The Huskers will try to improve to 5-0 at the Devaney Center this season, while notching their 10th victory over a top-15 opponent since December of 2009, when they face Maryland. NU's game with the 2012 ACC Tournament champion Terrapins will be the first regular-season meeting between Nebraska and Maryland, but the Huskers and Terps do have history. Maryland, which will join the Big Ten in 2014, knocked Nebraska out of the 2008 NCAA Tournament, defeated NU 76-64 in the NCAA second round.
Maryland, which advanced to the 2012 NCAA Elite Eight, returns four starters from a team that went 31-5. The Terrapins feature national player-of-the-year candidates Tianna Hawkins, Alyssa Thomas and Laurin Mincy. Nebraska adds a pair of national player-of-the-year candidates in Lindsey Moore and Jordan Hooper, putting five of the nation's top-50 players on the floor at the Devaney Center.
With three 40-plus point victories and a week's rest, the Terrapins will bring a high-powered offense with them to the Devaney Center. Coach Brenda Frese's lineup features three national player-of-the-year candidates in Tianna Hawkins, Alyssa Thomas and Laurin Mincy. Hawkins, a 6-3 senior forward, leads the Terps with 19.5 points and 9.5 rebounds per game while shooting a sparkling 71.1 percent from the field. Thomas, a 6-2 junior forward, has pitched in 10.5 points and 8.0 rebounds. Mincy, a 6-0 junior guard, has managed 6.8 points, 5.3 rebounds and 4.3 assists.
The Terps add to their outstanding size with 6-4 senior center Alicia DeVaughn, who has contributed 13.0 points and 8.3 rebounds per contest while shooting 69 percent from the floor. For more strength inside, the Terrapins can turn to 6-4 freshman center Malina Howard, who has averaged 9.3 points and 5.5 boards,
Maryland returns four starters from a team that went 31-5 a year ago and captured the ACC Tournament title. The Terps went 12-4 in ACC regular-season action to tie for third in the final league standings.
Probable Starters:
#21 Nebraska Cornhuskers (5-1)
3 - Hailie Sample - 6-1 - So. - F
23 - Emily Cady - 6-2 - So. - F
35 - Jordan Hooper - 6-2 - Jr. - F
00 - Lindsey Moore - 5-9 - Sr. - G
13 - Brandi Jeffery - 5-7 - So. - G
#11 Maryland Terrapins (3-1)
21 - Tianna Hawkins - 6-3 - Sr. - F
25 - Alyssa Thomas - 6-2 - Jr. - F
13 - Alicia DeVaughn - 6-4 - Jr. - C
1 - Laurin Mincy - 6-0 - Jr. - G
15 - Chloe Pavlech - 5-9 - Fr. - G
Huskers Take on Terps in Top 25 Battle…….huskers.com
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