Husker Corner
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Hail to the Husker Seniors! Hailie Sample

By Rosalie Suggs

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This Husker is Texas through and through.  She wears cowboy boots and LOVES country music. The 6’1″ forward stands tall in the middle and directs the defense on the court for Connie Yori. Hanging tough against the opposition and always a fighter, Hailie Sample has been one of the Big Ten’s best defenders since she came to Nebraska.

Sample played her high school ball at Marcus High School in Flower Mound, Texas. She was a 3-time first-team Texas All-District 6-5A selection and a three-time 6-5A Defensive Player of the Year. Sample averaged 15 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists per game as a junior.

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She played club ball with the North Texas Shockers. She averaged 20 points, 11 rebounds and nine assists per game for the Shockers. She was an all-star at the Adidas Top 10 camp in Atlanta and was named the MVP of the

Nebraska

Women’s Basketball Camp she attended in the summer of 2009.

Mar 8, 2014; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Nebraska Cornhuskers forward Hallie Sample (3) poses up for a shot against Michigan State Spartans forward Annalise Pickrel (11) during the womens Big Ten Tournament semifinal round at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports

At Marcus High school, she was a multi-sport athlete. Sample was a four-year letter winner in track and field, competing in both the shot put and discus. She won the 6-5A District title in both events in 2010. Sample was also a member of the English Honor Society, a student council officer and a member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.

When Connie Yori recruited Hailie Sample to Nebraska, she knew what she was getting. She needed the big body in the middle who could anchor the defense and produce some points as well. Over the past four years, Coach Yori has been asked on occasion why Hailie Sample is on the floor.  Her answer is this. “Hailie is a big guard who is very versatile and a smart basketball player at both ends.  She is a tough, smart and aggressive defensive player who is a perfect fit for our defensive system. She can also score on the block and create opportunities for herself and teammates off the dribble.”

Hailie began to grow into the player she has become starting with her freshmen year. Sample averaged 3.8 points, 3.8 rebounds and 1.2 assists per game that season.  Her ability to play many minutes during a 40 minute game proved invaluable to her coach and her team.

In her sophomore year, her offensive production improved. She averaged 4.8 points, 4.6 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game for the Huskers. In the meantime, she was establishing herself front and center in leading the solid NU defense.

In her junior year, Sample earned a spot on the Big Ten All-Defensive Team. She averaged 6.1 points, 6.4 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game during the regular season, while continuing to play strong perimeter defense.

Cincore, Cady and Sample (photo by Jeff Suggs)

Perhaps the best games of her career came in the  2014 Big Ten Tournament. In three games, she had a tournament high 30 total rebounds along with 16 offensive rebounds. She averaged 6.7 points and 10.0 rebounds in helping the Huskers to their first-ever conference tournament title.  She earned her second career double-double with 11 points and a career-high 15 rebounds in Nebraska’s victory over No. 23 Iowa in the Championship game.

Hailie Sample will join Emily Cady in the Nebraska record books. Sample has started 115 consecutive games alongside her roommate, teammate and close friend senior forward Emily Cady. Sample has over 600 career points and more than 600 rebounds. When her career is over at Nebraska, Husker Nation will remember her as one TOUGH player.

You can read up on senior Emily Cady as well. Thanks for the memories and GO BIG RED!!!