Nebraska Women's Basketball
The No. 16 Nebraska women’s basketball team returns to its old home court at the Bob Devaney Sports Center for the first time since March 3, 2013, when the Huskers take on Utah, Sunday.
Tip-off between the Big Red (3-0) and the Utes (1-1) is set for 1 p.m. (central) at the Devaney Center, As a special event connected with the return to the Devaney Center, Nebraska will honor its 1988 Big Eight Championship team throughout the day. The Huskers will recognize the achievements of the their first NCAA Tournament team by wearing replica 1987-88 uniforms.
Nebraska opened a three-game Pac-12 swing by beating Washington State, 82-61, Wednesday night in Pullman. In a game with the atmosphere of a conference clash, the Huskers avenged last season’s 76-72 loss to the Cougars in Lincoln by putting all five starters in double figures. Senior Tear’a Laudermill led the Big Red with a season-high 20 points, while Hailie Sample (16 points, 9 rebounds), Emily Cady (12 points, 9 rebounds) and Brandi Jeffery (11 points, 8 rebounds) all nearly produced double-doubles.
All five Husker starters are averaging double figures and producing 65 of NU’s 88.3 points per game. As a comparison, Utah’s starters have demonstrated a high level of efficiency through two games, hitting 47.9 percent (45-94) of their shots, including 10-of-20 three-pointers and 15-of-16 free throws (.810). However, the Ute starters have just 22 assists against 27 turnovers while averaging a combined 58.5 points per game despite already playing an overtime period this season.
Utah will sport a 1-1 record when they show up to the Devaney Center Sunday, coming off a 64-56 loss at Creighton Thursday. The Utes trailed 23-21 at the half in a hard-fought defensive struggle. Utah leads the all-time series with Nebraska, 2-1, but the Huskers battled to a 75-69 win over the Utes in Salt Lake City last season.
Probable Starters:
Nebraska Cornhuskers
3 - Hailie Sample - 6-1 - Sr.- F - 10.3 ppg
23 - Emily Cady - 6-2 - Sr. - F - 10.0
1 - Tear’a Laudermill - 5-9 - Sr. - G - 15.3
13 - Brandi Jeffery - 5-7 - Sr. - G - 13.7
33 - Rachel Theriot - 6-0 - Jr. - G - 16.0
Utah Utes
3 - Malia Nawahine - 5-10 - So. - F - 13.0 ppg
11 - Taryn Wicijowski - 6-3 - RSr. - F - 25.0
32 - Tanaeya Boclair - 6-0 - Fr. - F - 10.0
14 - Paige Crozon - 6-1 - So. - G - 6.0
22 - Danielle Rodriguez - 5-10 - Jr. - G - 4.5
Tear’a Laudermill is Nebraska’s No. 1 active career three-point shooter with 106 makes, which ranks 10th on the Husker career list. She needs four threes to catch Kaitlyn Burke (2008-12) in ninth with 110.
Hailie Sample is the Big Ten’s No. 3 active career rebounder with 518, trailing only teammate Emily Cady (811) and Iowa’s Samantha Logic (702).
Brandi Jeffery is shooting 66.7 percent from the field (14-21), including 54.5 percent (6-11) from three-point range. Brandi has hit a pair of threes in each of NU’s three games.
Growing interest in Nebraska women’s basketball is not new. In fact, 13 of the 21 largest non-conference home crowds in school history have come over the last 21 non-conference home games for the Big Red.
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The Big Eight champion Huskers dressed in military gear for the cover of the 1987-88 media guide.
Ten members of the Huskers' 22-7 squad that became Nebraska's first NCAA Tournament team after going 11-3 in Big Eight regular-season play, will be on hand as the Big Red return to the Devaney Center for the first time since moving to Pinnacle Bank Arena in 2013-14.
Former Huskers expected to be on hand Sunday include Nebraska legend and 1988 Big Eight Player of the Year Maurtice Ivy, first-team All-Big Eight guard and current NU assistant coach Amy Stephens, CoSIDA Academic All-Americans Stephanie Bolli and Ann Halsne, Kim Harris, Sabrina Brooks, Amy Bullock, Pam Fiene, Deb Hoffman, Melissa Sanford and assistant coach Theresa Becker. Former Nebraska head coach Angela Beck will also deliver a special video message.
The 1987-88 Huskers will be recognized in both pre-game and halftime ceremonies, and the 2014-15 Huskers will pay tribute to the team by wearing replica uniforms.
The 1987-88 white uniforms featured a script "Nebraska" across the front with a small number on the front right. The shorts featured the outline of the state of Nebraska with a script "Huskers" written inside, along with a star on Lincoln.
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