WBB: Game #7 vs Duke

[Row6Seat10]

#12/#15 Nebraska Cornhuskers (6-0) vs. #9/#8 Duke Blue Devils (5-1)

 

Wednesday, Dec. 3, 6:30 p.m.
Pinnacle Bank Arena

 

Social Media:  @HuskersWBB Nebraska Women's Basketball Instagram

Television: BTN (Kevin Kugler, Mary Murphy)
Live Radio: Husker Sports Network (Matt Coatney, Jeff Griesch)
KRNU-FM 90.3-UNL; KBBK-FM 107.3-Lincoln; KFFF-FM 93.3-Omaha; KBRB-AM 1400-Ainsworth; KWBE-AM 1450-Beatrice; KHAS-AM 1230-Hastings; KHAQ-FM 98.5-North Platte; KNEB-FM 94.1-Scottsbluff; KSID-AM 1340-Sidney
Free Live Audio: Huskers.com

 

 

No. 12 Huskers Prepare for Top-15 Showdown with No. 9 Duke
 

The No. 12 Nebraska women’s basketball team gears up for a top-15 showdown with No. 9 Duke when the two perennial powers meet in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge on Wednesday in Lincoln.

 

Tip-off between the Huskers (6-0) and Blue Devils (5-1) is set for 6:30 p.m.

 

Wednesday night’s game will be a rematch of the 2013 NCAA Sweet 16 clash between the Huskers and Blue Devils in Norfolk, Va. Duke came away with a hard-fought 53-45 win in that game, which marks the only previous meeting in the history of the two schools. Last season, both Nebraska and Duke were seeded among the top four teams in the Lincoln Regional, but both squads were upset in the NCAA second round.

 

Nebraska reeled off six straight wins to open the season, capping a perfect November with a 63-56 win over previously unbeaten Northern Colorado on Sunday. The Huskers are led by All-America point guard Rachel Theriot, who is averaging 19.5 points, 4.8 rebounds and 4.8 assists after producing three straight 20-point games. Theriot poured in a season-high 25 points against Northern Colorado.

 

Three-time All-American Elizabeth Williams leads the Blue Devils. The senior ranks among Duke’s top 10 in career points, rebounds and blocked shots, while averaging 14.0 points, 9.8 rebounds and 3.2 blocks per game this season. She missed Sunday’s 63-59 loss at No. 7 Texas A&M with an ankle sprain.

 

Probable Starters:

Nebraska Cornhuskers
3 - Hailie Sample - 6-1 - Sr. - F - 5.8 ppg
23 - Emily Cady - 6-2 - Sr. - F - 14.8
1 - Tear’a Laudermill - 5-9 - Sr. - G - 11.7
13 - Brandi Jeffery - 5-7 - Sr. - G - 10.2
33 - Rachel Theriot - 6-0 - Jr. - G - 19.5

 

Duke Blue Devils
1 - Elizabeth Williams - 6-3 - Sr. - C/F - 14.0 ppg
30 - Amber Henson - 6-4 - Sr. - C/F - 6.8
4 - Sierra Calhoun - 6-0 - Fr. - G/F - 9.8
14 - Ka’lia Johnson - 5-10 - Sr. - G/F - 6.3
23 - Rebecca Greenwell - 6-1 - RFr. - G - 15.3

 

With an unbeaten November in 2014, Nebraska’s four-player senior class of Emily Cady, Brandi Jeffery, Tear’a Laudermill and Hailie Sample opened the season with a 6-0 start for the third time in the past four years.

 

Nebraska moved up to No. 12 in The Associated Press (Dec. 1) and remained at No. 15 in the USA Today Coaches Poll (Dec. 2) after three weeks of regular-season play. The Huskers opened the 2014-15 season at No. 16 in both polls.

 

NU’s top guard off the bench through the first four games, freshman Natalie Romeo missed the UCLA and Northern Colorado games with a stress reaction in her foot. She is not expected to play against Duke.

