WBB: Game #27 @ Indiana

The No. 21 Nebraska women’s basketball team completes its Big Ten regular-season road schedule Saturday when the Huskers take on Indiana in Bloomington.

Tip-off between the Big Red and the Hoosiers at Assembly Hall is set for 11 a.m.

Nebraska will try to end the regular season with a winning road record, entering the game with a 6-6 mark away from Pinnacle Bank Arena. The Huskers have dropped four straight on the road, but all four of those losses have come to teams currently in the top 35 in the official NCAA RPI.

Nebraska will be hoping that the experience of its four senior starters can offset the loss of Rachel Theriot. Rachel underwent season-ending ankle surgery after missing her fifth straight game with an injury suffered in practice..

Nebraska’s California guards Tear’a Laudermill and Natalie Romeo have stepped up in Theriot’s absence. Laudermill is averaging 18.0 points, 5.4 rebounds and 3.0 assists the last five games, while Romeo has assumed a starting role and is averaging 12.0 points and 3.5 rebounds over the last five contests.

Indiana enters Saturday’s game with Nebraska after dropping a 68-52 decision at Michigan. The Hoosiers, who are the Big Ten’s youngest team, slipped to 14-12 overall and 4-11 in the conference. Under first-year coach Teri Moren, Indiana’s freshmen and sophomores have accounted for all but five of its points on the season.

As a team, Indiana is averaging 73.6 points per game on the season, but just 65.5 in Big Ten action. Opponents are averaging 65.1 points, including 71.5 points per conference contest. Indiana has hit just 38.8 percent from the field in Big Ten play, including 31.2 percent from three-point range. The Hoosiers have a minus-6.5 team rebound margin and are even in turnover margin in Big Ten action.

Nebraska leads the all-time series with Indiana 3-2.

Probable Starters:

Nebraska Cornhuskers

3 - Hailie Sample - 6-1- Sr. - F - 7.2 ppg

23 - Emily Cady - 6-2 - Sr. - F - 11.7

1 - Tear’a Laudermill - 5-9 - Sr. - G – 14.2

5 - Natalie Romeo - 5-7 - Fr. - G - 7.0

13 - Brandi Jeffery - 5-7 - Sr. - G - 7.6

Indiana Hoosiers

33 - Amanda Cahill - 6-2 - Fr. - F - 10.6 ppg

43 - Jenn Anderson - 6-3 - So. - C - 8.8

3 - Tyra Buss - 5-7 - Fr. - G - 11.5

5 - Larryn Brooks - 5-5 - So. - G - 11.8

23 - Alexis Gassion - 5-10 - So. - G - 8.5

• Nebraska takes aim at its 19th win of the season and its 94th victory in the four years with seniors Emily Cady, Brandi Jeffery, Tear’a Laudermill and Hailie Sample on the court.

• Nebraska ranks No. 4 nationally with 12.7 personal fouls per game.

• Nebraska leads the Big Ten with just 13.3 turnovers per game in conference play.

• Emily Cady ranks sixth among active NCAA Division I rebounders with 1,055.

• Emily Cady’s 104 blocks are tied for fifth in Husker history with Maurtice Ivy.

• Emily Cady enters the Indiana game with 4,030 career minutes played to tie Jordan Hooper for second in Husker history. Only Lindsey Moore (4,360) has played more minutes in a Nebraska uniform

• Tear’a Laudermill leads Nebraska in Big Ten play with 15.5 points per game.

• Natalie Romeo has started four consecutive games in place of the injured Rachel Theriot. She is averaging 12.5 points per game in six games this season as a starter.

• Natalie Romeo is averaging 12.0 points and 3.5 rebounds over the last four games as a starter.

• Brandi Jeffery owns career single-season highs in points (189), rebounds (154), assists (48) and steals (39) this season.

• Hailie Sample is the Big Ten’s No. 3 active career rebounder with 674.

• Rachel Theriot underwent season-ending ankle surgery on Feb. 19.Rachel is expected to return for her senior season in 2015-16.

GAME NOTES:

BEAT INDIANA!