%20--%3e%3csvg%20version='1.1'%20id='Nebraska_N'%20xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg'%20xmlns:xlink='http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink'%20x='0px'%20y='0px'%20viewBox='0%200%20163%20152'%20style='enable-background:new%200%200%20163%20152;'%20xml:space='preserve'%3e%3cstyle%20type='text/css'%3e%20.st0{fill:%23FFFFFF;}%20%3c/style%3e%3cg%3e%3cpath%20class='st0'%20d='M159.1,144c-2.3,0-4.1,1.8-4.1,4s1.8,4,4,4s4-1.8,4-4S161.2,144,159.1,144z%20M159,151.2c-1.8,0-3.2-1.4-3.2-3.2%20s1.4-3.2,3.2-3.2c1.7,0,3.2,1.5,3.2,3.2C162.2,149.8,160.8,151.2,159,151.2z'/%3e%3cg%3e%3cpath%20class='st0'%20d='M157.4,145.6h1.4c0.6,0,0.8,0,1.1,0.2c0.4,0.2,0.6,0.6,0.6,1.1c0,0.4-0.1,0.7-0.3,1c-0.1,0.2-0.3,0.2-0.6,0.4%20h-0.1l1.1,2.1h-0.8l-1-2h-0.6v2h-0.8L157.4,145.6L157.4,145.6z%20M158.6,147.7c0,0,0.3,0,0.4,0c0.4-0.1,0.6-0.3,0.6-0.8%20c0-0.3-0.1-0.5-0.4-0.6c-0.1,0-0.1,0-0.6,0h-0.4v1.4L158.6,147.7L158.6,147.7z'/%3e%3c/g%3e%3c/g%3e%3cg%3e%3cpath%20class='st0'%20d='M147,0H93h-5v5v35v5h5h5v24.8L55.2,2.3L53.7,0H51H5H0v5v35v5h5h5v62H5H0v5v35v5h5h54h5v-5v-35v-5h-5h-5V82.2%20l42.8,67.5l1.5,2.3h2.7h46h5v-5v-35v-5h-5h-5V45h5h5v-5V5V0H147z%20M150,5v35v3h-3h-7v66h7h3v3v35v3h-3h-46h-1.6l-0.9-1.4L52,75.3%20V109h7h3v3v35v3h-3H5H2v-3v-35v-3h3h7V43H5H2v-3V5V2h3h46h1.7l0.9,1.4L100,76.7V43h-7h-3v-3V5V2h3h54h3V5z'/%3e%3c/g%3e%3cpath%20class='st0'%20d='M103,87L103,87L51,5H5v35c0,0,7.8,0,10,0c0,3.3,0,68.7,0,72l0,0c-2.2,0-10,0-10,0v35h54v-35c0,0-7.8,0-10,0l0,0%20c0-2.6,0-47,0-47l52,82h46v-35c0,0-7.8,0-10,0l0,0c0-3.3,0-68.7,0-72c2.2,0,10,0,10,0V5H93v35c0,0,7.8,0,10,0%20C103,42.6,103,87,103,87z'/%3e%3c/svg%3e)
#21/#19 Nebraska Cornhuskers
(18-5 Overall, 8-3 Big Ten)
Indiana Hoosiers
(17-7 Overall, 4-7 Big Ten)
Sunday, Feb. 16, Noon (Central)
Pinnacle Bank Arena (Lincoln, Neb.)
Tickets: Huskers.com / 1-800-8-BIG-RED
Radio: 25-Station IMG College Husker Sports Network
(PBP-Matt Coatney; Analyst-Jeff Griesch)
107.3 FM KBBK-Lincoln; 93.3 FM KFFF-Omaha
Free Live Audio: Huskers.com
Television: BTN/BTN2Go.com (PBP-Lisa Byington; Analyst-Vera Jones)
Special Event: Play4Kay
(WBCA Cancer Initiative/Awareness - Fans Encouraged to Wear Pink)
Huskers Shoot for Sixth Straight, Face Hoosiers on Play4Kay Day
The No. 21 Nebraska women’s basketball team takes aim at its sixth consecutive win when the Huskers play host to Indiana at Pinnacle Bank Arena on Sunday.
Tip-off between the Huskers (18-6, 8-3 Big Ten) and Hoosiers (17-7, 4-7 Big Ten) is set for Noon (CT) in Nebraska’s annual Play4Kay game as part of the WBCA’s initiative to promote cancer awareness. All fans are encouraged to wear pink to the game, and Nebraska will be wearing pink accessories.
Tickets are on sale now at Huskers.com or can be purchased the day of the game at the Pinnacle Bank Arena Box Office, starting at 10 a.m. The game will be televised live nationally by the Big Ten Network with Lisa Byington and Vera Jones on the call. Live radio coverage will be provided by the Husker Sports Network. Matt Coatney and Jeff Griesch will call the action on flagships B107.3 FM in Lincoln and The Wolf 93.3 FM in Omaha. A free live audio stream will be available on Huskers.com.
Nebraska returns to Lincoln in search of its 14th home win in its first season at Pinnacle Bank Arena. NU rolled to a 76-68 win at Michigan on Thursday, as All-American Jordan Hooper led five Huskers in double figures with 23 points and nine boards. Hooper hit 8-of-10 shots from the floor, including all three of her three-point attempts and all four of her free throws, to power a Nebraska offense that shot nearly 70 percent from the field and 100 percent (10-10) at the line through the first 28 minutes.
Hooper, who is a Senior Class Award finalist, climbed to No. 2 on Nebraska’s career scoring list with 2,134 points, passing Husker legend Maurtice Ivy. Hooper also ranks second in career rebounds (1,032) and three-pointers made (264). She needs three three-pointers against Indiana to tie Kiera Hardy’s Husker career three-point record with 267.
Nebraska has opened February with four straight wins, stretching its February winning streak to 12 games. NU’s last February loss came at Michigan State on Feb. 23, 2012. Nebraska is 14-4 overall, including 6-2 at home and 8-2 on the road in February as a member of the Big Ten.
Nebraska Cornhuskers (18-5, 8-3 Big Ten)
3 - Hailie Sample - 6-1 - Jr. - F - 6.5 ppg, 5.9 rpg
23 - Emily Cady - 6-2 - Jr. - F - 13.5 ppg, 9.3 rpg
35 - Jordan Hooper - 6-2 - Sr. - F - 19.5 ppg, 9.6 rpg
33 - Rachel Theriot - 6-0 - So. - G - 12.6 ppg, 3.3 rpg
1 - Tear’a Laudermill - 5-9 - Jr. - G - 11.1 ppg, 2.7 rpg
Off the Bench
13 - Brandi Jeffery - 5-7 - Jr. - G - 4.4 ppg, 2.2 rpg
22 - Allie Havers - 6-5 - Fr. - C - 3.4 ppg, 3.1 rpg
21 - Sadie Murren - 5-8 - So. - G - 3.1 ppg, 1.2 rpg
10 - Hannah Tvrdy - 5-9 - Fr. - G - 1.5 ppg, 0.4 rpg
11 - Esther Ramacieri - 5-8 - Fr. - G - 0.1 ppg, 0.5 rpg
Head Coach: Connie Yori (Creighton, 1986)
12th Season at NU (233-140); 24th Season Overall (428-280)
Indiana Hoosiers (17-7, 4-7 Big Ten)
14 - Tabitha Gerardot - 6-1 - Sr. - F - 9.1 ppg, 5.8 rpg
44 - Simone Deloach - 6-3 - Sr. - F/C - 6.0 ppg, 6.3 rpg
5 - Larryn Brooks - 5-5 - Fr. - G - 17.0 ppg, 3.3 rpg
10 - Taylor Agler - 5-9 - Fr. - G - 8.2 ppg, 3.8 rpg
23 - Alexis Gassion - 5-10 - Fr. - G - 7.5 ppg, 4.9 rpg
Off the Bench
22 - Sasha Chaplin - 6-4 - Sr. - C - 6.5 ppg, 3.0 rpg
24 - Karlee McBride - 5-10 - Fr. - G - 4.7 ppg, 1.6 rpg
40 - Lyndsay Leikem - 6-1 - Fr. - F - 4.7 ppg, 2.7 rpg
15 - Kaila Hulls - 5-11 - So. - G/F - 3.3 ppg, 1.8 rpg
55 - Milika Taufa - 6-0 - Sr. - F - 3.1 ppg, 2.9 rpg
12 - Nicole Bell - 5-4 - So. - G - 2.7 ppg, 0.5 rpg
Head Coach: Curt Miller (Baldwin-Wallace, 1993)
Second Season at Indiana (28-26); 13th Season Overall (286-118)
Vote Hooper for Senior CLASS Award
Nebraska All-American Jordan Hooper was chosen as one of 10 finalists for the 2014 Senior CLASS Award, when selections were announced on Feb. 12.
Hooper, a 6-2 forward from Alliance, Neb., ranks second in Husker history in points, rebounds, double-doubles and three-pointers. She is also one of just five players in Big Ten history to achieve the combined milestones of 2,000 points and 1,000 rebounds.
A candidate for the Wade, Naismith and Wooden National Player-of-the-Year awards, Hooper is trying to become the second Husker women’s basketball player to win the Senior CLASS Award in the last five years, joining 2010 winner Kelsey Griffin.
The award recognizes outstanding commitment by a senior student-athlete in the areas of competition, character, the classroom and in the community. Fans can vote on the award once per day per device by visiting SeniorCLASSAward.com. Fan votes will join choices by media and coaches as the determining factors in selecting a winner, which will be announced at the NCAA Women’s Final Four.
Husker fans can vote for Hooper now through March 24.
NCAA Announces Game Time Changes for Lincoln Regional
The NCAA announced two game time changes on Wednesday, Feb. 12, for Nebraska’s NCAA Lincoln Regional semifinals at Pinnacle Bank Arena on March 29. Tip time for regional semifinal game one has moved to 3:30 p.m., while semifinal game has shifted to 6 p.m.
Those game times were previously announced as 5:30 and 8 p.m. and printed in various advertisements, season schedules and on the actual game tickets. Fans are encouraged to check Huskers.com for current information and any additional event changes before attending the games, March 29 and 31.
Husker Hot Shots - Nebraska’s Starting Five
#35, Jordan Hooper, 6-2, Sr., F, Alliance, Neb. (19.5 ppg, 9.6 rpg)
• Senior All-American Jordan Hooper is within striking distance of Nebraska’s career three-point record as the Huskers play host to Indiana on Sunday. Hooper needs three threes to tie Kiera Hardy’s school record of 267 (2004-07). Hooper and Hardy are the only Huskers in history with more than 200 threes.