 

GAME NOTES:

[Tinpanalley]

I am excited but anxious about this game. Outcome may depend on whether or not Williams plays for Duke. Either way they are a very tall team and we need to get solid play out of our forward and center positions. I believe we will see a lot of 3 bigs playing at the same time versus three guards, especially with Natalie not playing. I don't see Esther helping us out much in this game. If Emily or Hailie get in foul trouble, I am afraid we will be in trouble.

[huskerchode]

We need to be hitting some 3s in this game, and making sure we finish on bunnies.  Please no repeat of last Sunday.  I'm hoping to see the ladies super focused.  I have a feeling Theriot might shine in this game.

[Tinpanalley]

28 -27 Huskers at halftime. Jasmine was the first guard off the bench. Anya is injured and did not dress for the game. Anyone the extent of the injury? Hailie had a good offensive half with eight points, 4 for 4 shooting. Emily has 8 points and Rachel had 7. Neither team is shooting well and Duke is leading in rebounds by 4.

[Tinpanalley]

Huskers Win Husker Win

[Tinpanalley]

Wow. What a game. Would have love being there. Would have left with goose bumps. Hailie had a great game, both offensively and defensively. Emily also had a great game. Had some great rebounds late in the game and got her third double double of the season. The lady Huskers and Coach Yori should be extremely proud of themselves.

[hoop_head]

Superlatives.

 

Despite it all they found a way. Love this team.

[Norm Peterson]

Sweet.

[HB]

^{Just got back from the game.  What a great atmosphere.  Crowd was big, and into it.}

 

^{Kalenta in a boot also.  That's 3 so far this year.   We need to get  healthy; can't keep playing the starters 36-40 all year.}

 

^{Nice job in the first half by Cincore in her first meaningful minutes.  Big stage to debut on.    Good defense.} 

 

^{To get a W shooting 6-29 from 3 and getting outrebounded was an accomplishment.   Great defensive game plan.  Everyone pitched in, but  Hailie and Emily had very nice efforts.} 

[Row6Seat10]

Fantastic atmosphere! Fantastic game! For being undersized the Huskers battled through it all and with the great effort came out standing taller! 

 

Hailie Sample played her arse off!! Emily battled equally as well! Thought Jasmine Cincore came off the bench and gave us some great minutes. Hope we get to see more of the newbies in these next 3-4 games we need all the experience we can get leading into the conference season. Little surprised Allie Havers never saw the court the second half.

[Silverbacked1]

Does Allie have small or weak hands? She seems to fumble the ball a lot. Still like what she brings though.

[HB]

Does Allie have small or weak hands? She seems to fumble the ball a lot. Still like what she brings though.

 

Weak.  The book on her is to attack the ball at the catch or rebound.

 

Would have been nice to redshirt her last year.  She has made strides but has a ways to go.

She's a little streaky.  We will ride one of her hot streaks this year to a W.    If she can have another good offseason, I think she'll really help us in the future. 

[Row6Seat10]

[Bugeaters1]

28 -27 Huskers at halftime. Jasmine was the first guard off the bench. Anya is injured and did not dress for the game. Anyone the extent of the injury? Hailie had a good offensive half with eight points, 4 for 4 shooting. Emily has 8 points and Rachel had 7. Neither team is shooting well and Duke is leading in rebounds by 4.

I wonder if it is a stress reaction. I my thoughts on the game WOW what a big ass team Duke has at one time they didn't have a player under 6 foot on the floor. Our bigs had position on the boards and they would just either jump over us or just reach over for the rebound. And as far as speed Duke didn't have anything on the Huskers.

