Nebraska Women's Basketball
Huskers Hope to Tame Lady Lions Saturday
The Nebraska women’s basketball team opens its 2015-16 regular season by taking on Arkansas Pine Bluff at Pinnacle Bank Arena on Saturday, Nov. 14, at 11:30 a.m.
Nebraska owns a history of season-opening success on the Huskers’ homecourt. Nebraska will shoot for its 40th win in 42 all-time home openers when the Big Red take on Arkansas Pine Bluff.
The new-look Huskers ran to a 96-66 win over NCAA Division II No. 16 Winona State last Sunday. The game featured a 42-point, 12-rebound performance from Nebraska freshman Jessica Shepard.
Coach Nate Kilbert brings Arkansas Pine Bluff to Lincoln trying to improve on a 7-22 season a year ago. The Lady Lions return three starters from a team that went 5-13 in the Southwestern Athletic Conference last season. Senior Diamond Richardson is a leader for UAPB, as the 5-6 guard averaged 5.0 points and 3.7 rebounds per game last season.
Sophomores Destiny Brewton (8.3 ppg, 2.6 rpg) and Ajia Richardson (6.7 ppg, 2.9 rpg) added starting experience alongside Diamond Richardson in the backcourt.
Arkansas Pine Bluff’s group of newcomers includes four junior college transfers, three true freshmen and one redshirt freshman.
The Huskers own a 3-0 record in the all-time series with UAPB. Odds makers have the Huskers as a 48.5 point favorite.
Probable Starters:
Nebraska Cornhuskers
43 - Rachel Blackburn - 6-3 - Fr. - F
32 - Jessica Shepard - 6-4 - Fr. - F
4 - Kyndal Clark - 5-7 - RSr. - G
5 - Natalie Romeo - 5-7 - So. - G
33 - Rachel Theriot - 6-0 - Sr. - G
Arkansas Pine Bluff Lady Lions
30 - Attirah Munir - 6-1 - Sr. - F
33 - Hannah Roberts - 6-2 - Jr. - F
1 - Destiny Brewton - 5-7 - So. - G
10 - Ajia Richardson - 5-5 - So. - G
24 - Diamond Richardson - 5-6 - Sr. – G
• Jessica Shepard’s 42 points and 12 rebounds in 25 minutes against Winona State on Nov. 8, 2015, marked the most productive exhibition game in school history. Her 42 points surpassed All-American Kelsey Griffin’s 35-point, 13-rebound effort in 22 minutes against UNK in 2006.
• Rachel Theriot averaged 16.5 ppg as a junior, and is ranked No. 30 in career points at Nebraska with 1,023. She needs 12 points to tie Alexa Johnson, 13 to match Stacy Imming and 25 to catch Cathy Owen on NU’s all-time list.
• Nebraska’s most experienced player, Theriot will be making her 83rd start in a Husker uniform.
• Kyndal Clark will be making her 99th collegiate start on Saturday.
• Natalie Romeo is expected to make her 13th career start in Saturday’s season opener. Romeo has averaged 13.7 points while hitting 40-of-104 threes (.385) as a starter for the Huskers.
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