• Hooper was named one of 10 finalists for the 2014 Senior CLASS Award for women’s basketball on Feb. 12. Fans can vote for Hooper daily at SeniorCLASSAward.com through March 24. Women’s basketball All-American Kelsey Griffin won Nebraska’s first-ever Senior CLASS Award across all sports in 2010. Volleyball All-American Gina Mancuso added an award in 2012.
• With 23 points at Michigan Thursday, Hooper moved to No. 2 on NU’s career scoring list with 2,134 points, passing Nebraska legend Maurtice Ivy (2,131). Hooper trails only 1993 Wade Trophy winner Karen Jennings (2,405) on the Husker career scoring list.
• Hooper ranks second on the Nebraska career rebound chart with 1,032. Janet Smith owns the NU career record with 1,280 rebounds.
• Hooper is the third Husker and fifth Big Ten player in history to reach the combined career milestones of 2,000 points and 1,000 rebounds.
• Hooper owns 36 career double-doubles, tying 1993 Wade Trophy winner Karen Jennings in second on the NU all-time list. Hooper needs four to tie Kelsey Griffin’s school record of 40. Hooper is tied with teammate Emily Cady for second in the Big Ten this season with 10 double-doubles.
• Hooper ranks No. 13 in Big Ten history with 2,134 points and needs 26 points to catch Jenna Smith from Illinois (2,160, 2007-10) in 12th place.
• With nine rebounds at Michigan on Thursday, Hooper climbed past Laura Coenen (1,029, Minnesota, 1982-85) into 12th on the Big Ten’s all-time rebound chart. Hooper (1,032) is one of just 16 players in Big Ten history to reach 1,000 rebounds. Hooper needs 11 rebounds against Indiana Sunday to catch Karisma Penn (Illinois, 2010-13) in 11th on the Big Ten career list.
• Hooper ranks No. 10 nationally among all active NCAA Division I players with 2,134 career points. She ranks No. 3 in the Big Ten in scoring and No. 40 nationally with 19.5 points per game this season.
• Through games Feb. 13, Hooper ranks second in the Big Ten and 50th nationally with 9.6 rebounds per game. With 1,032 career rebounds, Hooper ranks No. 12 among all active NCAA Division I players.
• Hooper is expected to make her 122nd consecutive start in Sunday’s game against Indiana, which will tie her for third with Janet Smith (1979-82) at Nebraska. Kelsey Griffin (2007-10) ranks second with 127, while Lindsey Moore (2010-13) owns Nebraska’s career record with 132.
• With one assist at Michigan, Hooper increased her single-season high to 29. She has four more than her freshman and sophomore seasons combined (25), and seven more than she distributed in 2012-13.
• Hooper has scored in double figures in 106 of her 121 career games, including 45 20-point performances. She owns eight career 30-point efforts, including 33 points and 14 boards against Utah State (Dec. 8) and 30 points and 11 rebounds against ORU (Dec. 29) this season. She has grabbed double-digit rebounds on 42 occasions, including 12 times this year.
#23, Emily Cady, 6-2, Jr., F, Seward, Neb. (13.5 ppg, 9.3 rpg, 3.0 apg)
• One of the Big Ten’s most versatile forwards, Emily Cady ranks third in the Big Ten with 9.3 rebounds per game, including 10.1 boards in conference games-only. She ranks 20th overall in scoring (13.5 ppg), fifth in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.6-to-1), sixth in field goal percentage (.527), sixth in free throw percentage (.849) and 15th in assists (3.0 apg). In Big Ten games-only, Cady ranks third with her 2.0 assist-to-turnover ratio trailing only Husker point guard Rachel Theriot (2.5) and Iowa point guard Samantha Logic (2.3). Cady also ranks eighth in the league in assists (4.1 apg).
• Cady is tied with teammate Jordan Hooper for second in the Big Ten with 10 double-doubles on the season. Cady owns six double-doubles in Big Ten play.
• Cady notched her sixth Big Ten double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds at Wisconsin on Feb. 5. She had 12 points and 10 rebounds at Northwestern Jan. 26, after scoring 13 points and grabbing a career-high-tying 16 rebounds against Purdue Jan. 19. That followed a season-high 23 points to go along with 10 rebounds and six assists in the win over Minnesota on Jan. 16. She had 19 points and 10 rebounds at Illinois to go along with 16 points and 12 boards at Michigan State.
• Cady owns 18 career double-doubles, tying two-time WNBA All-Star Anna DeForge in eighth all-time at Nebraska. Cady needs three more double-doubles to catch Maurtice Ivy (1985-88) and Deb Powell (1982-85) in a tie for sixth with 21.
• Overall, Cady ranks No. 3 overall in the Big Ten with 9.3 rebounds per game, trailing only Minnesota’s Amanda Zahui B. (10.7 rpg) and teammate Jordan Hooper (9.6 rpg).
• Cady enters the Indiana game with 696 rebounds to rank ninth all-time at Nebraska. She needs 54 boards to catch Debra Powell (750, 1982-85) in eighth on the NU all-time list.
• Cady needs 55 points to become the 29th player in Nebraska history to score 1,000 in her career.
• Cady, who owns 945 points, 696 rebounds, 187 assists and 104 steals, needs 55 points, four rebounds and 13 assists to become just the third player in Nebraska history with 1,000 points, 700 rebounds, 200 assists and 100 career steals, joining Maurtice Ivy and Anna DeForge.
• Cady ranks 10th in NU history with 79 career blocks. She needs nine more to catch Casey Leonhardt (88, 2000-01) in ninth on the Husker career chart. Only seven Huskers have 100 career blocks.
• No player in Husker history has 1,000 points, 900 rebounds, 200 assists, 100 steals and 100 blocks.
#33, Rachel Theriot, 6-0, So., G, Middleburg Heights, Ohio
(12.6 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 6.5 apg)
• One of the best young point guards in the nation, Rachel Theriot is averaging 13.8 points and 7.6 assists in Big Ten play. She is averaging 12.6 points, 3.3 rebounds and 6.5 assists on the year.
• Theriot just missed her third double-double with nine points and a career-high 12 assists in NU’s 76-56 win over No. 24 Michigan State at Pinnacle Bank Arena Feb. 8. She notched her first career double-double with 10 points and 11 assists against Michigan on Jan. 29. She added her second double-double with 10 points and 11 assists at Wisconsin Feb. 5.
• During Nebraska’s five-game winning streak, Theriot is averaging 10.6 points and 8.8 assists with an impressive 3.7-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio (44-12).
• Theriot enters the Indiana game with 150 assists to match Nicole Kubik (1997-98) at No. 4 on Nebraska’s sophomore single-season list. Theriot needs three assists to tie Jina Johansen at No. 3 (153, 2002-03). Meggan Yedsena owns the Nebraska sophomore record (195, 1991-92) while Lindsey Moore (183, 2010-11) carries the second-best assist total by a sophomore in school history.
• Theriot earned the first Big Ten Player-of-the-Week award of her career on Jan. 20, after averaging 26.0 points and 6.5 assists against Minnesota and Purdue. She produced a career-high 33 points along with nine assists without committing a turnover in an 88-85 OT win over Minnesota Jan. 16. She scored 21 points after halftime, including 17 in the second half to lead NU back from a 14-point deficit with 13:40 to play. Theriot added four in overtime, including two free throws with 14.9 seconds left to seal the win.
• Theriot ranks third in the Big Ten and 14th nationally with 6.5 assists per game, including 7.6 assists per game in Big Ten play. She has produced back-to-back 100-assist seasons and owns 251 in her career. She needs 54 more assists to crack Nebraska’s career top 10 (Lis Brenden, 10th, 305, 1993-96).
• Theriot ranks No. 2 in the Big Ten in overall assist-to-turnover ratio (2.3-to-1). Her 2.5-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio in Big Ten games leads the conference.
• Theriot is tied for the Nebraska team lead with 24 steals on the season.
• Theriot has scored in double figures 16 times this season. She had a career-high 33 points in an overtime win over Minnesota (Jan. 16). It topped her previous season and career high of 28 points at Utah (Nov. 15), when she added a career-best seven rebounds. Theriot owns 23 career double-figure scoring efforts and two career 20-point games.
• Theriot has 290 points and 150 assists through 23 games. Last season, she had 211 points and 101 assists in 34 games, including 28 starts. Theriot’s production has come in 72 fewer minutes than 2012-13.
• In Big Ten play, Theriot leads the league with 39.4 minutes per game. She has played the full 45 minutes in both of NU’s overtime wins in conference play, and the full 40 against Northwestern (Jan. 2), Purdue (Jan. 19) and at Michigan (Feb. 13).
#1, Tear’a Laudermill, 5-9, Jr., G, Riverside, Calif.
(11.1 ppg, 2.7 rpg, 1.1 apg, 1.0 spg)
• Tear’a Laudermill is emerging as a rising star for the Huskers as a junior in Big Ten play. Over the last five games, Laudermill has averaged 18.2 points, 1.8 rebounds and 1.4 assists. She has hit a blistering 52.5 percent (32-61) from the field, including 50 percent (17-34) from three-point range.
• Laudermill has produced double figures in seven straight games, including a career-high 26 points on 9-of-12 shooting from the field with four threes in the win at Iowa Feb. 1. She added the second 20-point effort of her career with 21 points and a career-high five threes at Wisconsin Feb. 5.
• Over the last seven games, Laudermill has averaged 17.6 points per game, while hitting 52.5 percent (42-80) of her shots from the floor, including 53.7 percent (22-41) of her threes. In the first 16 games this season, Laudermill was 15-of-52 from beyond the arc.
• In Big Ten play, Laudermill is averaging 14.1 points, 2.4 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 1.4 steals in 25 minutes per game. In 2012-13, she averaged 6.1 points and 1.7 rebounds in 17.5 minutes per contest.
• In Big Ten play this season, Laudermill is 26-for-57 (.456) from long range. Last season, she went 12-for-43 (.279) from beyond the arc in Big Ten play.
• Laudermill ranks third in Big Ten three-point field goal percentage (.462) and ranks sixth in Big Ten three-pointers made (2.4 pg).
• Laudermill has scored double figures in seven straight games, including five games with 15 or more points. Prior to the stretch, she had scored a career-high 15 points just once (Creighton, Dec. 14, 2013) in the first 78 games of her career.
