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Nebraska vs. South Florida
Thursday, Dec. 30, 5:05 p.m.
Lincoln, Neb. (Devaney Center)
Radio: Husker Sports Network - 105.3 FM-KLNC in Lincoln, 93.3 FM-KTWI in Omaha
Internet: Live radio on Huskers.com
Huskers Return Home to Battle Bulls
There's nothing like the holiday break to renew energies and refocus after a tough three-game tournament. The Nebraska Women's Basketball team returns home after going 0-3 in the 'Duel In The Desert' Tournament last week in Las Vegas. In Monday's 65-51 loss to Louisville, 6-2 freshman forward Jordan Hooper notched her third double-double in the past five games by leading the Huskers with 18 points and 10 rebounds. With three double-doubles on the season, Hooper has already matched the freshman season total of 2010 first-team All-American Kelsey Griffin, and her three double-doubles lead all current Big 12 freshmen. She also ranks second among league freshmen in scoring with 15.9 points per contest. Hooper and her NU teammates return to start a three-game home stand Thursday evening when they face the South Florida Bulls.
USF was in Las Vegas last week in the same complex as Nebraska, but played across the concourse in the Thomas and Mack Center in the four-team BTI Travelers' Classic. USF defeated UNLV in overtime and bested SMU before losing to Texas 83-65. The Bulls are 9-5 on the season and opened Big East Conference play on December 2 with an 80-54 loss to #1-ranked Connecticut. South Florida has advanced to seven straight post-season tournaments and captured the 2006 WNIT Championship.
This season's edition of USF Women's Basketball includes a host of newcomers. In fact, four of the five top scorers on the roster did not play for the Bulls last year. Headlining a talented backcourt is 2010 National Junior College Player of the Year Andrea Smith. A transfer from Gulf Coast Community College, Smith is the only USF player to start every game this season. She leads the team in scoring (16.9 ppg) and three-pointers (27). Her twin sister Andrell also starts in the USF backcourt and like Andrea, was part of the starting backcourt that won the national JUCO championship last season for Gulf Coast CC. She averaged 8.4 ppg.
6-0 junior transfer Daleisha Carn has started six games for South Florida. She transferred from Alabama after the 2009 season. She averages 7.1 ppg. 6-2 senior forward Porche Grant returns to the Bulls lineup after sitting out all of the 2009-10 season. A dominant inside player, Grant had a 20-rebound game in the BTI Classic against the host UNLV Lady Rebels. She has four double-doubles this season and averages 8.3 ppg and a team-leading 10.8 rebounds per game. 5-7 sophomore Kaneisha Saunders was named to the Big East All-Freshman Team last season after stepping into the starting lineup midway through the season.
After an ACL injury to Jasmine Wynne 18 games into the season, Saunders was the point guard down the stretch and she has been the starter at that position in 10 games this season. Saunders averages 8.3 ppg and leads the team in assists. 5-10 senior Leondra Doomes-Stephens rounds out USF's probable starting lineup. She averages 5.3 ppg.
USF plays an up-tempo style that wants to disrupt their opponents. In seven of their 14 games this year, South Florida opponents have committed at least 24 turnovers. With a very deep roster, USF has put five of their opponents on the free throw line at least 30 times. By contrast, only three Nebraska opponents have been to the foul line as many as 20 times. Additionally, nine South Florida players have fouled out of games this season, while Nebraska has yet to have a player disqualified from a game due to fouls.
11th-year coach Jose Fernandez is the winningest coach in USF history. He won the 2009 WNIT championship and also took USF to their first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance in 2006.
Nebraska and South Florida have only met once before. The Huskers emerged victorious 91-50 in a 1983 matchup in Lincoln.
I cordially invite you to join Jeff Griesch and me for Nebraska Women's Basketball on the Husker Sports Network. Our radio broadcast Thursday evening begins with the Husker Courtside pre-game show at 4:45 p.m. (central) with the tip-off scheduled for 5:05 p.m. on KLNC 105.3 FM (WOW-FM) in Lincoln, and KTWI 93.3 FM (Twister 93.3) in Omaha. All Husker Women's Basketball broadcasts are also available for free worldwide on the internet at www.huskers.com. I hope you can join us.
Go Big Red!
Matt