Nebraska Cornhuskers vs. San Jose State Spartans
Friday, Dec. 9, 7 p.m. (CT)
Pinnacle Bank Arena
Tickets: Huskers.com
Live Video: BTN Plus
Live Radio: Husker Sports Network - Matt Coatney (PBP), Jeff Griesch (Analyst)
KRNU 90.3 FM - UNL; KBBK 107.3 FM - Lincoln; KKCD 105.9 FM - Omaha; KWBE 1450 AM - Beatrice;
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Free Live Audio: Huskers.com/Huskers App
Huskers Close Home Stand with San Jose State
The Nebraska women’s basketball team wraps up its three-game home stand by taking on San Jose State Friday at Pinnacle Bank Arena.
Tip-off between the Huskers (3-6) and the Spartans (2-7) is set for 7 p.m
Sophomore Jessica Shepard continues to lead the Huskers at the offensive end, averaging 18.1 points and 10.8 rebounds per contest after notching her fourth double-double of the season and 14th of her 40-game career with 23 points and a season-high 16 rebounds in Tuesday’s loss to Drake.
The 6-4 forward scored 22 points in the second half, but Nebraska relinquished a 33-32 halftime lead in the 84-70 setback to a Bulldog team picked to win the Missouri Valley Conference in preseason voting. It was the 20th 20-point scoring performance of Shepard’s career.
Nebraska will try to snap a five-game losing streak when the Huskers face San Jose State. NU has lost two games to Pac-12 foes (California, 7-0; Washington State, 5-3) and two more to ACC opponents (Virginia Tech, 8-0; Virginia, 6-2) and the fifth game to Drake (4-3) on Tuesday night. Those five opponents have a combined record of 30-8.
Through Tuesday’s games, Nebraska’s first nine opponents owned a combined mark of 50-23, with all nine carrying a .500 or better record. Nebraska’s strength of schedule was No. 17 nationally according to RPIratings.com on Wednesday.
Probable Starters:
Nebraska Cornhuskers
32 - Jessica Shepard - 6-4 - So. - F
22 - Allie Havers - 6-5 - Sr. - C
5 - Nicea Eliely - 6-1 - Fr. - G
11 - Esther Ramacieri - 5-8 - Sr. - G
34 - Jasmine Cincore - 5-10 - Jr
San Jose State Spartans
3 - Paris Baird - 6-2 - Sr. - F
11 - Jasmine Smith - 6-0 - Sr. - C
1 - Myzhanique Ladd - 5-10 - Jr. - G
20 - Rachol West - 5-10 - Sr. - G
21 - Dezz Ramos - 5-7 - Sr. - G
Scouting San Jose State
San Jose State comes to Lincoln with a 2-7 overall record following a Tuesday night loss at San Francisco.
Senior Dezz Ramos leads the Spartans on the court. The 5-7 point guard is the only Spartan averaging double figures, putting up 19.1 points and a team-best 4.4 assists per game. The 2016-17 Preseason All-Mountain West guard was named the 2016 Mountain West Newcomer of the Year as a junior in 2015-16. She was a two-year starter at Weber State before transferring to San Jose State.
Senior Jasmine Smith, a 6-0 senior center, ranks second on the team in scoring with 8.8 points per game while adding a team-best 7.1 rebounds per contest.
A third senior, 6-2 forward Paris Baird, has pitched in 6.2 points and 4.9 rebounds per game. Rachol West gives the Spartans four senior starters. The 5-10 guard averages 7.2 points and 2.4 rebounds per game.
Myzanique Ladd, a 5-10 junior guard averaging 7.1 points, 5.2 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.8 steals per game rounds out an experienced group of starters. The Spartans broke the school three-point attempt record by hoisting 43 threes in the loss at St. Mary’s. They made 11, with West (2-10), Ramos (2-9) and Gennett (1-9) combining to go 5-for-28.
The Spartans have hit just 36.9 percent of their overall field goal attempts, including 29.0 percent of their threes. They have converted 66.4 percent of their free throw attempts.
The Spartans have been outscored by 14.1 points per game and carry a minus-14.1 rebound margin.
Husker Nuggets
• San Jose State is Nebraska’s first opponent this season to carry a losing record. Each of Nebraska’s first nine foes owned a .500 or better record through Tuesday’s games, combining for a 50-23 mark (.685). Nebraska’s strength of schedule was ranked No. 17 nationally through games Tuesday, Dec. 6.
• Friday’s game marks the first meeting between Nebraska and San Jose State in history.
• Jessica Shepard leads the Huskers with averages of 18.1 points and 10.8 rebounds per game.
• Shepard leads Nebraska in three-point field goals made (12) and three-point field goal percentage (.480),
• Nebraska freshman Nicea Eliely ranks second on the team in scoring (8.4 ppg), fourth in rebounding (3.7 rpg), second in assists (2.6 apg) and first in steals (1.8 spg) through the first nine games of her collegiate career.
• Nebraska has had at least two players earn first- or second-team All-Big Ten honors in each of its first five seasons in the Big Ten.
• Hannah Whitish has been Nebraska’s top contributor off the bench through nine games with 5.6 points and 1.7 assists in 18.1 minutes per contest.
BEAT THE SPARTANS!
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