Huskers Continue Australian Tour

North Dandenong, Australia - The top professional team in the South East Australian Basketball League (SEABL), the Dandenong Rangers rolled to a 72-41 win over Nebraska on Wednesday at the Dandenong Basketball Stadium. 

Dandenong, which owns a 16-3 record and a four-game lead in first place in the SEABL standings, built an early advantage and never looked back against the Huskers, who were playing their second game in 24 hours on the early portion of their Australian Tour.

Dandenong, which included five-time WNBL All-Star Jacinta Kennedy who is averaging nearly 20 points per game on the year, also features long-time WNBL guards Aimie Clydesdale and Amelia Todhunter.

Freshman Maddie Simon led the Huskers with nine points, six rebounds and an assist, while sophomore guard Emily Wood pitched in nine points, five rebounds, an assist and a steal. Freshman forward Rachel  Blackburn pitched in six points and eight rebounds, while Jasmine Cincore and Darrien Washington each contributed six points as well.

Junior forward Allie Havers managed just one point but pulled down a game-high 13 boards. Anya Kalenta and Natalie Romeo rounded out the scoring for the Big Red with two points apiece.

Clare Papavs led Dandenong with a game-high 22 points, while five-time WNBL All-Star Jacinta Kennedy pitched in 11 points and a team-high seven rebounds.

Nebraska hit just 16-of-59 shots from the field, including just 1-of-11 three-pointers. The Huskers also managed just 8-of-14 shooting from the free throw line. NU did outrebound Dandenong, 46-35. Dandenong went 29-of-74 from the floor, including 2-of-8 from long range and 12-of-19 at the line. The Rangers' backcourt, which features WNBL guards Amelia Todhunter and Amie Clydesdale, helped forced 30 turnovers by the Big Red, as Dandenong went plus-21 in the turnover department.

The Huskers, who opened their four-game tour of Australia against the Frankston Blues on Tuesday, spent part of the day on Wednesday sight-seeing in Melbourne, including a visit to Eureka Tower. The tower, which climbs 975 feet above the banks of the Yarra River, offers brilliant 360-degree views of the city of Melbourne from its Skydeck on the 88th floor.

Nebraska, which is without the playing services of All-America point guard Rachel Theriot, senior transfer Kyndal Clark, Parade High School All-America post Jess Shepard and junior guard Esther Ramacieri while they are recovering from various injuries, will leave Melbourne early Thursday morning to head to Cairns.

The eight-player Husker roster will take on Cairns in Manunda, Queensland, at 7:30 p.m. (4:30 a.m. central) on Thursday at the Cairns Basketball Stadium. The Cairns Dolphins are members of the Australia-State League and own an 8-8 record in the QBL. They are led by former Wyoming standout Jade Kennedy, who was a two-year starter as a 6-1 forward for the Cowgirls from 2007-08 through 2010-11.

Following the game with Cairns, the Huskers will take Friday, Saturday and Sunday off from competition. The Big Red will visit the Great Barrier Reef on Friday.