Coatney's Call: UTPA Game Preview

Nebraska (6-1) vs. Texas-Pan American (2-6)
Sunday, Dec. 4, 2:05 p.m.
Devaney Center (Lincoln, Neb.)
Radio: 25-Station Husker Sports Network (Matt Coatney-PBP; Jeff Griesch-Analyst)
B107.3 FM-KBBK (Lincoln); Twister 93.3 FM-KTWI (Omaha); 1230 AM-KHAS (Hastings); 1400 AM-KCOW (Alliance)
Internet: Free live audio on Huskers.com
Live Premium Video: BTN All-Access (BTN.com) 

I'm sure some of you have been part of a longer road trip than the Nebraska women's basketball team just completed, but I doubt there are many of you.  The Huskers returned to Nebraska with a 2-1 record on a nine-day adventure that ended with a 73-57 setback at Georgia Tech Wednesday night. On day eight of the sojourn, NU's young team fell quickly behind a Yellow Jacket team that has five seniors and set a school record for wins (24) last season en route the second round of the 2011 NCAA Tournament. 

Lindsey Moore had a team-high 16 points and added four assists and five steals, and Jordan Hooper posted her sixth double-double of her young career with 15 points and 10 rebounds.  The Huskers return home to face the Texas-Pan American Broncs this Sunday afternoon at the Devaney Center in Lincoln.

If you're in the arena Sunday afternoon, scan the UTPA bench and you'll notice two former Huskers.  Bronc Assistant Coach LaToya Howell played for Nebraska for two seasons (2005-2006) and was the Huskers' starting point guard her senior season.  Graduate Assistant TK LaFleur played two seasons at NU before transferring. 

UTPA is 2-6 on the season, with wins over Paul Quinn College and Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. The Broncs game against Nebraska Sunday wraps up six straight games away from home, but the first outside the state of Texas.

Texas-Pan American retruns all five starters from last season. Sophomore guard LaQuita Garner is the only Bronc averaging double figures in points (12.5 ppg).  She also leads the team in three-pointers (16-38) and minutes per game (28.0 mpg). 

Senior forward Adanna Opara leads the team in blocked shots and is second in scoring (9.5 ppg) and rebounding (6.4 rpg). Senior forward Donna Jackson is the team's leading rebounder (7.1 rpg) and averages 9.4 rpg. Garner, Opara and Jackson have started every game this season for UTPA. Junior guard Bianca Torre has started all but one game, leads the team in assists and adds 7.6 points per game. She was the team's leading scorer a year ago. Junior guard Johnondra Patterson rounds out the UTPA probable starting lineup.  She averages 2.5 ppg. 
 
Denny Downing is in his third season as the UTPA head coach. He led the Broncs to a 12-19 record in his second season, which tied the program record for fifth-most wins in a season.  Texas-Pan American and Nebraska are tied in the all-time series 1-1 with the Huskers winning the last meeting 77-36 in 2006.
 
I cordially invite you to join Jeff Griesch and me for Nebraska women's basketball on the Husker Sports Network.  Our radio broadcast Sunday beings with the Husker Courtside pre-game show at 1:45 p.m. (central) with the tip-off scheduled for 2:05 p.m. on the Husker Sports Network, including our new Lincoln affiliate KBBK 107.3 FM (B-107.3) and KTWI 93.3 FM (Twister 93.3) in Omaha, KHAS 1230 in Hastings, KCOW 1400 in Alliance and available to all 25 of our network stations. 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. 
 
There are a number of ways to get enhanced information about our broadcast and Husker women's basketball via social media. You can learn more about the team on the Nebraska women's basketball Facebook page or follow the team on their official Twitter  page @huskerswbb.  I also invite you to friend me on Facebook (Matt Coatney) or follow me on Twitter @coatman1.

Go Big Red! 

Matt