and a two-point road loss at Colorado (75-73) on Jan. 31. NU dropped a 62-48 decision to Iowa State in Lincoln on Jan. 24, before falling 51-40 at No. 14 Kansas State on Jan. 27.

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 came on Saturday, Jan. 24, when the Huskers took on Iowa State at the Devaney Center. FSN also followed the Huskers to Boulder when they clashed with Colorado at the Coors Events Center on Saturday, Jan. 31.

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 debuted on Fox Sports Midwest on Saturday, Jan. 17, when they traveled to Columbia to take on the Missouri Tigers.

The Huskers appeared on Fox Sports Midwest on Tuesday, Jan. 27, when they took on No. 14 Kansas State in Manhattan, Kan. 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 also played on Fox Sports Southwest during its road game at Texas on Jan. 14.

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
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 Trip to Kansas
The Fastbreakers have planned two bus trips to Nebraska women’s basketball road games during the 2008-09 season. The Fastbreakers traveled to Colorado (Jan. 31), and will also follow the Huskers to Kansas (Feb. 28). The cost of the 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 Trip to Kansas 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 331-118 (.737) in games played in the arena, including 121-77 (.611) 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 67-22 (.753) at the Devaney Center, with no more than four losses in any season. Nebraska is 7-4 at the Devaney Center in 2008-09 with its only losses to top-25 foes Oklahoma, Ohio State, Iowa State and Baylor.

Six Huskers Earn Big 12 Honor Roll Spots
Kala Kuhlmann posted a perfect 4.0 grade-point average during the fall semester to lead a contingent of six Nebraska women’s basketball players on the Big 12 Commissioner’s Academic Honor Roll.

Kuhlmann, a junior from Charter Oak, Iowa, posted a perfect GPA as a psychology and Spanish double major. It was her fifth straight appearance on the Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll. A first-team academic All-Big 12 selection in 2008, Kuhlmann will be a leading contender to repeat those honors again this season.

Kuhlmann was joined on the honor roll by senior forward Kelsey Griffin, junior center Nikki Bober, sophomore guard Kaitlyn Burke, sophomore center Jessica Periago and freshman forward Harleen Sidhu.

Griffin, who is redshirting with an injury this season, earned her seventh consecutive appearance on the honor roll. A two-time first-team All-Big 12 performer on the court and in the classroom, the native of Eagle River, Alaska, is a biological sciences major with a chemistry minor.

Bober, a native of Murdock, Neb., claimed her third spot on the Big 12 Commissioner’s honor roll. The management major suffered a knee injury in late-December and is out for the season.

Burke and Periago joined Bober as three-time honor roll selections. Both Burke and Periago are excelling at Nebraska as international students. Burke, a starter on the court, is a native of North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, while Periago came to NU from Toulon, France.

A third international student, Harleen Sidhu, claimed her first appearance on the honor roll. A native of Surrey, British Columbia, Canada, Sidhu has played in all 22 games in her first season at Nebraska.

A total of 324 Nebraska student-athletes earned spots on the 2008 Fall Big 12 Commissioner’s Academic Honor Roll, including 38 Huskers who posted perfect 4.0 grade-point averages. In order to earn a spot on the honor roll, a student-athlete must post a GPA of 3.0 or higher during the semester.