WBB: Game #1 vs. Texas Rio Grande Valley - Preseason WNIT 1st Round

[Row6Seat10]

 

Saturday, Nov. 12, 1 p.m.
Pinnacle Bank Arena
 

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Huskers Tip Preseason WNIT With Vaqueros

 

The Nebraska women’s basketball team opens regular-season action on Saturday at Pinnacle Bank Arena when the Huskers take on the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley in the opening round of the Preseason Women’s National Invitation Tournament.

 

Tip-off between the Big Red and the Vaqueros is set for Saturday at 1 p.m.

 

Nebraska’s game with the Vaqueros will mark the first regular-season appearance on the Husker sideline for Coach Amy Williams. The former Husker (Amy Gusso, 1995-98) led South Dakota to 32 victories and a Postseason WNIT Championship last season. Williams was a two-time Summit League Coach of the Year at South Dakota, while leading the Coyotes to the conference tournament title game in each of her four seasons in Vermillion.

 

Jessica Shepard, a 6-4 sophomore forward from Fremont, Neb., who earned first-team All-Big Ten honors a year ago, returns to lead an experienced front court. The 2016 Big Ten Freshman of the Year, Shepard averaged team highs of 18.5 points and 8.6 rebounds in 2015-16. She also claimed Preseason All-Big Ten honors heading into 2016-17.Shepard produced 30 points and 13 rebounds in Nebraska’s exhibition win over Southwest Baptist on Sunday, Nov. 6 at Pinnacle Bank Arena.

 

Senior Allie Havers, a 6-5 senior center from Mattawan, Mich., who averaged 8.3 points and 6.6 rebounds in her first season as a starter in 2015-16, pitched in 14 points on 7-of-9 shooting against the Southern Baptist.

Probable Lineups

 

Nebraska Cornhuskers

32 - Jessica Shepard - 6-4 - So. - F
22 - Allie Havers - 6-5 - Sr. - C
11 - Esther Ramacieri - 5-8 - Sr. - G
12 - Emily Wood - 5-5 - Jr. - G
34 - Jasmine Cincore - 5-10 - Jr. - G

 

UTRGV Vaqueros

5 - Hildur Björg Kjartansdóttir - 6-2 - Jr. - F
43 - Tristan Murphy - 6-1 - So. - F
1 - Bernesha Peters - 5-3 - So. - G
4 - Idil Türk - 5-9 - So. - G
11 - Shawnté Goff - 5-8 - Sr. - G

 

Scouting UTRGV

 

The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Vaqueros come to Lincoln to tip off a season in which they hope to contend for a Western Athletic Conference title. Coach Larry Tidwell and the Vaqueros return four starters from a team that went 19-14 overall last season, including 9-5 in the WAC on their way to a conference runner-up finish.

 

Leading the returning players for UTRGV is 2016 WAC Player of the Year Shanté Goff. The 5-8 senior guard averaged 15.5 points and 4.2 rebounds per game last season. She knocked down a team-high 67 three-pointers but hit just 28.8 percent of her long-range attempts.

 

Bernesha Peters averaged 7.4 points, 2.4 rebounds and 1.5 assists while making 30 starts as a freshman a year ago. Peters was even better in WAC play, averaging 10.5 points per game.
The Vaqueros also have size and experience up front with 6-0 senior forward Mary Savoy and 6-2 junior forward Hildur Björg Kjartansdóttir. Savoy averaged a double-double with 11.7 points and 10.5 rebounds per game a year ago, while Kjartansdóttir pitched in 8.6 points and 7.5 boards to give the Vaqueros one of the most formidable front lines in the WAC.

 

UTRGV must replace the contributions of Rickell Preston, a 5-10 guard who averaged 8.6 points and 6.5 rebounds in 33 starts as a senior captain in 2015-16. Rickell also led UTRGV with 62 steals. The Vaqueros must also replace the production of Anushka Maldonado, a 6-1 forward who averaged 9.9 points and 6.1 boards last season.
However, Coach Tidwell and the Vaqueros have plenty of options for more production with a 19-player roster that includes 11 returning letterwinners. Tidwell, who owns a 52-45 record in three seasons at UTRGV, led the Vaqueros to the first round of the Postseason WNIT in 2016.

 

As a team, UTRGV averaged 62.9 points per game last season, while surrendering 61.6 points per contest. The Vaqueros were not a highly efficient team, as they hit just 35 percent of their field goal attempts, including just 26.9 percent of their three-pointers. They were solid at the free throw line though, connecting on 72.3 percent of their attempts. UTRGV carried a minus-0.4 rebound margin last season but a plus-2.4 team turnover margin.

 

• Nebraska is 40-2 all-time in regular-season home openers with its last loss coming to South Dakota State (68-49) on Nov. 19, 2005.
• One of Coach Amy Williams’ primary objectives early in the season will be to find a starting five from a relatively inexperienced group of Huskers. Only six players on Nebraska’s roster have ever started a game for the Huskers
• Although Jessica Shepard is just a sophomore, she is Nebraska’s returning leader with 29 career starts in 31 games as a freshman.
• A three-year contributor on the court, 6-5 senior Allie Havers adds 21 career starts to Nebraska’s level of experience to begin 2016-17.
• Nebraska is 3-0 in home openers since moving into Pinnacle Bank Arena for the start of the 2013-14 season.
• The Huskers have knocked down at least one three-pointer in 251 straight regular-season games dating back to a loss at UTEP on Dec. 20, 2008.
• Nebraska has hit at least two three-pointers in 130 consecutive games.
• Nebraska set a season ticket sales record with 4,032 season tickets sold as of Jan. 31, 2016. It marked the first time in school history the Huskers sold 4,000 season tickets. Nebraska’s season ticket number for 2016-17 was 3,947 as of Nov. 1, 2016.