• Laudermill has scored in double figures in nine of 11 conference games, including seven straight.
• Laudermill has produced double figures 14 times this season - all in the last 19 games. She had just four double-figure efforts in the first 65 games of her career.
• Laudermill ranks third among the Huskers with 10 blocked shots this season. She produced five blocked shots in the first 62 games of her career, all coming last season.
• Laudermill is Nebraska’s No. 2 active career three-point shooter with 74 makes. She needs 22 more threes to crack NU’s career top 10. Her 37 made three-pointers this season are a career single-season high and trail only Jordan Hooper’s 49 among the Huskers. Laudermill’s 39.8 percent three-point shooting also is a career-best.
#3, Hailie Sample, 6-0, Jr., F, Flower Mound, Texas (6.5 ppg, 5.9 rpg, 2.3 apg)
• Hailie Sample is expected to join Jordan Hooper and Emily Cady in Nebraska’s starting front line for the 91st consecutive game on Sunday against Indiana.
• Sample is averaging 9.0 points and 6.2 rebounds while shooting 65.4 percent the last five games. Sample also has hit 11-of-14 free throws (.786) over the last five games. In two games against Michigan this season, Sample went 8-for-8 from the field and 4-for-4 at the free throw line.
• Sample carries averages of 6.5 points and 5.9 rebounds, while ranking third on the team with 2.3 assists. She produced double figures for the seventh time this season and third time in the last four games with 12 points, four rebounds and two assists Thursday night at Michigan. She had 10 points and seven rebounds at Wisconsin Feb. 5. She also had 10 points and six boards at Iowa Feb. 1. She had 12 points against No. 22 Purdue Jan. 19. She had a season-high 13 points in a win over Creighton on Dec. 14, after producing back-to-back double-digit efforts against Washington State and at North Carolina. Sample owns 13 career double-figure scoring performances, including a career-high 20 points at Creighton last season.
• Sample leads the Huskers and ranks 11th in the Big Ten in offensive rebounds (2.1 rpg).
• With 17 steals this season, Sample has surpassed her season total of 11 from a year ago.
• Sample needs 13 points, 22 rebounds, one assist and one block to match her totals from a year ago.
Husker Headliners
• Nebraska’s front line players Jordan Hooper, Emily Cady and Hailie Sample are expected to make their 91st consecutive starts together on Sunday against Indiana. The group is averaging 39.6 points and 24.7 rebounds per game this season.
• Emily Cady, Hailie Sample and Rachel Theriot have combined to step up their production from a year ago. The trio combined for just 447 points in NU’s first 23 games (19.4 ppg) last season compared to 751 points in 23 contests (32.7 ppg) this season - combining for 13.3 more points per game than 2012-13.
• Junior guard Brandi Jeffery started NU’s first three games. She missed the Southern game with an injury but has returned for Nebraska’s last 19 games. She is Nebraska’s top guard off the bench and has scored in double figures twice in the last eight games and three times this season, including 10 points against No. 24 Michigan State Feb. 8.
• Nebraska ranks No. 10 nationally with 87,994 fans at home this season. The Huskers rank 10th nationally with an average home attendance of 5,866 per game. The Huskers drew 10 of the top-16 non-conference home crowds in school history this season, including a record 9,750 vs. UCLA (Nov. 8).
Big Red, Big Picture
• Nebraska 2013-14 recruiting class is ranked No. 9 nationally by ESPN.
• Nebraska has sold more than 4,000 all-session tickets for the NCAA Lincoln Regional (March 29-31).
• Nebraska recognized 2013 All-American Lindsey Moore during the Oral Roberts game (Dec. 29) for her part in helping the Minnesota Lynx to the 2013 WNBA title. The first-round pick in the WNBA Draft returned to Lincoln from her professional team in Italy to receive a minute-long standing ovation.
• Nebraska retired 2010 All-American Kelsey Griffin’s jersey at the Michigan game (Jan. 29). The 2010 Senior CLASS Award winner and Nebraska Female Student-Athlete of the Year had her number raised at Pinnacle Bank Arena, but not permanently retired. Current Husker Emily Cady shares Griffin’s No. 23. Griffin, a four-year WNBA veteran, made a return trip to Lincoln from her club team in Australia.
• The Huskers have advanced to the NCAA Sweet 16 twice in the last four seasons (2010, 2013).
• NU has earned NCAA Tournament trips in five of the past seven seasons (2007, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2013).
• Coach Connie Yori is the winningest coach in Husker history (233 victories) and has won conference coach-of-the-year honors in the Big Ten (2013), Big 12 (2012) and Missouri Valley (2002). She was the national coach-of-the-year in 2010.
Scouting the Indiana Hoosiers
Coach Curt Miller has led the Big Ten’s biggest turnaround in 2013-14, as his Hoosiers have already won six more games overall and two more Big Ten contests than they did last season. Indiana is in the hunt for a postseason bid, and could be a team built for postseason tournament play because of its depth.
Indiana carries one of the deepest and most experienced benches in the Big Ten, but its starting lineup is one of the youngest in the conference. The Hoosiers feature three freshman guards in the backcourt, led by the 5-5 newcomer Larryn Brooks. The diminuitive Brooks has put up big numbers, averaging a team-best 17.0 points, 3.3 rebounds and 4.4 assists per game while connecting 37.2 percent (48-129) of her three-pointers. While Brooks’ scoring has dipped to 15 points per game in Big Ten play, she has increased her team-leading average to 5.5 assists per contest in the league.
Brooks sets the tone for an Indiana team that has lived from long range this season. As a team, the Hoosiers are hitting 7.5 three-pointers per game and shooting 34.1 percent from beyond the arc.
Freshman Taylor Agler, a 5-9 guard, has joined Brooks in IU’s starting backcourt for all 24 games this season and filled it up from long range. Agler, who is the daughter of current Seattle Storm and former Kansas State head coach Brian Agler, is averaging 8.2 points on the year and 9.4 points in Big Ten play. She has hit 38.6 percent (34-88) of her threes on the year, including 40.4 percent (23-57) in league action.
A third freshman, Alexis Gassion, has started the last 22 games alongside Brooks and Agler in the Hoosier backcourt. The 5-10 Gassion is averaging 7.5 points and 4.9 rebounds per game on the season. Gassion is one of Indiana’s top perimeter defenders, but has hit 22.7 percent (15-66) of her threes on the year.
Indiana brings even more youth off the bench in the backcourt. Karlee McBride, a 5-10 freshman guard, has increased her contributions throughout the season. The younger sister of Notre Dame starting guard Kayla McBride, Karlee is averaging 4.7 points and 1.6 boards per game. Sophomore Kaila Hulls, a 5-11 swing player, has added 3.3 points and 1.8 boards. The younger sister of former Hoosier men’s guard Jordan Hulls, Kaila started IU’s first two games this season. Nicole Bell, a 5-4 sophomore, was Indiana’s starting point guard at times last season and averages 2.7 points and 0.5 boards per contest.
While Indiana’s top six guards are all freshmen or sophomores, the Hoosier front court features extensive experience. Sasha Chaplin, a sixth-year senior who has spent several years in the IU starting five, was Indiana’s top returning player from a year ago. The 6-4 center started Indiana’s first 17 games this year, helping the Hoosiers to a 14-0 start. She averaged 10 points per game in non-conference play, but has seen her production and playing time drop off significantly in Big Ten play. Chaplin has come off the bench the last seven games and is averaging 6.5 points and 3.0 rebounds on the year.
Simone Deloach, a 6-3 senior center, has assumed a starting role for the Hoosiers the last four games. Deloach is coming off her fourth double-double of the year with 13 points and 15 rebounds in Thursday’s 71-63 home loss to No. 11 Penn State. She had 14 points and 14 boards in a win over Wisconsin Feb. 8. Deloach is averaging 6.0 points and a team-leading 6.3 rebounds per game on the year, including 7.1 points and 7.8 rebounds in Big Ten play. As a starter the last four games, she is averaging 11.3 points and 11.5 rebounds per game.
Senior Tabitha Gerardot, a transfer from Valparaiso, has added 9.1 points and 5.8 rebounds per game. Gerardot, a 6-1 forward, spent her first three seasons at Valpo before graduating and transferring to Indiana to play her final season. Her production has slipped to 6.5 points and 4.7 boards in Big Ten play.
A fourth senior post, Milika Taufa has played in 82 career games with 20 starts. Although she has not started this season, Taufa is still a regular contributor with 3.1 points and 2.9 boards in less than 10 minutes per game.
Indiana has also sampled youth inside. Jenn Anderson, a 6-3 freshman center, started three Big Ten games in place of Chaplin in the starting five. Anderson, who battled injury early in the season, has not played since seeing seven minutes of scoreless action at Iowa on Jan. 25.
Fellow freshman Lyndsay Leikem joined Anderson for three games in the starting five against Minnesota, Penn State and Iowa, when the Hoosiers started five freshmen. The 6-1 Leikem is averaging 4.7 points and 2.7 points on the year, but has increased her production to 7.6 points and 4.5 boards in Big Ten play.In her three games as a starter, she averaged 7.7 points and 3.3 rebounds per game. Since returning to the bench, Leikem thrived. She had a career-high 18 points and eight rebounds against Northwestern Jan. 30. She followed with her first career double-double with 10 points and a career-best 10 rebounds at Illinois Feb. 2. Over the last four games, Leikem is averaging 10.3 points and 6.0 boards per contest.
Indiana’s youth has created cause for excitement in Bloomington, but the Hoosiers have also experienced some growing pains in the Big Ten. After averaging 78.3 points per game in non-conference play, the Hoosiers have slipped to 66.2 points per game in the Big Ten. Defensively, they held 13 non-conference foes to just 59.8 points per game, but have surrendered 71.6 points per contest to Big Ten opponents.
Indiana’s inconsistency inside has hurt the Hoosiers in the Big Ten. While IU’s young guards have combined to hit 38 more three-pointers (+10.4 ppg) than their conference opponents, the Hoosiers have allowed 68 more two-point field goals than Big Ten foes (-12.4 ppg).
Despite their youth, Indiana’s guards have been exceptional taking care of the basketball, averaging just 12.0 turnovers per game in non-conference action. That number has increased slightly to 13.2 turnovers per game in the Big Ten, but the Hoosiers still rank among the top teams in the nation. Indiana carries a plus-0.4 turnover margin and a plus-0.2 team rebound margin in Big Ten play.
