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 and Hoosiers is set for Noon
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, 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.
Hooper 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 in Feb of 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.
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
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. A third freshman, Alexis Gassion, has started the last 22 games alongside Brooks and Agler and is averaging 7.5 points.
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.
Probable Starters:
Nebraska Cornhuskers
3 - Hailie Sample - 6-1 - Jr. - F - 6.5
23 - Emily Cady - 6-2 - Jr. - F - 13.5
35 - Jordan Hooper - 6-2 - Sr. - F - 19.5
33 - Rachel Theriot - 6-0 - So. - G - 12.6
1 - Tear’a Laudermill - 5-9 - Jr. - G - 11.1
Indiana Hoosiers
14 - Tabitha Gerardot - 6-1 - Sr. - F - 9.1 ppg,
44 - Simone Deloach - 6-3 - Sr. - F/C - 6.0
5 - Larryn Brooks - 5-5 - Fr. - G - 17.0
10 - Taylor Agler - 5-9 - Fr. - G - 8.2
23 - Alexis Gassion - 5-10 - Fr. - G - 7.5
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. With 23 points at Michigan, Hooper moved to No. 2 on NU’s career scoring list with 2,134 points.
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). 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.
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.
Over the last five games,Tear’a Laudermill has averaged 18.2 points.
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