 

GAME NOTES:

 

Edited November 11, 2016 by Row6Seat10

[Row6Seat10]

The following quote came in an email to season ticket holders who are wondering if you will be able to park in the garages and other lots or not before tomorrows game.

 

Quote

IMPORTANT PARKING INFORMATION
Saturday's season opener with Texas Rio Grande Valley will be played before Nebraska Football's game with Minnesota. Donor parking passes in Red 1 and Green 2 are valid for the basketball game. However, they are required to exit the garages by 4 p.m. to clear the lots for football parking pass holders.

As a reminder, Lot 18 parking pass holders were reassigned to the Green 2 garage for this game.

 

[Row6Seat10]

Missouri beat Abiliene Christian earlier tonight 52 - 46 One of these two teams will be in Vault Monday evening as the Huskers next round opponent.

[Row6Seat10]

The UTRGV head coach talks briefly about going up against the Huskers.

 

 

[redsteve]

They should be pretty good opponent. They aren't huge scorers, but have some size and are more experienced overall, than we are at this point. They have large numbers on their squad...16 maybe ?

 

So, it will give us a chance to see if we have improved since last game. Will be able to see this on Huskers Insider

[Bugeaters1]

Is actual in the house today

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

[Bugeaters1]

Wow what a shot Jess made.

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

[Red Don]

Dayam! What a Game! (You can watch it free on HuskerNside - Huskers.com) Husker Ladies lead 33-24 at the Half. Jess Shepard hit a one-handed trey fm mid-court to end the Half. Husker Ladies are looking surprising good!  

Go Lady Huskers! 

 

(now 42-24 w/6:57 left in the 3q)

 

Edited November 12, 2016 by Red Don

[Red Don]

58-36, Lady Huskers Lead @ the end of Q3!

 

Edited November 12, 2016 by Red Don

[Red Don]

Lady Huskers Soundly Defeat Texas RGV; 71-53!  
Huskers never trailed in the game.

Next Up: Missouri, Monday Nite @ 7:00 pm, PBA!

 

Edited November 12, 2016 by Red Don

[Cazzie22]

Nice to get a W.  They may be hard to come by.  Sounds as if the freshman are going to have to play and play well for the Huskers.

[redsteve]

Getting better.  Still to many turnovers, and sloppy at times, our full court offense (breaking the press)  was ugly trying to get the ball up the court....inexperience showed. But the hints of the young talent is there.

 

Really like the freshmen. Just need to get their "legs" under them a bit more, and better adjusted to the speed of the game. Sometimes trying to do to much, to quickly. But really liked what they could do... in just two games played. But in some cases were out playing some of our experienced girls.

 

They all forced things a bit. (whole team)....must have the go ahead to put it up. Would rather they aren't afraid to compete, than the opposite.

 

Hannah is a good one...has the Bball IQ of a point guard. Needs to get to the next step and shoot more. Nicea will get better as she learns to play at her pace, and not trying to do to much .....fun to watch ! Both just needs more experience.

 

We have a lot of 3 shooters...but need some breaks to the basket...back door passes, pull up jumpers (we need to work on them as time goes on......can only work on things as fast as time allows.)

 

As said before, sure wish Burns could play. We need another big.

 

Great game overall...going in the right direction for sure. Their super attitude is magnetic.

Edited November 13, 2016 by redsteve

[Bugeaters1]

Nicea, Is going to be a very good player. And her defense will be special.

[Bugeaters1]

 

[Row6Seat10]

Well, it looks like this past week at practice we got better at least a little bit!! I say keep throwing the freshmen out there, we're going to need them sooner rather than later. And the more experience they get the better we'll be when the conference slate comes along. I thought Hannah Whitish has made the biggest strides from the exhibition game til now. Good to see Nicea get the start today she deserved it the way she played last week. Could even see improvement from Grace Mitchell, love the fight she has when she's out there.  

 

Missouri's is next and will be a much, much tougher test than what the Huskers faced today.

 

Here's hoping they don't decide to throw a full court press on the Huskers!

[Row6Seat10]

Also, cudo's to Darrian Washington she played a good game today. Too bad the previous coach didn't play her more where she could have at least had some prior experience to get her more up to date for this years team.

[chuck.bentjen]

Hannah Whitish played some really solid minutes.  Our guard play overall was much better in the 2nd half but there were way too many turnovers.  We also rebounded better in the 2nd half. 

[whoopdeedoo]

a couple of things came to mind while watching this game. (1) as whitish gets more experience, i think she could very well takeover out top (2) yes, it will happen but hopefully it's rare---jess and allie are gonna have to stay out of foul trouble. 

[Row6Seat10]

 

Coach Williams post game presser.

 

 

 

Jessica Shepard and Nicea E. talk following yesterdays win.

 

 

 

 

[hhcmatt]

The Sheppard last second shot 

[mwm89]

21 hours ago, hhcdimes said:

The Sheppard last second shot 

Did not see that in the highlights  Pretty sweet!