Nebraska vs. Indiana Series History
Nebraska and Indiana are tied in the all-time series 2-2, but the Huskers are 2-0 against the Hoosiers since joining the Big Ten Conference. Nebraska rolled to a 67-38 win over Indiana at Assembly Hall in Bloomington on Jan. 10. Rachel Theriot produced a breakout game with 14 points and six assists, while Tear’a Laudermill tied a then-career high with 14 of her own. Jordan Hooper and Emily Cady both produced double-doubles, as NU posted a plus-23 rebound margin in the game.
In their first meeting as Big Ten foes in Lincoln in 2012, Nebraska worked its way to a 62-48 win. In December 2010, Indiana logged a 67-61 win over the Huskers in the Big Ten/Big 12 Challenge at Assembly Hall. The Hoosiers won the first meeting between the two schools, 83-80 in overtime on Nov. 26, 1994.
Efficient Huskers Shoot Past Michigan, 76-68
No. 21 Nebraska hit 59.1 percent of its shots from the floor, including 6-of-11 three-pointers in an efficient 76-68 victory at Michigan on Thursday night in Ann Arbor.
The Huskers, who notched their fifth straight win, hit 66.7 percent (14-21) of their shots in the first half to take a 37-34 lead into the locker room. NU then opened the second half by hitting 9-of-12 shots, including a pair of three-pointers, while going 4-for-4 at the line to open up a 61-47 lead with 12:46 left.
By that point, all five Husker starters were already in double figures. Jordan Hooper led the Big Red with a game-high 23 points on 8-of-10 shooting, including a perfect 3-for-3 night from three-point range and a 4-for-4 night at the line. She added nine rebounds and an assist. With her third three-pointer, Hooper moved past Husker legend Maurtice Ivy into the No. 2 spot on Nebraska’s career scoring list. Emily Cady added 15 points and seven rebounds, while Rachel Theriot added 13 points and six assists. Hailie Sample played a nearly flawless offensive game with 12 points on 4-of-4 shooting from the field and a 4-for-4 effort at the free throw line. In two regular-season games against Michigan in 2014, Sample did not miss a shot. Tear’a Laudermill added 11 points, as all five Husker starters hit 50 percent of better of their shots in the game.
Double Trouble: Hooper, Cady Making History Together
Emily Cady scored 10 points and grabbed 11 rebounds to notch her 10th double-double of the season at Wisconsin Feb. 5, giving her and fellow forward Jordan Hooper a place together in Husker history. Hooper, who also owns 10 double-doubles this season, joined Cady in becoming the first teammates in Nebraska history to each produce double-digit double-doubles in the same season.
Hooper, who earned her 10th double-double with 25 points and 13 rebounds at Iowa on Feb. 1, has produced double-digit double-doubles for the second time in her career after producing 14 as a sophomore in 2011-12. Hooper added nine double-doubles last year and is tied for second in school history with 36 in her career, matching 1993 Wade Trophy winner Karen Jenning. Hooper, Jennings and Kelsey Griffin are the only Huskers in history to produce 10 or more double-doubles twice in their NU careers.
Cady’s 10 double-doubles this season made her just the sixth Husker in history to produce 10 or more double-doubles in a season, joining Hooper (14, 2011-12; 10, 2013-14), Griffin (10, 2006-07; 20, 2009-10), Jennings (13, 1990-91; 13, 1991-92); Nafeesah Brown (16, 1993-94), Maurtice Ivy (10, 1985-86) and Carol Garey (10, 1978-79). Nebraska players have produced double-digit double-doubles in a season just 10 times in history.
Hooper Named to Wooden Midseason Top 20, Naismith Top 30
Two-time All-American Jordan Hooper was one of 21 players chosen to the Wooden Award Midseason Top 20 and the Naismith Trophy Midseason Top 30 in recent weeks. Hooper is also a member of the Wade Watch List in 2014.
Hooper, a 6-2 senior forward from Alliance, Neb., is a two-time WBCA and Associated Press honorable-mention All-American and a two-time first-team All-Big Ten selection. She is just the third player in Nebraska history to score 2,000 points and grab 1,000 rebounds in her career, joining 1993 Wade Trophy winner Karen Jennings and 2010 first-team WBCA All-American Kelsey Griffin. Hooper, who has scored 2,134 points and pulled down 1,032 rebounds in starting the first 121 games of her Husker career, is also in position to break the school’s three-point record. She enters the Indiana game with 264 made three-pointers, just three shy of the school record held by three-time first-team All-Big 12 guard Kiera Hardy (2004-07). Hooper has averaged nearly 72 three-pointers per season at Nebraska, including 81 a year ago when she helped shoot the Huskers to the 2013 NCAA Sweet 16.
Over the summer, Hooper helped the USA Basketball Women’s World University Games Team to a gold medal in Kazan, Russia. In the championship, Hooper earned a start and scored nine points while grabbing nine rebounds while going head-to-head against several members of Russia’s 2012 Olympic Team.
Hooper was one of three players from the Big Ten to earn mention on the Wooden Award Midseason Top 20 and the Wade and Naismith preseason lists, joining Penn State’s Maggie Lucas and Minnesota’s Rachel Banham.
Nebraska Celebrates Season One at New Arena
Nebraska celebrates its first season in Pinnacle Bank Arena in 2013-14. The arena, located in the historic Haymarket in downtown Lincoln just steps away from the Nebraska campus, will serve as the new home for Husker men’s and women’s basketball teams.
The $179 million project was completed in the summer of 2013 after being approved by voters in May of 2010. A ribbon cutting ceremony that included Governor Dave Heineman, Lincoln Mayor Chris Beutler, UNL Chancellor Harvey Perlman, Director of Athletics Shawn Eichorst and Husker coaches Connie Yori and Tim Miles, tipped off the opening of the new arena in late August.
The 470,400-square foot arena project has sparked a revitalization of the Haymarket District, including the addition of several new hotels and upscale housing options. It also has added the Railyard, an outdoor entertainment area adjacent to the arena. The Railyard includes “The Cube” a massive outdoor screen that will serve as a hub for other entertainment options.
In “Season One” at Pinnacle Bank Arena, the Husker women’s basketball program has experienced more than a 50 percent increase in season ticket sales, surpassing the 3,200 mark. The number shattered NU’s previous season ticket record.
The women’s program was also selected as one of four NCAA Regional hosts for the 2014 NCAA Tournament. The Huskers will play host to the NCAA Sweet 16 and Elite Eight rounds at Pinnacle Bank Arena, March 29-31. Nebraska has advanced to the NCAA Sweet 16 in two of the past four seasons, but Lincoln has not played host to an NCAA Tournament game in men’s or women’s basketball since 1993.
On the men’s side, the Huskers have sold out for the season, guaranteeing a school-record average of more than 15,000 per game in their first year at the arena.
Hooper Creating Historic Husker Career
Senior Jordan Hooper is leaving a legacy of success at Nebraska, while making her mark on the national landscape. The 6-2 forward from Alliance, Neb., ranks No. 10 among active NCAA Division I scorers with 2,134 career points. She ranks No. 12 among active Division I rebounders with 1,032 career boards. Hooper is 11th among active career three-point shooters with 264 makes and is one of only two forwards among the top 25, joining UConn’s Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis.
Hooper is one of only five active Division I players to achieve career milestones of 2,000 points and 1,000 career rebounds.
She ranks No. 5 in career field goal attempts (1,874), No. 7 in career three-point field goal attempts (781) and No. 11 in career field goals made (742) among all active NCAA Division I players.
Hooper Joins Big Ten All-Time Elite
Jordan Hooper became just the fifth player in Big Ten Conference history to achieve combined career milestones of 2,000 points and 1,000 rebounds, when she pulled down her 1,000th career board in the second half of Nebraska’s win over Michigan on Jan. 29. She enters the Indiana game with 2,134 points and 1,032 career rebounds, joining just four other Big Ten players - Jessica Davenport and Jantel Lavender from Ohio State, Jenna Smith from Illinois and Laura Coenen from Minnesota - in achieving the dual milestones.
Lavender (2008-11) scored 2,818 points and grabbed 1,422 rebounds, while Davenport (2004-07) had 2,303 points and 1,094 rebounds for the Buckeyes. Smith (2007-10) produced 2,160 points and 1,217 rebounds for the Fighting Illini, while Coenen (1982-85) was the first Big Ten player to achieve the marks with 2,044 points and 1,029 rebounds for the Golden Gophers.
Hooper, who is on track to rank among the top 10 career scorers and rebounders in Big Ten history, would join Davenport, Lavender and Smith as the only players in Big Ten history to rank among the top 10 on both lists. All three of those players were chosen in the top 15 in their respective WNBA Drafts.
Cady, Theriot Making Strong Cases for All-Big Ten Awards
Emily Cady is a two-time honorable-mention All-Big Ten pick who is making an impressive case for bigger honors as a junior. The 6-2 forward from Seward, Neb., enters the Indiana game tied with teammate Jordan Hooper for second in the Big Ten with 10 double-doubles, including six in conference play. Cady is one of only three players averaging better than 10 rebounds per game in league play.
Overall, Cady ranks third in the Big Ten in rebounding (10.1 rpg), third in assist-to-turnover ratio (2.0-to-1), eighth in assists (4.1 apg) and 20th in scoring (13.6 ppg) in Big Ten play. She also ranks among the top players in the conference overall in field goal percentage (6th, .527) and free throw percentage (6th, .849).
Sophomore Rachel Theriot also has been a dominant player for the Huskers in the Big Ten. The 6-0 point guard from Middleburg Heights, Ohio, ranks 19th in conference games-only with a 13.8 points per game. She leads the Big Ten with her 2.5-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio and her 39.4 minutes per game. She also ranks second in the conference with 7.6 assists per game.
Both Cady and Theriot were Big Ten All-Freshman selections early in their careers. Cady was chosen to the All-Freshman Team in 2011-12, while Theriot earned a spot in 2012-13.
Husker Front Line to Make 91st Straight Starts Together
Nebraska’s starting forwards of Jordan Hooper (121), Emily Cady (90) and Hailie Sample (90) have joined each other in the Huskers’ starting five for 90 consecutive games.
The inside trio has been joined in the Husker starting lineup for each of the last 51 games by Rachel Theriot. Brandi Jeffery started the first three games of 2013-14 with the quartet, after starting the first three games of 2012-13 with Hooper, Cady and Sample before being replaced in the starting five by Theriot. Tear’a Laudermill has taken over the starting role the past 20 games.
