WBB: Game #14 @ Michigan State

[Row6Seat10]

#18 Nebraska Cornhuskers (10-3) at Michigan State Spartans (8-6)

Thursday, Jan. 8, 7:30 p.m.
Breslin Center

Social Media: @HuskersWBB  Nebraska Women's Basketball  Instagram

Television: BTN (Lisa Byington, Stephanie White)
Live Radio: Husker Sports Network (Matt Coatney, Jeff Griesch)
KBBK-FM 107.3-Lincoln; KFFF-FM 93.3-Omaha; KWBE-AM 1450-Beatrice; KHAS-AM 1230-Hastings; KZMC-FM102.1-McCook; KHAQ-FM 98.5-North Platte; KNEB-FM 94.1-Scottsbluff:
Free Live Audio: Huskers.com
Live Stats: Huskers.com

 

 

Huskers Shoot for First Big Ten Win Over Defending Champ Spartans

 

The No. 19 Nebraska women’s basketball team opens a two-game Big Ten road trip when the Huskers travel to East Lansing to take on Michigan State Thursday night.

 

Tip-off between the defending Big Ten Tournament champion Huskers and the defending Big Ten co-champion Spartans is set for 7:30 p.m.

 

Both the Huskers and Spartans are hungry for a Big Ten win after battling injuries and illness in the early portion of Big Ten Conference play. The Huskers did welcome the return of freshman guard Natalie Romeo to the court, after she missed NU’s previous eight games with a foot injury. Junior center Anya Kalenta also was cleared to play against Maryland. She has missed the last seven games with a foot injury.

 

Michigan State slipped to 0-3 in Big Ten play with a 74-65 loss at in-state rival Michigan on Sunday, following a 70-51 road loss at Indiana on New Year’s Eve. The Spartans dropped their Big Ten home opener with a 61-57 setback to Northwestern on Dec. 28.

 

The Spartans have competed with just eight healthy players for the last two weeks, having been stung by major knee injuries to Branndais Agee and Madison Williams in the offseason. Recently, senior center Jasmine Hines has struggled to overcome concussion symptoms.

 

As a team, Michigan State has averaged 70.9 points while surrendering 61.9 points per contest on the year, but the Spartans have managed just 57.7 points per game through their first three Big Ten contests. Big Ten opponents have averaged 68.3 points per game and have produced a plus-5.7 turnover margin. On the year, MSU carries a plus-9.3 rebound margin, but have managed just a 40.0-39.7 edge on the glass in league play. The Spartans are also shooting just 35.6 percent from floor through three Big Ten contests.

Nebraska leads the short all time series with Michigan State 3-2.

 

Probable Starters:

 

Nebraska Cornhuskers
3 - Hailie Sample - 6-1 - Sr. - F - 6.8 ppg
23 - Emily Cady - 6-2 - Sr. - F - 13.6
1 - Tear’a Laudermill - 5-9 - Sr. - G - 12.5
13 - Brandi Jeffery - 5-7 - Sr. - G - 7.9
33 - Rachel Theriot - 6-0 - Jr. - G - 17.8

 

Michigan State Spartans
23 - Aerial Powers - 6-0 - So. - F - 19.3 ppg
52 - Becca Mills - 6-4 - Sr. - F - 10.2
1 - Tori Jankoska - 5-8 - So. - G - 18.2
14 - Anna Morrissey - 5-10 - Sr. - G - 5.6
21 - Jasmine Lumpkin - 6-0 - Fr. - G/F - 5.9

 

• Rachel Theriot ranks No. 2 in the nation and the Big Ten with her .957 free throw percentage (45-47). Theriot has made 19 consecutive free throws dating back to the first half of the win over Northern Colorado.

• Emily Cady is the Big Ten Conference’s active rebound leader with 910 in her career. Senior teammate Hailie Sample ranks third in the conference with 579 career boards.

• Emily Cady’s 1,231 career points rank No. 17 in Husker history. She needs 12 points to catch Brooke Schwartz in 16th.

• Brandi Jeffery’s most impressive gains have come on the glass, where she ranks second among the Huskers and and tied for 12th in the Big Ten with 7.0 rebounds per game.

• Hailie Sample leads the Huskers in field goal percentage (.600) through 13 games and ranks 18th in Big Ten rebounding (6.5 rpg).

 

GAME NOTES

This post has been promoted to an article

[whoopdeedoo]

i have no doubt that coach yori has regrouped the team after the maryland loss. she will have them ready to play. the question is, will it be enough? i expect a back and forth battle and think it will be a close game. hoping for a little more player depth. if it was a PBA game, my confidence would be much higher for a husker win.

[huskerchode]

I just don't think Theriot can keep playing all 40 minutes of every game.  We desperately need to get some more contributions off the bench.  I would like to see more consistency from Havers off the bench.  I would also like to see Jeffery as a scoring threat again.  It would be great if Romeo could add another 6-8 off the bench.  Does anyone know when Cincore might be back?  I thought she was doing some positive things for us until the boot happened.  And I still think Emily Wood has helped when she has played - she's scrappy.

[cyinne]

I just don't think Theriot can keep playing all 40 minutes of every game.  We desperately need to get some more contributions off the bench.  I would like to see more consistency from Havers off the bench.  I would also like to see Jeffery as a scoring threat again.  It would be great if Romeo could add another 6-8 off the bench.  Does anyone know when Cincore might be back?  I thought she was doing some positive things for us until the boot happened.  And I still think Emily Wood has helped when she has played - she's scrappy.

