Coatney's Call: High Point Preview

#12 Nebraska vs. High Point
Saturday, Dec. 20, 3 p.m. (central)
Pinnacle Bank Arena (Lincoln, Neb.)
Live Video: BTN Plus
Radio: Husker Sports Network (Matt Coatney-PBP; Jeff Griesch-Analyst)
107.3 FM, Lincoln; 93.3 FM, Omaha; 93.9 FM, 1340 AM, Sidney; 1230 AM, Hastings; 1400 AM, Ainsworth; 94.1 FM, Scottsbluff
Internet: Free live audio on Huskers.com

No. 12 Huskers Close Out Non-Conference Schedule with High Point
Finals Week has given the 12th-ranked Nebraska women’s basketball team a chance to focus on studies and get a well-deserved break from an early season schedule that saw NU play its first 10 games in only 29 days.In last Saturday’s 54-49 win over Bakersfield, senior forward Emily Cady produced her fifth double-double of the season with 13 points, 15 rebounds and five assists. She was named Big Ten Player of the Week this past Monday, as she averaged a double-double with 15.5 points and 13 rebounds to lead the Huskers to wins over Creighton and Bakersfield.

Nebraska rounds out the non-conference portion of its schedule this Saturday in a 3:05 p.m. (central) matchup with High Point. It will be the first meeting between the two schools.

High Point is 6-0 at home this season but fell to 0-4 on the road after losing 81-59 at VCU in a rare Thursday morning game. HPU trailed 47-46 with 13:51 remaining, but was outscored 34-13 down the stretch. The Panthers were only 3-of-19 from beyond the three-point arc and committed 26 team fouls. VCU outscored the Panthers by 22 points at the free throw line, making 30-of-35 free throws while High Point was only 8-of-14. In fact, HPU averages 20.4 personal fouls per game compared to only 13.5 for Nebraska.

The 2013-14 season was one of the best in program history for the Panthers. They won the Big South Conference regular-season championship and advanced to the Women’s National Invitation Tournament for the second time in the last three years. High Point went 22-11 overall and set the program record for wins in a Division I season. HPU posted a 16-4 record in Big South Conference games, also a program record and won the Big South regular-season title for the second time in school history. High Point also took home the regular-season championship in 2006-07.

High Point entered the Big South Tournament as the No. 1 seed and advanced to the Big South title game for the fourth time. The Panthers return eight letterwinners and all five starters, 89.6 percent of its scoring and 83.8 percent of its rebounding from last season. HPU was picked to finish second in the Big South preseason poll. The Panthers have already played two Big South Conference games this season, defeating Longwood 81-60 and Presbyterian College 54-49.

Sophomore Kaylah Keys is the preseason Big South Player of the Year. The 5-5 guard was the conference freshman of the year and a first-team All-Big South member after a tremendous freshman season in which she finished second in the conference in scoring and set HPU Division I single-season records in scoring (583), made three-pointers (73) and made free throws (148). She leads the team in scoring (16.0 ppg) and three-pointers (28) this season, but was held to just six points in the Thursday morning loss at VCU, as she was pressed into duty at the point guard.

The Panthers received a boost when 6-2 redshirt senior Stacia Robertson decided to return for her final season of eligibility. Robertson originally decided to graduate after the 2013-14 season but after a few months away from the game approached the coaching staff about returning. The Grand Island native was named to the All-Big South first team last year, starting all 33 games and averaging 12.7 points and 8.6 rebounds per game. She led the team with 290 rebounds, 76 steals and 60 blocks. A preseason first-team All-Big South selection, Robertson has been the Big South Player of the Week the past two weeks. She had a career high 29 points and 13 rebounds at East Tennessee State on Nov. 17.

Robertson was first-team All-State on both the Lincoln Journal-Star and Omaha World-Herald teams at the end of the 2010 prep season, joining future Huskers Jordan Hooper and Emily Cady on both lists. After playing her freshman season at South Dakota, Robertson transferred to High Point and has played each of the last two seasons. She has started all nine games she has played in, but missed the Davidson game on Nov. 25 after suffering a neck injury against William & Mary. Robertson has recorded double-doubles in three straight games, including 14 points and 14 rebounds in the Thursday morning loss at VCU. She is currently second on the team in scoring (15.4 ppg) and leads the team with 9.8 rebounds per game and 3.4 blocked shots per contest.

Senior Latrice Phelps joins Keys as players who have started every game this season. Phelps, a 6-0 wing, had a team-high 15 points in the Thursday morning loss at VCU. Senior point guard Ashante Richard started the first nine games of the season, but did not make the trip to VCU Thursday. She is not expected to travel to Nebraska.

Sophomore Teddy Vincent drew the 26th start of her career in Richard’s place. Valentine has hit at least one three-pointer in 26 of her last 30 games. She had five points and made 1-of-6 three-point attempts against VCU.

Senior Lindsay Puckett rounds out High Point’s probable starting lineup. The 5-11 guard has started the last six games and averages 6.7 points, including a season-high 12 points against VCU Thursday.

DeUnna (De-AWN-uh) Hendrix was voted the Big South Conference Coach of the Year in just her second year at the helm of the Panthers last season. Hendrix, who was the youngest coach in Division I when she was hired, has a 45-28 overall record and a 29-11 mark in league play through two seasons. Hendrix played at the University of Richmond, was a team captain, and helped the Spiders to an NCAA Tournament appearance as well as the Women’s NIT semifinals

I cordially invite you to join Jeff Griesch and me for Nebraska women’s basketball on the Husker Sports Network. Our radio broadcast Saturday afternoon begins with the pre-game show at 2:45 p.m. (central) with the tip-off scheduled for 3:05 p.m. on the Husker Sports Network including KBBK (B107.3) in Lincoln., KFFF 93.3 in Omaha, KSID 1340 in Sidney, KBRB 1400 in Ainsworth, KNEB 94.1 in Scottsbluff, and KHAS 1230 in Hastings and many others. Fans inside Pinnacle Bank Arena can listen to the live Husker Sports Network broadcast delay-free on 87.7 MHZ via an in-arena transmitter. 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