Consistent starting lineups are nothing new for the Huskers under Coach Connie Yori. In 2011-12, fifth-year senior guard Kaitlyn Burke joined Moore, Hooper, Cady and Sample in NU’s starting lineup for every game. Three times in Yori’s first 12 seasons at Nebraska, the Huskers have used the same starting five for every game in a season, including all 33 games in 2011-12. The 2006-07 Huskers featured the same starting five for 32 games on their way to a 22-10 season and the NCAA Tournament. Yori’s 2003-04 Huskers also used the same starting five for 30 games on their way to an 18-12 season and a WNIT bid.
A full year with the same starting five is rare in women’s college basketball. In fact, Nebraska was the only Big Ten team to feature the same starting five throughout 2011-12, and was one of only three teams in the 2012 NCAA Tournament to start the same five every game. Kansas State and BYU were the others.
Over the past nine seasons, Nebraska has used only 22 different starting lineups in 282 games.
Hooper Closing in on Husker Career Three-Point Record
Senior Jordan Hooper owns 264 career three-pointers, just six shy of the Husker career record set by Kiera Hardy (267, 2004-07). Hooper became the first Husker junior to reach 200 career threes in 2012-13. Hardy ended her junior campaign in 2005-06 with 196.
Hooper, who hit 67 three-pointers in each of her first two seasons as a Husker, knocked down 81 in 2012-13, to match Hardy’s 2005-06 total for the most by a junior in school history.
Hooper did not attempt a three-pointer on her way to a 33-point, 14-rebound performance against Utah State Dec. 8. It is the only game in Hooper’s career without a three-point attempt. She also went without hitting a three in Nebraska’s win over Creighton on Dec. 14. It marked just the second time in her career that she went without a made three-pointer in consecutive games, joining a home game against Kansas (0-2) on Jan. 16, 2010, and a road game at Kansas State (0-3) on Jan. 22, 2010 during her freshman season.
This season Hooper has hit three or more threes in a game on nine occasions.
Hooper Puts Up Double-Doubles at Record Rate
Jordan Hooper is tied for second all-time at Nebraska with 36 career double-doubles, following her second straight double-double when she produced 25 points and 13 rebounds at Iowa on Feb. 1. It came after a 25-point, 10-rebound performance against Michigan on Jan. 29.
Hooper owns 10 double-doubles this season and four in Big Ten play. She also had 18 points, 10 rebounds against Minnesota on Jan. 16, and 14 points and 10 boards against Northwestern on Jan. 2.
She owns two huge doubles this season with 30 points and 11 rebounds in a win over Oral Roberts on Dec. 29 and 33 points, 14 rebounds in a win over Utah State on Dec. 8.
Hooper, who produced three double-doubles in Big Ten play in 2013, has produced some monstrous doubles in her career. In fact, 21 of her career double-doubles have included 20-point scoring efforts, including five of her eight career 30-point games.
Her 30th career double-double came with 24 points and 14 rebounds in a loss to Washington State on Nov. 30. Last season in a win at 2013 NCAA second-round participant South Florida, Hooper poured in 24 points and had 14 rebounds. The previous game against 2013 NCAA second-round participant Florida State, Hooper erupted for 36 points and 12 boards in a win on Dec. 8, 2012. She recorded her 20th career double-double with 29 points and 10 boards against Idaho State on Dec. 1, 2012.
In the 2012 Big Ten Tournament, Hooper produced three double-doubles in four games, including 25 points and 10 boards against No. 21 Purdue and 21 points and 10 rebounds against No. 14 Ohio State. Earlier in the 2011-12 season, Hooper had 19 points and a career-high 18 rebounds in a win at Wisconsin on Feb. 19, 2012. She added 22 points and 15 rebounds against Iowa on Jan. 26, 2012.
Hooper led the Big Ten and ranked among the top 25 players nationally with 14 double-doubles in 2011-12. Hooper, who produced double figures in 32 of Nebraska’s 33 games, recorded 14 double-figure rebounding performances as a sophomore. Hooper’s 14 double-doubles ranked as the third-highest single-season total in school history, trailing only first-team All-American Kelsey Griffin’s 20 in 2009-10, and Nafeesah Brown’s 16 in 1993-94. Griffin and Brown were both seniors when they produced their impressive double-figure totals.
As a sophomore, Hooper became just the fifth player in Nebraska history to post double-figure double-doubles in a season, joining Griffin (10, 2006-07, 20, 2009-10), Brown (16, 1993-94), Karen Jennings (13, 1990-91, 13, 1991-92), Maurtice Ivy (10, 1985-86) and Carol Garey (10, 1978-79).
Hooper recorded double-doubles in a personal-best four straight games (Dec. 18, 2011-Jan. 5, 2012).
Big Red Playing Big on Boards
Nebraska has produced a plus-6.6 rebounding margin over 23 games in 2013-14, outrebounding opponents by an average of 41.0-34.3. The Huskers are on track for the second-best rebounding margin in school history, trailing only the plus-8.6 margin put up by the 1997-98 Husker squad that advanced to the second round of the 1998 NCAA Tournament.
Jordan Hooper has led the barrage on the boards with 9.6 rebounds per game, which ranks second in the Big Ten. Hooper owns 15 rebounds against Creighton, 14 against Washington State and Utah State, 13 against Alabama and Iowa, 12 at Utah, 11 against UCLA and ORU, and 10 against Minnesota, Northwestern and UMass-Lowell.
Emily Cady (9.3 rpg) has added 10 double-digit rebound games of her own, including a career-high-matching 16 against Purdue on Jan. 19. She added 14 boards against Southern, 13 against Minnesota and Washington State, 12 at Michigan State, 11 rebounds against Wisconsin and Alabama, and 10 against Utah State, Illinois and Northwestern. She ranks third overall in the Big Ten in rebounding, including 10.1 boards per game in conference play.
Nebraska’s returning front line of Hooper, Cady and Hailie Sample have combined to average 24.7 rebounds per game.
Free Throws Pay Off Big For Big Red
Nebraska has outscored its first 23 opponents by an average of 15.7-7.9 (+7.8 ppg) at the free throw line. The Huskers have made 360 free throws, compared to just 181 by their opponents. The Huskers are shooting 78.6 percent at the line as a team, which ranks second in the Big Ten.
Last season, Nebraska produced the second-best team free throw percentage in school history (.755). The school record for best free throw percentage is 79.0 percent in 1981-82.
For the season, Nebraska has outscored the opposition by a total of 306 points, with 179 of those coming at the free throw line.
Emily Cady (.849, 107-126) ranks sixth in the Big Ten in free throw percentage, while Rachel Theriot would rank fourth in the Big Ten with her .882 (45-51) accuracy at the stripe but is one free throw shy of the minimum 2.0 makes per game. Tear’a Laudermill (.848, 39-46) would rank fifth, right behind Theriot, but Laudermill is seven makes shy of the minimum.
Huskers More Than Fair in Foul Department
Nebraska’s dominance at the free throw line starts with the Huskers winning the fight in the foul department. NU leads the Big Ten and ranks third nationally by committing just 14 fouls per game.
While the Huskers barely put their opponents in the bonus each game, they consistently force double-bonus free throw situations by the opposition. Nebraska’s opponents are averaging 19.1 fouls per game against the Big Red.
Nebraska’s plus-5.1 differential in fouls per game and its 78.6 percent free throw shooting has allowed the Big Red to outscore its opponents by 179 points at the line this season (7.8 ppg).
Nebraska has continued a non-fouling trend from last season. The Huskers were whistled for just 12.8 fouls per game last season, including 11 fouls per game in Big Ten regular-season games.
@RachTheRiot Wreaking Havoc on Opposing Defenses
Rachel Theriot has emerged as one of the top young point guards in the nation in 2013-14. The 6-0 sophomore is averaging 12.6 points, 3.3 rebounds, 6.5 assists and 1.0 steal per game. She has been even better in Big Ten play averaging 13.8 points and 7.6 assists, while adding 2.9 rebounds per game, while leading the Big Ten with 39.4 minutes per game. Last season, All-American Lindsey Moore averaged 15.0 points, 3.4 rebounds, 5.0 assists and 1.2 steals per game.
Theriot has produced a pair of double-doubles in Big Ten play, including 11 points and 11 assists in NU’s win at Wisconsin Feb. She notched her first career double-double with 10 points and 11 assists in Nebraska’s home game against Michigan on Jan. 29. She just missed another double-double with nine points, a career-high 12 assists and five rebounds in NU’s win over No. 24 Michigan State Feb. 8.
On Jan. 16 against Minnesota, Theriot scored a career-high 33 points on 11-of-15 shooting from the field, including 3-of-4 three-pointers, while knocking down all eight of her free throws. She hit Nebraska’s final two free throws with 14.9 seconds left to seal an 88-85 overtime win over the Gophers. Theriot scored 21 points after halftime and played a career-high 45 minutes in the game. She dished out a then-career-high nine assists and did not commit a turnover.
Earlier this season, Theriot erupted for a then-career-high 28 points, while matching her career best with seven rebounds in NU’s 75-69 win at Utah on Nov. 15. She added four assists while going a career-best 8-for-8 at the free throw line. She scored 19 points and had five rebounds in the second half, while going 6-for-6 at the line in the game’s final 35 seconds to seal the victory.
In Nebraska’s Big Ten-opening win over Northwestern, Theriot produced game highs of 19 points and eight assists while committing just one turnover. She added six rebounds, two steals and a blocked shot while playing the full 40 minutes. She also hit two huge shot-clock buzzer-beaters late in the second half and grabbed NU’s final defensive rebound. She scored a team-high 19 points and added four assists while playing the full 40 minutes against Purdue on Jan. 19. She hit two free throws in a one-and-one situation with 27.9 seconds left to tie the game at 75.
Theriot added 11 points, six assists and a blocked shot for the third straight game in NU’s win at Illinois on Jan. 12. It followed an 11-point, eight-assist night at Michigan State Jan. 9, when she tied a career high with three three-pointers. Theriot has scored in double figures 16 times this season.
Theriot pumped in 17 points and dished out five assists in a win over Alabama, after distributing a career-high nine assists in the season-opening victory over UCLA. She had 13 points and eight assists in a win over Southern Nov. 24, before adding 10 points, six rebounds and six assists against Washington State, Nov. 30. Theriot contributed 12 points and five assists in a loss at No. 18 North Carolina on Dec. 4, before producing 11 points, four rebounds and eight assists in the win over Utah State Dec. 8.
As a starter at shooting guard as a freshman, the Middleburg Heights, Ohio, native averaged 6.2 points, 2.8 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game and earned Big Ten All-Freshman honors.
