• Box Score: Nebraska 71, Penn State 63
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STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) — Jordan Hooper had a simple plan late in Nebraska's game against No. 16 Penn State on Friday night in the Huskers' Big Ten women's basketball debut.
The No. 23 Huskers' were plagued by turnovers, so Hooper minimized the time they'd handle the ball.
“I figured shoot it before I turn it over,” Hooper said.
Hooper scored 31 points, including a clinching 3-pointer with 17 seconds left, and Nebraska won its Big Ten debut with a 71-63 victory over No. 16 Penn State on Friday night in both teams conference opener.
It was Hooper’s third 30-point outing in four games for Nebraska.
Hooper also had 12 rebounds and Lindsey Moore added 16 points for the Huskers (12-1), who trailed by nine points in the second half, but rallied by holding the Nittany Lions to just one field goal over a span of 8:18. Nebraska used a 13-2 run to take a 60-58 lead with 4:39 left.
“We just didn’t have patience on the offensive end,” Penn State coach Coquise Washington said. “We rushed a lot of our shots.”
The game was tied twice more in the late stages and Penn State still trailed by just one point after a made foul shot by Alex Bentley with 1:58 left.
The Huskers sealed the victory by scoring the final seven points of the game.
“To be honest, I don’t know how we won this game,” Nebraska coach Connie Yori said.
“We gave up 25 offensive rebounds and turned the ball over 26 times. The key was we hung in there.”
Bentley led the Nittany Lions (10-3) with 22 points and eight steals. Maggie Lucas added 18 points and Nikki Greene had 15 rebounds.
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