I just looked up the stats from the past couple years- last year Rachel averaged 36.5 minutes per game, this year so far she is averaging 36.5 minutes per game.  I think she will be just fine. 

[huskerchode]

So far in conference play she has played all 40 minutes.  She was in foul trouble early in the Alabama game and only played 32 minutes.  Some of the blow out wins she was subbed out, but the closer games she is in all 40 minutes.  I think we are going to have lots of close games in conference and very few blow outs, at least until we see more contribution from the bench.

[cyinne]

I can see where you are coming from.  I did a little further research- this year she has already played all 40 minutes in 6 games (UCLA, Duke, Creighton, CS Bakersfield, Minnesota, Maryland)- last year she had 8 games (Utah, Washington St, Northwestern, Purdue, Michigan, Ohio State, Illinois, Purdue) she played all 40 minutes and 2 games (Minnesota, Wisconsin) she played all 45 minutes for a total of 10 games.  Also, this year she has played 474 total minutes compared to last years 419 up through the first 13 games of the season. 

[HB]

Theriot's nickname with coach is "Gumby".  Meaning she has a gumby-like body that allows her to play big minutes without the normal wear and tear that mortals face.  That may be a slight exaggeration, but I believe it to be basically true.  I expect she will play between 36-40 minutes every game, unless she is in foul trouble (which happens extremely rarely).  I think Romeo's minutes will come from mainly from other than Theriot. 

[HB]

i have no doubt that coach yori has regrouped the team after the maryland loss. she will have them ready to play. the question is, will it be enough? i expect a back and forth battle and think it will be a close game. hoping for a little more player depth. if it was a PBA game, my confidence would be much higher for a husker win.

 

In the pick 'em contest, I picked Minnesota and Maryland over the Huskers.  Hated to be right.  This game, I am going with the Husker.  What the heck.  It's time to get a W no matter what. 

[huskerchode]

I've thought that Theriot has looked tired in the second half in these past few games.  Some of that comes from the way the defense has played her, but her shots looked off to me in the second half.  Still, it will help if some others that either start or come off the bench can score 6-8 points in a game (maybe not all of them every game, but a couple would help). 

[huskerchode]

I was just reading this morning that MSU is beat up as well.  I think we have a tough road game tonight, and I'm even worried about Illinois because of the physical play (and it's on the road).

[HB]

I've thought that Theriot has looked tired in the second half in these past few games.  Some of that comes from the way the defense has played her, but her shots looked off to me in the second half.  Still, it will help if some others that either start or come off the bench can score 6-8 points in a game (maybe not all of them every game, but a couple would help). 

 

You know what, despite the "Gumby" thinking, I agree.  Especially with more open outside shots.  Front-ironed some, which is often tired legs. 

[whoopdeedoo]

watched maryland game on tv. midway to late second half, there was a couple of shots of rachel. i thought she looked tired, not to mention frustrated. i just think it would bode well if she could get her minutes cut down. don't get me wrong---she runs the show, but, i would like to see her in that 30-34 minute range. not to mention good experience for the young'ens.    (that is, if they get healthy)

[Noah121]

It's 7-8 after the first media timeout.  I'm solely listening on HuskersNSide, because the cable is out in my place.

[Fastbreaker]

What are the odds that MSU will announce the attendance as something like 7943.

[Bugeaters1]

Wow can they guard the Miller girl holy cow.

[Noah121]

Down 30-32 at the break.  It's been a game of mini-runs.

[Noah121]

A triple from MSU is followed by a Husker two.

 

Missed shot by Spartans from close range!

 

Brandi nails a nice shot!  34-35.

 

Long miss by MSU.  Cady makes 'em pay! 36-35.

[Noah121]

Timeout MSU!  Huskers lead 40-37.  17 minutes remaining.

[Noah121]

Powers has 21 as the Huskers lead ... but then another Husker turnover for a MSU fastbreak.  It's 46-all.

 

Pullup jumper misses for the Huskers... and then MSU sticks the three.  It's 46-49, and Connie Yori calls a timeout.

[Noah121]

Time out on the floor--Huskers trail 46-52 after a 0-10 run.

[Noah121]

Four chances at the basket for the Huskers... and no points.  Huskers have the ball after a foul... and finally nail a jumper to tie it at 52!

 

Major lane violation not called on MSU, and Huskers force a stop.  But can't convert on the other end... and it's still 52's.

 

Cady fouls Powers, and there will be 2 shots.  Sinks 'em both: 52-54, 8:18 left.

 

And Rachel nails a jumper!  Tied up again.

 

Another second chance point successful for the Spartans... and a foul.  54-56, with a free throw after the timeout.

[Noah121]

2:38 left, and Huskers are down 62-66 after scoring.  Need to get a stop or two, and score every time we have the ball!

[Noah121]

1:27 left, and it's 64-67.  Huskers just missed a shot, and must get a stop!

 

Michigan State has the offense... and it's a off-the-ball foul on Powers!  Huskers are shooting free throws.

 

Emily scores on the first, and YES on the second!  66-67, 1:02 left!

 

Timeout Michigan State! 45 seconds left.

[Noah121]

The MSU possession is blown up!  

 

AND IT COUNTS! AND A FOUL! For the Huskers!  68-67!

 

The FT is good! 69-67!  Timeout MSU--30 seconds to go!

 

MSU: 9 fouls, 1 timeout.

UNL: 7 fouls, 2 timeouts.

[Tinpanalley]

Come on girls