Laudermill on a Tear in Big Ten Play
In her first season as a starter, junior Tear’a Laudermill is emerging as one of the most explosive players in the Big Ten in conference action. The 5-9 guard from Riverside, Calif., is averaging 14.1 points, 2.4 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 1.4 steals in conference play.
She has been at her best during NU’s current five-game winning streak, averaging 18.2 points, 1.8 rebounds and 1.4 assists while hitting 3.4 three-pointers per game.
Laudermill, who has produced double figures in seven straight games, is averaging 17.6 points over the last seven contests. She averaged 8.3 points in NU’s first 16 games this season.
Laudermill’s production has steadily increased throughout her Husker career in a similar way that former Husker All-Big 12 guard and current professional Yvonne Turner grew during her career. Laudermill averaged 4.0 points and 1.5 rebounds per game as a freshman, before contributing 5.9 points and 1.8 boards per game as a sophomore. This season, she has increased her averages to 11.1 points and 2.7 boards per game, including 14.1 points and 2.4 rebounds in Big Ten play.
Over the last seven games Laudermill has been on fire, averaging 17.6 points on 52.5 percent shooting from the field, including 53.7 percent (22-of-41) from three-point range. She scored a career-high 26 points on 9-of-12 shooting, including 4-of-6 threes in a win at Iowa on Feb. 1, before adding her second career 20-point effort with 21 points and a career-high threes in a 71-70 OT win at Wisconsin on Feb. 5.
It followed a career-high-matching 18 points in a win over Michigan on Jan. 29, after she set her career high with 18 points at Northwestern on Jan. 26. She added her sixth straight game with 14 or more points by hitting for 15 on 3-of-6 shooting from three-point range in the win over No. 24 Michigan State Feb. 8. She also went 4-for-4 at the free throw line against the Spartans.
The most notable jump though has come in Laudermill’s efficiency. As a freshman in 2011-12, Laudermill shot just 27 percent from the field and 52.4 percent at the free line. As a sophomore, Laudermill hit 35.1 percent of her shots from the field and 73.8 percent of her free throws. This season, she is shooting 45.7 percent from the field, including 39.8 percent from long range, and a sparkling 84.8 percent at the line.
NCAA Lincoln Regional All-Session Tickets Selling Strong
The University of Nebraska was awarded one of four regional host sites for the 2014 NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament, announced by the NCAA on Wednesday, Oct. 9. The Huskers will host the four-team regional at Pinnacle Bank Arena in downtown Lincoln, March 29 and 31.
All-session tickets went on sale to the general public on Wednesday, Nov. 20 at 8 a.m., and sales have been strong, more than 4,000 as of Monday, Feb. 10.
All-session reserved seats are $40, while all-session general admission seating is available for just $25 over three games. The GA seats include lower level seats behind each basket (sections 101 and 112), along with 200 and 300 Level seats. Student tickets are available for just $15 ($5 per game if purchased in advance, all-session).
“It’s an exciting time to be a part of the Nebraska women’s basketball program, and the NCAA Regional announcement just keeps that building,” Coach Connie Yori said. “We’ve got a long way to go as a team before we can even think about the possibility of getting back to the Sweet 16 this year, but it is certainly a great opportunity for men’s and women’s basketball fans to have a chance to watch college basketball being played at a really high level at the end of March in Lincoln.”
The last time the University of Nebraska served as a host for the an NCAA men’s or women’s basketball tournament came on March 17, 1993, when the Husker women defeated San Diego, 81-58, in the first round at the Bob Devaney Sports Center. It is the only game the Nebraska women’s basketball team has ever played on its home court in the NCAA Tournament.
The other three NCAA Regional sites are Louisville, Ky., Notre Dame, Ind., and Stanford, Calif. The 16 NCAA first- and second-round locations are Baylor, Duke, Iowa, Iowa State, Kentucky, LSU, Maryland, North Carolina, Penn State, Purdue, Tennessee, Texas A&M, Toledo, UConn, UCLA and Washington.
The NCAA Women’s Final Four will be held at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn., April 6-8.
Huskers Sign Top Recruiting Class in School History
A five-player signing class and a talented walk-on who received other NCAA Division I scholarship offers have given Nebraska the best recruiting class in school history - coming in at No. 9 in ESPN’s class rankings on Nov. 21.
Each of Nebraska’s scholarship recruits ranked among the top 25 nationally by ESPN at their position. Tennessee Class 2-AA Player of the Year Jasmine Cincore, Kansas Class 4A Player of the Year Kaylee Page, California prep stars Natalie Romeo and Darrien Washington, and Washington High School standout Chandler Smith will join Coach Connie Yori’s Huskers. Emily Wood, a walk-on from Salina, Kan., completed the six-player NU freshman class for 2014-15.
Smith, a 6-0 guard from Washington, signed her letter of intent Monday, Nov. 18, after being ranked as the No. 62 player in the nation by ESPN. Her addition propelled the Huskers up seven spots in ESPN’s class rankings for 2014. Page and Romeo headline the Husker class. The 6-2 Page was ranked No. 42 nationally by ESPN, while Romeo was No. 55. Romeo, a 5-7 point guard from the Bay Area, has been ranked as high as the No. 27 player overall nationally by Full Court Press.
Romeo’s club teammate, the 6-2 Washington, was ranked as the No. 16 post player in the nation by ESPN, while Cincore was ranked as ESPN’s No. 24 point guard in the 2014 class, despite being projected as a combo guard for the Huskers.
“We are excited about the potential of this recruiting class, and we hope all six players have outstanding senior seasons in high school this year,” Yori said. “We have built quite a bit of momentum in recruiting the past few years and this class is part of it.”
Nebraska’s previous top recruiting class, which came with current Husker juniors Emily Cady, Hailie Sample, Tear’a Laudermill and Brandi Jeffery, was ranked No. 24 nationally in November of 2010.
Nebraska’s six newcomers will be expected to replace the loss of Jordan Hooper, a two-time All-American who is the only senior on the Huskers’ 11-player roster in 2013-14.
Page, a 6-2 senior at Wamego High School in Kansas, was ranked as the No. 13 wing/shooting guard nationally by ESPN. She averaged 20.8 points, 8.1 rebounds, 4.3 blocked shots, 3.0 assists and 1.8 steals per game as a junior. A gifted shooter, Page knocked down 57 three-pointers for the Red Raiders in 2012-13. She helped Wamego to the Kansas Class 4A state championship while playing for her father, Jim Page, who was the Kansas Coach of the Year.
Romeo, ESPN’s No. 12 point guard nationally as a four-year starter at Carondelet High School in California, averaged 21.4 points, 6.7 assists and 6.3 steals per game as a junior to help the Cougars to the North Coast Section Division II title for the third consecutive season. Along the way, she earned East Bay Athletic League MVP and Nor Cal Prep Player-of-the-Year honors in 2012-13, helping Carondelet to a top 20 national ranking as a team. Romeo has been a starter for one of the premier club programs in the nation, the Cal Stars Elite, since she was an eighth grader. As a member of the Cal Stars program, Romeo has earned all-tournament or MVP honors at 16 national tournaments.
Smith’s signing brought even more talent to the Husker 2014 class. Smith plays point guard for her high school and club teams, but was ranked as the No. 18 wing in the country by ESPN. The 6-0 guard from Brewster High School in Washington, averaged 21.3 points, 9.2 rebounds, 6.9 assists and 4.2 steals as a junior to lead the Bears to a Class 1A state championship. She had 26 points and 10 rebounds in the 2013 state title game, after producing 35 points and 12 boards in the 2012 Class 2B championship game.
Cincore brings more athleticism and strength to the perimeter for the Huskers. The 5-8 guard will add a gritty defensive presence along with an expanding offensive game to the NU backcourt. As a junior at Briarcrest Christian in 2012-13, Cincore averaged 15 points, seven rebounds, four assists and three steals per game while leading her team to the state semifinals.
Washington adds size and potential to the Nebraska inside game. The 6-2 Washington plays at Skyline High School in the Bay Area and on the Cal Stars Elite. She is relatively new to basketball, but brings excellent athleticism to the court.
Wood, a 5-5 guard from Salina Central High School, turned down scholarship offers from Harvard and Dartmouth and Western Illinois to walk-on at Nebraska. She is a two-time Kansas Class 5A all-state selection and averaged 11.2 points and 2.3 assists per game as a junior. She has hit 132 career three-pointers as a three-year starter at Salina Central.
Huskers Honor All-American Griffin with Jersey Retirement
The Nebraska women’s basketball program added another name and number to its wall of honor inside the new Pinnacle Bank Arena - and this one is a legend.
Kelsey Griffin, one of the most accomplished Huskers both on and off the court in program history, was honored by Nebraska with the retirement of her No. 23 jersey on Wednesday, Jan. 29, in pregame ceremonies before Huskers defeated Michigan. She joined 1993 Wade Trophy Winner and CoSIDA Academic All-America Hall of Famer Karen Jennings (No. 51) and 1988 Big Eight Player-of-the-Year Maurtice Ivy (No. 30) among Nebraska’s retired jersey honorees.
Griffin made the 28-hour flight from Australia to Lincoln in the middle of her professional season. She watched her first Nebraska game in person since graduating in the spring of 2010. She was joined on the court by family and friends from Australia, Alaska and California. Griffin spoke to the Huskers briefly before the game, then sat on the bench with the team as the Big Red put on their best all-around performance of the season in the win over the Wolverines.
Griffin, a first-team All-American on the court and a national player-of-the-year finalist in 2010, became the face of Nebraska women’s basketball for five seasons (2006-10). The lightly recruited 6-2 forward from Eagle River, Alaska, powered Nebraska’s rise to national prominence by earning three first-team All-Big 12 Conference awards.
Griffin also led Nebraska to a trio of NCAA Tournament appearances in 2007, 2008 and 2010. Her final season as a Husker, she etched a permanent place in Husker history as part of a six-player senior class that led Nebraska to an unbeaten regular season (29-0), 30 consecutive victories, a Big 12 Conference regular-season title and Nebraska’s first-ever trip to the NCAA Sweet 16. She captured Big 12 Player-of-the-Year honors while leading NU to a 32-2 final record that included a 16-0 Big 12 mark.
