WBB: Game #13 @ Michigan State

[Row6Seat10]

#16/#14 Nebraska Cornhuskers (11-2) @ Michigan State Spartans (9-5)

Thursday, Jan. 9, 6 p.m.

Breslin Center

Tickets: Huskers.com / 1-800-8-BIG-RED

Radio: 25-Station IMG College Husker Sports Network (PBP-Matt Coatney; Analyst-Jeff Griesch)

KBBK107.3 FM-Lincoln; KFFF 93.3 FM-Omaha: KBRB AM 1400-Ainsworth; KCOW AM 1400-Alliance; KRGI AM 1430-Grand Island; KHAQ AM 98.5-North Platte; KNEB FM 94.1-Scottsbluff; In Michigan - WJIM-AM 1240-Lansing, MI

Social Media: @HuskersWBB Nebraska Women's Basketball

Free Live Audio: Huskers.com

National Television: Big Ten Network (PBP-Eric Collins; Analyst-Mary Murphy)

Huskers Open Big Ten Road Swing with Spartans ThursdayThe No. 16 Nebraska women’s basketball team hits the road for the first time in more than a month to face Michigan State in the Big Red’s Big Ten road opener on Thursday night. Tip-off between the Huskers and the Spartans is set for 6 p.m.

Nebraska, which was the preseason pick of media and coaches to win the 2014 Big Ten title, opened conference play with a 66-65 come-from-behind win over Northwestern in the first-ever Big Ten game at Pinnacle Bank Arena. It was Nebraska’s fifth straight win.

Michigan State also notched a Big Ten-opening victory, crushing Minnesota 81-56 on the Gophers’ homecourt on Saturday at the Barn. It was the third straight win overall for the Spartans, who carry a 6-1 home mark at the Breslin Center this season.

All-American Jordan Hooper leads a talented and experienced starting five for the Big Red. The two-time first-team All-Big Ten forward from Alliance, Neb., ranks among the top three players in the Big Ten by averaging 20.2 points and 10.8 rebounds per game. She notched her seventh double-double with 14 points and 10 boards in last Thursday’s win over Northwestern. Hooper is 53 points and 49 rebounds away from becoming just third Husker and fifth Big Ten player in history to reach career milestones of 2,000 points and 1,000 rebounds.

Michigan St closed the first half in Minnesota on a 22-5 surge Sunday afternoon after Gopher star Rachel Banham was whistled for her second personal foul, and Minnesota never recovered.

A balanced and explosive Michigan State bunch hit 10-of-12 shots from the floor to close the first half, then shot 68 percent from the field in the second half. The Spartans head into the game with Nebraska having hit 27 of their last 37 shots.

Aeriel Powers, leads the Spartans in scoring, rebounding and steals with 13.4 points, 7.6 rebounds and 1.9 steals. Becca Pickrel, a 6-3 forward, has added 13.3 points and 6.9 rebounds. Kiana Johnson, a speedy 5-7 point guard, has pitched in 8.9 points and 2.7 rebounds, while leading MSU with 6.1 assists.

Nebraska and Michigan State have split the two games in the short head-to-head history between the two schools.

Probable Starters:

Nebraska Cornhuskers

3 - Hailie Sample - 6-1 - Jr. - F - 6.5 ppg

23 - Emily Cady - 6-2 - Jr. - F - 13.2

35 - Jordan Hooper - 6-2 - Sr. - F - 20.2

33 - Rachel Theriot - 6-0 - So. - G - 12.1

1 - Tear’a Laudermill - 5-9 - Jr. - G - 8.8

Michigan State Spartans

11 - Annalise Pickrel - 6-3 - Sr. - F - 13.3 ppg

23 - Aeriel Powers - 6-0 - RFr. - F - 13.4

52 - Becca Mills - 6-4 - Jr. - F - 9.1

0 - Kiana Johnson - 5-7 - Jr. - G - 8.9

21 - Klarissa Bell - 5-11 - Sr. - G - 8.8

Jordan Hooper needs 29 points to catch fellow Alliance, Neb., native Amy Stephens (1,976) at No. 4 on Nebraska’s all-time scoring list. Hooper is 53 points and 49 rebounds away from becoming just the third Husker in history to achieve the 2,000-point, 1,000-rebound career milestones. Hooper would become just the fifth Big Ten Conference player in history to achieve those combined plateaus.

Emily Cady ranks No. 6 overall in rebounding (8.5 rpg) and No. 5 in defensive rebounds (6.6 pg) in the Big Ten. She is also No. 4 in the conference in field goal percentage (.561). Emily needs six rebounds to become the 17th player in school history to reach the 600-rebound milestone. She is 67 rebounds away from joining the Nebraska top 10 in career rebounds (661).

Rachel Theriot ranks No. 2 in the Big Ten in assist-to-turnover ratio (2.2-to-1) and No. 3 in the Big Ten in free throw percentage (.909, 30-33). She also ranks No. 4 in the conference in assists (5.7 apg).

Tear’a Laudermill has averaged 11.0 points, 2.2 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 1.8 steals during Nebraska’s five-game winning streak. The last three games, Laudermill is averaging 13.3 points, 3.0 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1.7 steals.

GAME NOTES:

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[caveman]

bit of a scary game to me.  i think we need to jump out early and control tempo.  reason being we really seem to play 7 or 8 deep.  they go 10 or 11 deep plus it's their home crowd supplying the energy.  i still pick us.

[Row6Seat10]

Heard we had a player suffer a concussion in practice and most likely won't play tomorrow night against Michigan St. Not sure who it was yet but that leaves us with 9 available players.

