Husker Corner
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Lady Huskers sink High Point University

By Rosalie Suggs

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Nebraska Cornhusker women defeated the High Point University (HPU) Panthers 83 – 57 in their last non-conference game on Saturday afternoon at Pinnacle Bank Sports Arena in Lincoln.  Playing in front of a scarlet and cream clad crowd of 5,244, the #12 Huskers handed the lady panthers their fifth road loss of the season.

High Point University (located in High Point, NC) is the defending Big South conference champs. They came into Lincoln with hopes of upsetting their first ranked opponent this season. Coming off a loss to Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU)  81 -59 on Dec. 18th, second year head coach DeUnna Hendrix had hoped to make this first ever meeting with Nebraska an entry in the win column.

Mar 24, 2014; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Nebraska Cornhuskers guard Rachel Theriot (33) attempts a shot defended by BYU Cougars guard Kylie Maeda (15) in the second half of a women

Coach Hendrix had to depend heavily on her Panther line up of Kaylah Keyes, Lindsay Puckett, Latrice Phelps, Teddy Vincent and Stacia Robertson because senior guard Ashanti Richard is sidelined with an ACL injury.  Stacia Robertson is a familiar name to many around Nebraska high school women’s basketball.  She is from Grand Island, NE.  After graduation, she played her freshman year at South Dakota before transferring to HPU.

In her pre-game interview with Matt Coatney, voice of Nebraska Women’s Basketball, NU Coach Connie Yori said “this High Point team will represent a challenge for us.  Taking care of the ball is key today.”  The Huskers are still plagued by a short bench due to foot injuries of Romeo, Cincore, Kalenta and Smith.   In the non-conference schedule, the Huskers have played a grueling 10 games in 29 days. Coach Yori expressed her hope that because the starters didn’t practice during finals week that they would come out with rested legs and minds.

Coach Yori sent out her starting 5 – Tear’a Laudermill, Hallie Sample, Emily Cady (Big Ten player of the Week 12/13), Rachel Theriot (ESPN ranked #13 in women’s bb) and Brandi Jeffery to face the HPU Panthers.   It quickly became apparent that HPU didn’t have a player to match up with Rachel Theriot.  The NU guards (Laudermill, Jeffery and Theriot) did the heavy lifting during the first half scoring 29 points.  A 9 -2 run in the closing minute of the first half helped the Huskers take a 45 – 33 lead into the locker room.

Cornhuskers then came out at the half with a renewed sense of purpose scoring points immediately.  After five minutes into the second half there was a scary moment for Emily Cady and the Huskers.  Emily went up to gather a rebound and came down hard on her back.  Cady did get up off the floor, walked off the court and went straight into the locker room.  She returned to sit on the bench with an ice pack but did not return to the game.

With one of their starters now gone the rest of the team stepped up, going on a 12 -0 run.  With about 4 minutes left in the game and NU comfortably ahead, Coach Yori retired Rachel Theriot for the remainder of the game.  Rachel left with 31 points, 5 assists and 4 rebounds.  It is her second career 30+ point performance! 

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The final buzzer brought the Cornhuskers their 10th victory of the season as the crowd celebrated their 83 – 57 win over High Point.  With just one loss on the season, Nebraska remains ranked in the top ten in RPI.  At her post-game interview, Coach Yori was clearly pleased to have all three of her guards in double figures for the game.  She shared that Emily Cady bruised her tailbone but doesn’t know how long she may be out.

Nebraska takes a nine day break now before taking the show on the road Dec. 29th to Minneapolis, MN where they will face the Golden Gophers at Williams arena.  NU will be looking to improve on their 10 -1 record as they begin conference play.  GO BIG RED! 

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