She ranks No. 4 on Nebraska’s all-time scoring list with 2,033 points, while ranking No. 2 in the Husker record book with 1,019 career rebounds. Griffin and Jennings were the only players in Nebraska history with 2,000 points and 1,000 rebounds, until All-American Jordan Hooper joined the elite list by the end of the game. Hooper pulled down her 1,000th career rebound with just over four minutes left in the game, then sat next to Griffin on the Husker bench for the remainder of the contest.
Griffin also set Nebraska’s career record with 40 double-doubles in her four years on the court in Lincoln. Her 127 career starts rank No. 2 in school history. As a senior, Griffin averaged 20.1 points and 10.4 rebounds per game, including 20 double-doubles. She also earned a spot on the Big 12 All-Defensive Team by notching 60 steals, 26 blocked shots and took a remarkable 29 charges on the year.
Griffin was NU’s first-ever winner of the Senior CLASS Award, recognizing her achievements in the community and the classroom, while honoring her character and success in competition. She was honored as Nebraska’s Female Student-Athlete of the Year in 2009-10, before earning the No. 3 overall pick in the 2010 WNBA Draft.
Griffin earned a spot on the WNBA All-Rookie Team with the Connecticut Sun in 2010. She completed her fourth professional season with the Sun in 2013, starting all 34 games and averaging career bests of 8.7 points and 5.0 rebounds per game. In her four-year WNBA career, she has played in 133 games with 61 starts for Connecticut. Griffin also has played professionally in Hungary, Israel and most recently for the Bendigo Spirit in Australia’s WNBL. In 2012-13, Griffin led the Spirit to the WNBL title and was named the MVP of the championship series. She has returned to Australia for the 2013-14 campaign, where she is averaging 12.5 points and 8.2 rebounds per game while playing alongside former Husker teammate and 2012 Olympian Chelsea Aubry.
Hooper Powers Team USA to Gold at World University Games
Nebraska’s Jordan Hooper scored nine points and grabbed nine rebounds while making her first international start, powering the USA Basketball Women’s World University Games Team to a 90-71 victory in the gold medal game on July 15.
Hooper, a 6-2 senior forward from Alliance, Neb., erupted in her first USA start, pouring in five points, including the game’s first three-pointer, to go along with three early rebounds to fuel the U.S. team’s 13-3 lead to open the game. She also played a major role defensively in helping the United States to its third straight World University Games gold medal.
Hooper scored seven first-quarter points to help the USA take a 22-13 lead at the end of the quarter. She played the entire first period and finished with 31 minutes in the game. In the tournament, Hooper finished with 6.5 points and 5.8 rebounds in 15.7 minutes per game, giving her per 40-minute averages of 16.6 points and 14.9 boards.
Hooper started the second quarter on the bench, and while she was out, the Russian team quickly trimmed the USA margin to 25-21 with 7:46 left in the first half.
Hooper immediately returned to the court and helped shut out the Russians for the next three minutes to ignite a 7-0 USA run. Hooper’s offensive rebound and assist to Crystal Bradford (Central Michigan) in the corner for a three-pointer, gave the USA a 38-25 lead with 2:43 left in the half. It was the first of back-to-back threes by Bradford in a 45-second stretch to send the U.S. squad to halftime with a 41-27 lead. With Hooper keying the defense, the USA allowed six points in the final seven-plus minutes of the half.
Nebraska’s two-time All-American played every minute of the third quarter. She again keyed a U.S. defense that helped the team build a 68-47 lead at the end of three quarters.
Hooper’s final bucket came with 7:30 left in the game, giving the USA a 75-55 lead.
2012-13 Nebraska Team Season Highlights
• 2013 NCAA Sweet 16 (second appearance in last four years)
• 25 wins (second-highest victory total in school history) - 25-9 overall record
• 12 Big Ten wins (second-most conference wins in school history) - 12-4 Big Ten record
• Big Ten regular-season runner-up finish / Big Ten Tournament semifinalist
• No. 16 in final NCAA RPI. Nebraska played the No. 12 Strength of Schedule in the nation.
• No. 18 in final USA Today/Coaches Top 25; No. 24 in final AP Poll (regular season)
• No. 16 nationally in average home attendance (5,243)
• 10 victories over 2013 NCAA Tournament teams (10-8)
• Nebraska’s 74-63 win at No. 9 Texas A&M on March 25 marked the Huskers’ first true road NCAA Tournament victory in history and the highest seed (No. 3) NU has ever defeated in the tournament.
• 10-game winning streak (Jan. 20-Feb. 28), second-longest winning streak in school history
• Nebraska closed season with seven-game winning streak in true road games (active streak)
• Big Ten No. 2 RPI Conference in the nation and 6-0 in first-round NCAA Tournament games
• Coach Connie Yori was named the Big Ten Coach of the Year
• Nebraska was one of 25 teams in the 64-team NCAA Tournament field with a perfect 100 percent graduation rate. NU has had a 100 percent grad rate in each of NU’s five tournament appearances under Coach Connie Yori.
Yori Captured Big Ten Coach-of-the-Year Honors
Nebraska’s Connie Yori was named the Big Ten Coach of the Year in voting by conference coaches for 2013. Yori captured her second conference coach-of-the-year award in the last four seasons and her first in the Big Ten. In 2012-13, Yori guided Nebraska to 10 straight conference wins, including a perfect February, as the Huskers finished with a 12-4 Big Ten mark as the regular-season runner-up.
Yori’s young squad overcame a plethora of injuries and a 2-3 Big Ten start to play for a share of the Big Ten title in the regular-season finale against No. 7 Penn State at the Devaney Center. Although Nebraska came up short against the Lady Lions, Yori’s team finished the regular season with a 22-7 overall record that included a Big Ten-best 7-1 road mark in conference play.
Yori captured Big 12 Coach-of-the-Year honors in 2010 on her way to WBCA, AP, USBWA, Naismith and Kay Yow National Coach-of-the-Year awards. She led the Huskers to the 2010 NCAA Sweet Sixteen after capturing the Big 12 regular-season title with a perfect 16-0 record. The 2009-10 Huskers, which featured first-team All-American Kelsey Griffin and first-team All-Big 12 picks Cory Montgomery and Yvonne Turner, finished with a 32-2 overall record.
Before becoming Nebraska’s head coach in 2002-03, Yori claimed Missouri Valley Conference Coach-of-the-Year honors in her final season at Creighton in 2002. In Yori’s first 11 seasons as NU’s coach, her Huskers have earned a total of 32 all-conference awards (10 first team, 2 second team, 11 honorable mention, 5 freshmen, 4 defensive).
Yori’s 2012-13 Huskers Notched Another 20-Win Campaign
Coach Connie Yori is in the midst of leading the Huskers to the most successful era in school history. The 2012-13 Huskers earned their second NCAA Sweet 16 selection in the past four years, while rolling to 25 wins - the second-highest victory total in school history. It was Nebraska’s fifth 20-win season in the past seven years.
Prior to Yori leading her 2006-07 Huskers to 22 wins, Nebraska had only managed five 20-win seasons in the previous 26 years. NU has managed 14 20-win seasons in 38 full seasons of women’s basketball as a varsity sport.
Over the past seven seasons, Nebraska has averaged 21.7 wins, including the three highest victory totals in school history - 32 wins in 2009-10, 25 in 2012-13 and 24 wins in 2011-12. Over the past four years, NU has averaged 23.5 wins per year. Prior to Yori’s arrival in 2002-03, Nebraska’s record for most wins in a season was 23 (1978-79, 1979-80, 1992-93, 1997-98).
Nebraska’s History of Success at Home
Nebraska has opened the Pinnacle Bank Arena era with an 13-2 home record in 2013-14, including its first win over an AP Top 25 team with a 76-56 win over No. 24 Michigan State on Feb. 8.
The Huskers played the first regular-season basketball game in the history of the arena against USA Today No. 25 UCLA (Nov. 8) and rolled to a 77-49 win over the Bruins. NU added a 62-48 victory over Alabama (Nov. 11), a 78-55 win over Arkansas-Pine Bluff (Nov. 21), an 87-64 win over Southern (Nov. 24) and a 77-42 victory over UMass-Lowell (Nov. 27).
NU lost its first-ever game to Washington State (76-72) at Pinnacle Bank Arena on Nov. 30, but bounced back with a 95-75 win over Utah State on Dec. 8. The Huskers added a 63-38 win over Creighton on Dec. 14, before rolling to an 87-53 win over South Dakota on Dec. 21 and an 89-53 victory over Oral Roberts on Dec. 29. NU won its first-ever Big Ten home game with a 66-65 thriller over Northwestern Jan. 2, and an 88-85 overtime win over Minnesota on Jan. 16. It marked the first overtime game in Pinnacle Bank Arena history. NU suffered its first home Big Ten loss with a 77-75 setback on a last-second shot against No. 22 Purdue on Jan. 19. The Huskers bounced back with an 84-51 win over Michigan on Jan. 29, before pounding the Spartans 76-56 on Feb. 8.
The Huskers have improved to 401-132 (.752) all-time at home. The Huskers have gone 137-36 (.792) over the last 11 seasons at home, posting double-figure home victory totals in each of the last 11 seasons, including 13-2 in 2013-14. NU went a perfect 16-0 at the Bob Devaney Sports Center in 2009-10.
Nebraska played in the Devaney Center from 1976-77 through 2012-13, posting a 388-130 record, including 146-88 (.624) mark in conference play. NU went 13-4 at home in 2012-13.
Big Ten Network Provides Major Exposure for Huskers
For the third consecutive season, Nebraska expects to have every regular-season and postseason game available in national television/video form for Husker fans to follow all the action.
In 2013-14, at least seven regular-season Nebraska women’s basketball games will be televised live nationally by the Big Ten Network, including each of NU’s first five Big Ten Conference contests. An eighth regular-season game (Illinois, Feb. 27) could be picked up by BTN, and Nebraska’s early round games in the Big Ten Conference Tournament also will be televised by BTN.
If the Huskers can advance to the Big Ten championship game in Indianapolis, that game will be televised by ESPN. It would give Nebraska three appearances on the ESPN family of networks in just over two weeks, following a Feb. 24 clash with Penn State and NU’s regular-season finale at Purdue on March 2. Both those games will be televised live nationally by ESPN2. Nebraska’s Big Ten/ACC Challenge game at North Carolina on Dec. 4 was streamed live world-wide by ESPN3.
Nebraska’s first nationally televised game of the season came at Utah on Nov. 15, when the Huskers appeared on the Pac-12 Network. NU made two appearances on Nebraska Educational Television (NET) in 2013-14. The first game in the history of Pinnacle Bank Arena appeared on NET when the Huskers battled the UCLA Bruins on Nov. 8. Nebraska was back on NET again against Michigan on Jan. 29.
