Columbia, S.C. – Nebraska Coach Connie Yori and the Huskers met the media and held their first practice at Colonial Life Arena on Thursday in preparation for Friday’s game against Syracuse in the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament.

The ninth-seeded Huskers (21-10, 10-8 Big Ten) will battle eighth-seeded Syracuse (21-9, 11-5 ACC) in Friday’s first round at approximately 6:30 p.m. (central).

The game between Nebraska and the Orange will follow Friday’s first game between No. 1 seed South Carolina (30-2, 15-1 SEC) and 16th-seeded Savannah State (21-10, 13-3 MEAC), which will tip at 4:05 p.m. (central). Both games will be televised live by ESPN2.

Yori addressed members of the media in the official NCAA Press Conference at Colonial Life Arena on Thursday afternoon, prior to Nebraska’s practice. She was joined by Nebraska senior forwards Emily Cady and Hailie Sample, who both will be playing in the 132nd games of their Husker careers. For Cady, it will be her school-record-tying 132nd consecutive start.

Cady said the Huskers were proud to be competing in their fourth straight NCAA Tournament.

“We take a lot of pride in it. We’ve worked really hard to get to the point that we’re at,” Cady said. “It’s humbling and we’re really, really proud of it.”

Sample said the Big Red, who advanced to the 2013 NCAA Sweet 16 and 2014 NCAA Second Round, were thrilled with another postseason opportunity.

“I think we’re just excited in general,” Sample said. “We’re thinking about the game at hand.”

Yori said the Huskers were thrilled to be in South Carolina in the NCAA Tournament.

“I’m just glad we’re here. I’m just happy to be in the NCAA Tournament, and I think we all feel that way,” Yori said. “The first game is going to be incredibly difficult because I think the two teams are very evenly matched.”