[HB]

Heard we had a player suffer a concussion in practice and most likely won't play tomorrow night against Michigan St. Not sure who it was yet but that leaves us with 9 available players

[Noah121]

The Internet radio is on Sports Nightly in the WBB slot.  What's wrong with this picture?

[Row6Seat10]

We are not prepared for this game!

[huskerchode]

We look awful.

[Row6Seat10]

Horrible exhibition of basketball. Unbelievable!!

 

Huskers down 13 at the half 37-24

[huskerchode]

I've come to the conclusion Theriot needs to carry this team. Hooper gets pushed all over the court and it affects her shot. Sample can't hit the broadside of a barn. Brandy and T do some good things but aren't consistent enough. Just saw Theriot nail a 3 - that's what I'm talking about!!!

[huskerchode]

And just like that we are buried again. This team is truly frustrating.

[Merlin]

I'm afraid this is going to be seen a lot this year.  We don't have much of an inside presence and absolutely zero depth.  A middle of the pack finish in the BIG will be good this year, unfortunately.

[Row6Seat10]

Out played, out hustled, out worked and out coached!

 

 

[huskerchode]

We looked really flat footed, and too many dumb turnovers.

[Cazzie22]

00 is sorely missed.  It also shows how great she was as a player.  MSU was far superior in every phase of the game.  Looks to be a long season in conference for the ladies.  Hopefully, the incoming freshmen are as good as advertised.  This team clearly needs more depth.  

[huskerchode]

Some strong leadership would help, too.

[HB]

I've come to the conclusion Theriot needs to carry this team. Hooper gets pushed all over the court and it affects her shot. Sample can't hit the broadside of a barn. Brandy and T do some good things but aren't consistent enough. Just saw Theriot nail a 3 - that's what I'm talking about!!!

 

Don't forget Cady.  She excels in so many areas.  Her effort is consistent and relentless.

 

I'm just disappointed Connie took 2 years off in recruiting.  Not fair to Hooper and Cady to not have more talent around them.  It looks like they're not making the same mistake and are lining up a lot of talent to play with Shepard, but time will tell. 

[huskerchode]

Yes, Theriot's 3 interrupted me before I got to Cady!  She is definitely a bright spot.  And Hooper snuck up on me last night, ending with 20+ points.  She seemed to kind of get on a roll when MSU let their guard down a bit.

 

What is the deal with the recruiting?  We certainly appear to have some top notch players coming in the next few years.  But I feel we really missed out on some good ones recently.  I would have pushed harder for Bri Craig, and I really think the Kastanak girl that is at Iowa right now was under-rated.  I certainly would have taken her over Tvrdy.  I feel she's also a better player than Murren, too.

[HB]

Yes, Theriot's 3 interrupted me before I got to Cady!  She is definitely a bright spot.  And Hooper snuck up on me last night, ending with 20+ points.  She seemed to kind of get on a roll when MSU let their guard down a bit.

 

What is the deal with the recruiting?  We certainly appear to have some top notch players coming in the next few years.  But I feel we really missed out on some good ones recently.  I would have pushed harder for Bri Craig, and I really think the Kastanak girl that is at Iowa right now was under-rated.  I certainly would have taken her over Tvrdy.  I feel she's also a better player than Murren, too.

 

Not to mention Mikaela Shaw at UNO who IMO is better than Tvrdy also.  Recruiting is a tough business, but I'm not sure what the plan was the past couple of years.  Taking only Theriot in the fall of 2011, and then Murren late in the spring, was puzzling.  And then only getting a project in Havers, Tvrdy, and Ramicieri in the fall of '12.  I don't know if Tvrdy was a payback for getting Cady, or what the dynamics were, but she might have been the 4th or 5th best Nebraska player available her senior year, if that.  Ramicieri is just a total head scratcher.  We've recruited some great players recently but also quite a few total busts or departures, e.g. Leick, Maurer, Woodbury, McGann-Smith, etc.  Leaves a 10 person roster when we have 3 studs.  But, the future still looks bright, we're just really thin right now due to the recruiting issues described above.

[caveman]

well we are enjoying the fruits of 2 real off years recruiting.  we really have a problem in that we aren't able to beat people off the bounce.  T' the one person that can beat people and break down defenses, lacks the discipline to do, so.  If the big commits dump it if not go to the rack.  She's often dumps when she should get to the rack and take contact and doesn't when the big brings the help.

I thought after NW game she might have turned the corner, but she still has to work on it.  that's why we miss Lindsey, so much. she could make help commit before giving up the bounce.

[longtimefan]

Don't get me wrong, but I like Connie Yori.  However, when it comes to recruiting she either hits a home run, triple or strikes out.  She's had way to many strikeouts.  Hopefully with the incoming recruits they are all home runs and triples with no strikeouts.

[Cazzie22]

 

I've come to the conclusion Theriot needs to carry this team. Hooper gets pushed all over the court and it affects her shot. Sample can't hit the broadside of a barn. Brandy and T do some good things but aren't consistent enough. Just saw Theriot nail a 3 - that's what I'm talking about!!!

 

Don't forget Cady.  She excels in so many areas.  Her effort is consistent and relentless.

 

I'm just disappointed Connie took 2 years off in recruiting.  Not fair to Hooper and Cady to not have more talent around them.  It looks like they're not making the same mistake and are lining up a lot of talent to play with Shepard, but time will tell. 

 

I agree completely that it is sad to have Hooper and Cady and not enough to go with them.  This team gives effort but has too many flaws and Hooper, good as she is, does not have a true post up game.