Both of Nebraska’s NET games were streamed live to the Big Ten Digital Network (BTDN aka BTN.com All-Access). Throughout the season, BTDN will provide video streams to at least 16 games for BTN.com All-Access subscribers.
Nebraska’s inaugural exhibition game at Pinnacle Bank Arena against Pittsburg State on Oct. 29 was streamed live for free on Huskers.com. NU’s Nov. 30 game with Washington State also was streamed live on Huskers.com.
For the first time in school history in 2011-12, all 33 games played by the Huskers were delivered by national television or live video streams to Husker fans. In 2012-13, Nebraska enjoyed its highest level of national TV exposure in school history, while adding two outstanding alternative video streaming sources. NU’s game with Duke was the 34th game of 2012-13 available world-wide to fans and the 16th nationally televised game. It was NU’s fourth game on ESPN2. The Huskers had 10 nationally televised games on the Big Ten Network, one on CBS and one on the Pac-12 Network.
The Big Ten Network distributed 10 other Nebraska women’s basketball games through live video streams on BTN.com, including two that were televised live in the state of Nebraska by NET. HuskersNside, the live video area on Huskers.com, took care of the rest of NU’s games in 2012-13.
Husker Sports Network, Huskers.com Carries NU World-Wide
The Husker Sports Network enters its 20th season of producing and marketing the live broadcasts of Nebraska women’s basketball in 2013-14. Women’s basketball play-by-play announcer Matt Coatney and color commentator Jeff Griesch are in their 13th season together as the Huskers’ broadcast team.
The Husker Sports Network and Nebraska women’s basketball have teamed up for well over a decade to take every game, home and away, around the world for free on Huskers.com.
In addition to carrying every women’s basketball game free on Huskers.com, the Husker Sports Network flagship stations B107.3 FM-KBBK (Lincoln) and The Wolf 93.3 FM-KFFF (Omaha) provide strong FM signals for Husker women’s basketball and volleyball. 880-AM-KRVN (Lexington) also provides a huge AM signal statewide in central Nebraska, while more than 20 stations have joined the Husker Sports Network’s women’s basketball coverage across the state.
Fastbreakers Offer Travel Opportunities to Follow Huskers
The Fastbreakers Nebraska Women’s Basketball Booster Club has offereda pair of opportunities to follow the Huskers on the road this season.
The first trip was organized is for Nebraska’s Feb. 1 showdown with Iowa in Iowa City, which resulted in an 80-67 victory, with hundreds of Husker fans on hand at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. The second trip will join the Huskers at the 2014 Big Ten Tournament in Indianapolis, March 6-9.
For complete information on the travel opportunities, visit the Nebraska women’s basketball home page on Huskers.com and click on “Fastbreakers Travel” in the right side menu options. Fans can also e-mail Gary Schuster at gary@totalteamtravel.com.
Fastbreakers Prepare for More Fun with Pregame Parties
The Fastbreakers Women’s Basketball Booster Club set the dates for four Pregame Parties in Lincoln for the 2013-14 season.
With the new development in the Haymarket District, the Fastbreakers invite fans to take a tour of some of the new restaurants in the area at these fun new events. Each Pregame Party began two hours prior to the tip-off for select games, and wrapped up 30 minutes before the game, allowing fans to get to their seats in time for the game.
Pregame Parties featured great food and drink specials at each location, lots of door prizes, and a different Husker spirit item provided for each fan in attendance. There was no cost to attend (food and drink will be available for purchase), and no RSVP was required. At season’s end, fans had the opportunity to vote for their favorite location, where next year’s events will be held.
The first Pregame Party was held on Thursday, Nov. 21 at the Courtyard Marriott Bistro, just two blocks from Pinnacle Bank Arena. The party began at 5 p.m., prior to the game against Arkansas-Pine Bluff, which tipped off at 7 p.m. The second Pregame Party was held on Sunday, Dec. 8 (game vs. Utah State). NU’s third Pregame Party was Thursday, Jan. 16 (game vs. Minnesota), and the final one was Saturday, Feb. 8 (game vs. Michigan State).
Locations were announced on Huskers.com, Twitter, Facebook and at Husker Women’s Basketball games. Questions can be directed to the Huskers Athletic Fund at (402) 472-2367 or 800-8-BIG RED, or at athleticfund@huskers.com.
Husker Home Attendance Surging Toward 90,000
Through 15 home games, the Huskers have attracted 87,994 fans including 10 of the top-16 largest home non-conference crowds in school history. NU has drawn 5,000 or more fans for 11 of its first 15 home games at Pinnacle Bank Arena, including seven of 10 home non-conference games. The Big Red drew only five home non-conference crowds of 5,000 or more in 37 seasons at the Devaney Center.
Nebraska’s total home attendance of 87,994 ranks No. 11 nationally, while NU’s average home attendance of 5,866 ranks 11th.
Nebraska attracted almost 15,000 fans to Pinnacle Bank Arena in its season-opening weekend, including a non-conference school-record crowd of 9,750 for a season-opening win over UCLA on Nov. 8. The Huskers added a crowd of 4,924 for a Veterans Day win over Alabama on Nov. 11.
The 14,674 fans over two games nearly matched the 15,221 fans who attended Nebraska’s eight home non-conference games in Coach Connie Yori’s first season in 2002-03.
Nebraska’s average home attendance of 5,658 marked the best single-season non-conference average in school history, crushing the 4,049 fans per game the Huskers averaged during home non-conference action in 2012-13. With just one more home non-conference game than a year ago, the Big Red attracted 20,139 more fans than last season (36,436), which was also a school non-conference record.
Growing interest in Nebraska women’s basketball is not new. In fact, 13 of the 21 largest non-conference home crowds in school history have come over the last 21 non-conference home games for the Big Red.
Game One Featured Nebraska Life Skills Sportsmanship Pep Rally
Game One presented by Ameritas at Pinnacle Bank Arena featured more than just a top-25 showdown between the Nebraska and UCLA women’s basketball teams on Nov. 8.
The special day-long celebration of the regular-season openers for both the Nebraska men’s and women’s basketball teams at their new downtown arena tipped off with an energy-filled pep rally featuring an all-star cast of speakers and entertainers.
The Nebraska Life Skills Sportsmanship Pep Rally on the morning of Nov. 8 on the new home court of the Huskers reached more than 4,500 middle-school youth from nearly 50 schools across Nebraska.
Students from Centennial to Crete, Norris to North Bend Central, Seward to Sandy Creek and Wahoo to Wilber-Clatonia joined students from several private schools in Lincoln for a morning of motivational messages and exciting basketball action.
The sportsmanship pep rally, which was organized with assistance from the Nebraska High School Sports Hall of Fame, included messages from nationally recognized speakers.
Nebraska’s men’s basketball coach Tim Miles, baseball coach Darin Erstad, two-time NCAA and Olympic wrestling champion Jordan Burroughs, along with NCAA discus champion Chad Wright all delivered inspirational messages. Amanda Burau from Nebraska’s national champion women’s bowling team, Mattie Fowler from the Huskers’ Women’s College World Series softball team and Shavon Shields from the men’s basketball team added impressive messages, along with former women’s basketball player Meghin Williams. Acrodunk, a nationally acclaimed high-flying dunk team, added a spectacular performance.
The Huskers’ tip time was moved to noon to accommodate the students’ attendance at the pep rally and their return to their home schools.
Comeback Over Gophers One of Largest in Husker History
Nebraska’s 88-85 comeback win over Minnesota in OT on Jan. 16, came after trailing by 14 points with 13:40 left to tie for the second-largest second-half deficit overcome by a Connie Yori-coached Husker team.
In Yori’s first season, the Huskers trailed by five at half, then 19 in the second half but came back to win 62-61 at San Diego on Dec. 28, 2002. In 2007-08, Nebraska trailed by eight at half and 14 in the second half before Kesley Griffin rallied the Huskers for a 73-67 win at Missouri on Feb. 3, 2008.
Double-digit comebacks are nothing new to the Huskers under Coach Yori. In fact, the win over Minnesota marked the 16th time in Yori’s 12 seasons at Nebraska that the Huskers have overcome a double-digit deficit to win. In 2011-12, the Huskers overcame double-digit deficits five times to earn wins.
However, it was only the eighth time the team trailed by double digits in the second half and won.
Nebraska Overtime Facts
• Nebraska is 20-18 all-time in overtime games, including 11-9 at home, 6-6 in true road games and 3-3 on neutral courts in overtime. The Huskers are 2-0 in overtime this season with both games coming in Big Ten play (Minnesota, Jan. 19; at Wisconsin, Feb. 5).
• Nebraska is 7-4 all-time in 12 seasons under Coach Connie Yori in overtime, including 4-2 at home and 1-0 in Pinnacle Bank Arena. Yori-coached Husker teams are 1-1 in double-overtime and 2-0 in triple overtime.
• Nebraska is 4-1 in multi-overtime games, including 2-1 since 2005-06. The lone loss came to Purdue in the Big Ten Championship Game, 74-70 in double-overtime in 2012.
• NU’s last overtime contest came with a 71-70 victory at Wisconsin on Feb. 5. She Huskers also defeated Minnesota 88-85 in overtime on Jan. 16. It marked the first overtime game in the history of Pinnacle Bank Arena. Nebraska’s first overtime game in the history of the Bob Devaney Sports Center also came against Minnesota - a 68-67 win for the Huskers on Dec. 30, 1977.
• Nebraska has never played back-to-back overtime games at home. The Huskers have played back-to-back overtime games only once in school history, an 83-81 loss to Texas A&M in College Station on Dec. 30, 1985, before returning to Lincoln for an 80-75 win over Eastern Kentucky at the Devaney Center on Jan. 2, 1986.
• Nebraska’s most frequent overtime opponent is Purdue. The Huskers and Boilermakers have played three overtime games in five all-time meetings, all coming in the past three seasons. NU’s six total overtimes against Purdue are also the most against any team in school history. In 10 all-time games with Wisconsin, the Huskers have also played three overtime contests, including the 71-70 win over the Badgers on Feb. 5. It was NU’s first OT win against UW. The Huskers also battled Missouri in three single-overtime games among the 71 all-time contests in that series.
• The Huskers have played nine all-time overtime games against Big Ten opponents and own a 4-5 record, including 2-0 this season. NU is 3-2 against Big Ten opponents since joining the conference for the start of the 2011-12 season.