• Box Score: Nebraska 62, Indiana 48
• Photo showcase: Nebraska's win over Indiana
• Video Below: See postgame interviews with Connie Yori, Jordan Hooper, Emily Cady and Indiana coach Felisha Legette-Jack
* * *
LINCOLN — Indiana forward Linda Rubene barely drew iron on two first-half free throws. So her chances of hitting a 35-footer right before halftime were a bit slim.
But Nebraska women’s basketball guard Lindsey Moore wasn’t taking any chances.
She punched the ball out of Rubene’s grasp at the buzzer, punctuating a hustle-and-smother defensive effort in which NU allowed just four points in the final 12 minutes of the first half.
It was part of a 34-4 run for the No. 19 Huskers, who led 37-24 at the break, scored 11 straight points to start the second half and coasted to a 62-48 win. NU forced 26 turnovers — including three shot-clock violations — and scored 26 points off of them.
“Our pressure has a tendency to just wear opponents if you just keep bringing it,” Nebraska coach Connie Yori said. “After awhile you hope they’re thinking, ‘I don’t want the ball any more.’ ”
The performance overshadowed a brick-heavy night of offense — Nebraska shot just 33 percent from the floor — a sloppy finish and a sluggish start, as Indiana (5-11, 0-3 Big Ten) grabbed a 20-12 lead at the 12:02 mark of the first half. It was a far cry from NU’s 71-63 upset at Penn State.
“We needed to wake up,” said forward Jordan Hooper, who had her fourth straight double-double with 21 points and 12 rebounds. “We were still on the road from Penn State, honestly. We had to get back in the game.”
In front of a season-high 5,629 fans at the Devaney Center, NU (13-1 and 2-0) scored 34 of the game’s next 38 points, adjusting to the physical, whistle-light game. Hooper certainly did her part, splashing home consecutive 3-pointers to cut IU’s lead to 20-19.
“I feel a personal need to kick us in the butt,” Hooper said, smiling.
“We held (Hooper) to her (scoring) average — isn’t that awesome?” Indiana coach Felicia Legette-Jack said.
But freshmen Emily Cady and Tear’a Laudermill supplied a key dose of energy.
Laudermill, who’s missed most of last month with illnesses, was inserted at the beginning of the run. Her speed wore down the Hoosier guards as she scored nine points. And Cady, from Seward, gobbled up loose balls, forced jump balls and repeatedly crashed into Indiana’s taller front line.
At times, Yori said, there seemed to be three or four of Cady’s No. 23 jerseys on the floor. The effort was reminiscent of another former No. 23 — Kelsey Griffin.
“Emily was all over the place. ... She’s a great hustler.” Yori said. “That was one of her best games since she’s been here.”
Cady finished with 18 points, nine rebounds, five steals and a team-high 31 minutes. She said she’d never been part of a run so big — good progress for a team routinely playing six freshmen.
“It’s kinda cheesy,” Cady said. “But we’re, like, bonding.”
Contact the writer:
402-202-9766, sam.mckewon@owh.com
twitter.com/swmckewonOWH
* * *
Video: Postgame interviews with Connie Yori, Jordan Hooper, Emily Cady and Indiana coach Felisha Legette-Jack:
Nebraska coach Connie Yori
Nebraska's Jordan Hooper
Nebraska's Emily Cady
Indiana coach Felisha Legette-Jack
Copyright ©2012 Omaha World-Herald®. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, displayed or redistributed for any purpose without permission from the Omaha World-Herald.
RSS Feeds