The Nebraska women’s basketball team shoots for a season split with Minnesota while aiming for its fourth straight 20-win season when the Huskers battle the Golden Gophers Tuesday in Lincoln.
Tip-off between the Big Red (19-8, 9-7 Big Ten) and the Gophers (22-6, 11-5 Big Ten) at Pinnacle Bank Arena is set for 8 p.m. (CT) with tickets available now at Huskers.com. Tickets can also be purchased the night of the game at the Pinnacle Bank Arena Box Office beginning at 6 p.m.
Live national television coverage will be provided by the Big Ten Network with Kevin Kugler and Stephanie White on the call. Live radio coverage from the Husker Sports Network is also available with Matt Coatney and Jeff Griesch calling the action on stations across the network, including B107.3 FM in Lincoln, 93.3 FM in Omaha and 880 AM in Lexington. Free live audio is available on Huskers.com.
Nebraska is coming off a 67-64 road win at Indiana on Saturday, as the Huskers closed their regular-season road schedule with a 7-6 mark. NU finished 4-5 in Big Ten road games, including a 72-69 loss at Minnesota to open conference play on Dec. 29. Five of Nebraska’s six road losses have been by single digits, with the only exception a 12-point loss at No. 5 Maryland, and all five of those league road losses have come to current top-50 RPI teams.
The Big Red have been strong at home, carrying a 12-2 record into their final regular-season week at Pinnacle Bank Arena. NU’s only two home losses have come to top-10 RPI teams Maryland and Iowa.
This week’s games between Minnesota and Ohio State (March 1) will mark the final home appearances for the most accomplished senior class in Nebraska history. Seniors Emily Cady, Brandi Jeffery, Tear’a Laudermill and Hailie Sample have joined forces to lead the Huskers to a school-record-tying 94 wins during their four years in Lincoln.
With all four expected to be in the starting five, Tuesday night’s game with Minnesota should mark the 500th combined appearances in Husker uniforms for the seniors. The quartet has combined for 3,691 points, 2,380 rebounds and 798 assists in their college careers.
Nebraska Cornhuskers (19-8, 9-7 Big Ten)
3 – Hailie Sample – 6-1 – Sr. – F – 7.4 ppg, 6.9 rpg
23 – Emily Cady – 6-2 – Sr. – F – 12.0 ppg, 10.4 rpg
1 – Tear’a Laudermill – 5-9 – Sr. – G – 14.0 ppg, 3.7 rpg
5 – Natalie Romeo – 5-7 – Fr. – G – 7.0 ppg, 2.3 rpg
13 – Brandi Jeffery – 5-7 – Sr. – G – 7.6 ppg, 6.2 rpg
Off the Bench
33 – Rachel Theriot (OUT) – 6-0 – Jr. – G – 16.5 ppg, 4.2 rpg
22 – Allie Havers – 6-5 – So. – C – 4.6 ppg, 3.1 rpg
31 – Anya Kalenta – 6-3 – Jr. – F – 4.0 ppg, 1.7 rpg
30 – Chandler Smith – 6-0 – Fr. – G – 2.0 ppg, 1.7 rpg
34 – Jasmine Cincore – 5-8 – Fr. – G – 1.5 ppg, 0.3 rpg
12 – Emily Wood – 5-5 – Fr. – G – 0.3 ppg, 0.6 rpg
11 – Esther Ramacieri – 5-8 – So. – G – 0.1 ppg, 0.5 rpg
50 – Darrien Washington – 6-2 – Fr. – F – Redshirting
Head Coach: Connie Yori (Creighton, 1986)
13th Season at NU (260-150); 25th Season Overall (455-290)
Minnesota Golden Gophers (22-6, 11-5 Big Ten)
23 – Shae Kelley – 6-1 – Sr. – F – 16.6 ppg, 9.1 rpg
32 – Amanda Zahui B. – 6-5 – So. – C – 18.6 ppg, 12.7 rpg
3 – Shayne Mullaney – 5-10 – Jr. – G – 7.3 ppg, 3.4 rpg
24 – Mikayla Bailey – 5-9 – Jr. – G – 7.6 ppg, 3.7 rpg
33 – Carlie Wagner – 5-10 – Fr. – G – 12.5 ppg, 3.6 rpg
Off the Bench
1 – Rachel Banham (OUT) – 5-9 – Sr. – G – 18.6 ppg, 4.5 rpg
20 – Kayla Hirt – 6-2 – Jr. – G/F – 5.3 ppg, 3.2 rpg
52 – Josie Buckingham – 6-5 – Fr. – C – 1.7 ppg, 1.7 rpg
2 – Stabresa McDaniel – 5-10 – So. – G – 1.5 ppg, 1.2 rpg
22 – Joanna Hedstrom – 6-1 – So. – G – 1.1 ppg, 0.9 rpg
5 – Tory Jacobs – 5-10 – Fr. – G/F – 1.1 ppg, 0.5 rpg
Head Coach: Marlene Stollings (Ohio, 1998)
1st Season at Minnesota (22-6); 4th Season Overall (71-48)