[Row6Seat10]

I know HB has been harping on it for quite a few years now, but this game just goes to show how much we need to get some big tall athletic girls in the fold. Once we got up by 13 in the first half Duke changed their defense from man to zone and as a result it that clogged up the lane and forced us to shoot from the outside and a lot of those shots were rushed as the shot clock wound down. They never came out of that zone once they went to it and it completely changed the way the Huskers were attacking. The Huskers worked their butts off tonight and got the win, but it sure would have been nice had we had some taller girls to guard some of their giants.  

[Bugeaters1]

And I did see a Jaysker at the game in the front row BOOOOOO. One more thought How cool was it that the crowd drowned out the music with the HUSKER POWER chant. Now that was KICK ASS in my book. Just remembered something else my wife told me on the drive home, that a lady in front of her as we were walking out after the game. said that she is now hooked on the Huskers and wants to go to more games. Looks like maybe another season ticket holder in the works.

[Row6Seat10]

7,571 was the final count, sounded like 10 grand+ at times.

 

 

[HuskerBrad10]

Anyone else notice how limited Duke is on offense? Just about every jump shot they took was way off the mark. If they can't get easy layups they struggle mightely on offense.

[Bugeaters1]

Anyone else notice how limited Duke is on offense? Just about every jump shot they took was way off the mark. If they can't get easy layups they struggle mightely on offense.

With height like that who needs a jump shot, but yeah I noticed that as well.

[Cazzie22]

Our defense kept Greenwall from getting shots.  Still worried about the lack of depth.

[HB]

7,571 was the final count, sounded like 10 grand+ at times.

 

 

Would have been a great game to have recruits at.  Hard not to be impressed with that atmosphere.   And our girls have fun playing hoops; you can just see it, coaches on down.

[Row6Seat10]

A couple of first's in this game. Duke despite not playing with AA Elizabeth Williams has seven McDonald's All Americans playing on their team compare to 0 for the Huskers. This is Duke's first loss (7-1) in the ACC/B1G Challenge and Nebraska's first win (1-3).

 

Did anyone notice after Duke had their huddle at mid-court after the game their head coach was waiting for them when they came off the floor and she went after Elizabeth Williams and read her the riot act? Not sure what an injured player did to receive that kind of tongue lashing but it went on all the way into the locker room. The head coach looked like a psycho going after her All American. 

[huskerchode]

I think the crowd bothered Duke, especially at the end. It was good to see everyone on their feet the last couple of minutes. Some of those Duke girls had the "deer in headlights" look toward the end of the game. Crowd also very vocal with the refs, as was Connie (thought she might go Pelini for a second, and I saw her warning from the ref). Halie earns the Beast of the Game Award once again. They were all good tonight. I think this team is tougher to defend than a year ago. Can't give Sample any room because she has shown she will shoot and make the shot with confidence. I also think Cincore is totally going to bust out a 15 point game before the end of the season. Are the girls just passing the boot around this season? It needs to disappear SOON.

[Noah121]

I think the crowd bothered Duke, especially at the end. It was good to see everyone on their feet the last couple of minutes. Some of those Duke girls had the "deer in headlights" look toward the end of the game. 

This comment reminds me of the 2009 LSU game where we had a large attendance, knocked off #5 LSU, and that was near the end of the non-conference slate of the 30-0 regular season.

[whoopdeedoo]

in my search to read about the Duke-Husker game, i came across the story telling how Lauren Hill's family has signed her up for hospice care now. Thoughts and prayers go out to her family and friends. i am sure many of you are aware of her situation---she is the young woman bb player diagnosed with inoperable brain tumor.

 

i watched the game on the BTN channel---sure seemed like the announcers referenced the inability of Williams not being able to play enough. maybe just my bias coming through. what a fun game to watch. huskers are tough. Duke can really plug up the lane, allowing minimal drives. Sample and Cady had a couple of very nice drives to the basket though. if it wasn't for second and third chances, Duke really had trouble getting the ball in the hoop. the one i was really concerned about was Greenwell and thought the huskers did a nice job on her. 

 

this boot situation. geez, hope it's not a lingering thing for these players. any updates on the injuries?