Lincoln – Nebraska saw a 13-point second-half lead whittled to one, but got just enough plays in the final two minutes to hold on with a 63-58 victory over Northern Illinois Saturday afternoon.

Nebraska (5-2) led 56-47 with 6:38 remaining, but the Huskies used an 8-1 run to pull within 57-55 after two free throws from Daveon Balls with1:18 left. On the Huskers’ next possession, Nebraska guard Deverell Biggs drove the lane and missed, but Leslee Smith ended the Huskers’ drought with a put-back bucket to give Nebraska a 59-55 lead with 47 seconds left.

Smith came off the bench and had a season-high 13 points on 5-of-6 shooting and a game-high nine rebounds, as three Huskers finished in double figures.

NIU came right back on its next possession as Dontel Highsmith’s long 3-pointer bounced off the rim and dropped into the net to put the Huskies within one, at 59-58 with nine seconds left. Biggs was fouled on the inbounds pass and converted both free throws, extending the lead to three points.

The Huskies (2-4) had one last chance to send the game into overtime, as Travon Baker’s 3-pointer was off the mark, and Biggs, who finished with a game-high 18 points and four rebounds, corralled the miss and sank both free throws for the final margin.

Biggs established a career high with 18 points, as Nebraska got 35 points from its bench, as the Huskers battled foul trouble throughout the second half. Terran Petteway was the third Husker in double figures, ending with 12 points and five rebounds, as the sophomore totaled nine of his points in the first half to help the Huskers build a seven-point halftime lead.

NIU’s Jordan Threloff tied Biggs for game-high honors with 18 points and added six rebounds, while Highsmith finished with 13 points in a losing effort.

Early on, Northern Illinois was the aggressor, building a six-point lead before Smith and Petteway led the Huskers back.

Smith had six points in an 11-4 run which gave Nebraska its first lead at 17-16 after a Biggs’ 3-point play.  After NIU ended the run, Petteway scored seven points in a 17-second span to build a six-point lead. His 3-pointer gave Nebraska the lead at 20-18, and after a Walter Pitchford steal, Petteway was fouled from behind and was wrapped up, but still had the strength to put the ball in the hoop. Petteway hit both free throws to push the lead to 24-18. Nebraska eventually go the lead to nine points on two occasions, the last being at 35-26 after a Pitchford dunk with1:34 left in the half.

The lead hovered between eight and 10 points in the first five minutes of the second half before Northern Illinois closed to within 43-35 after a pair of free throws from Threloff with 14:45 left, but Nebraska seemingly took over as a 3-pointer from Biggs and a driving basket by Tai Webster pushed the lead to 13 – NU’s largest of the day – 48-35 with 13:21 left

Northern Illinois would not go away behind the play of Threloff, who scored 14 of his 18 points in the second half. He scored six straight points to pull NIU with 48-41 with 9:18 left, and the Huskies continued to chip away over the final 10 minutes, despite shooting 28 percent from the field in the second half. NIU went 15-of-20 from the foul line in the second half to stay in the contest.

The Huskers return to action Wednesday night when they host defending ACC Champion Miami in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge. Tipoff is set for8:30 p.m. and the game will be televised on ESPNU and across Nebraska on the Husker Sports Radio Network.

Notes:
*-Deverell Biggs had a season-high 18 points, topping the 17 he had in his debut against South Carolina State. Biggs is the fifth different Husker to lead the team in scoring during the first seven games of 2013-14.
*-Leslee Smith also had a career high 13 points and added nine rebounds. He has been in double figures in four of the last six games. Smith also had three steals to match his personal best (also had three vs. South Carolina State).
*-Walter Pitchford set career highs in both rebounds (eight) and blocked shots (three).
*-Nebraska committed a season-high 16 turnovers, marking only the second time in seven games NU has committed 10 or more turnovers.
*-Nebraska improves to 4-0 at home this season.

The Nebraska women’s basketball team wraps up its four-game home stand by taking on its third Pac-12 Conference foe of the year, when the Huskers face Washington State Saturday at Pinnacle Bank Arena.

Tip-off between the No. 10 Huskers (6-0) and the Cougars (3-4) is set for 5 p.m. (CT), with tickets available now at Huskers.com.

The game can be heard live on the Husker Sports Network, including 94.5 FM/1400 AM KLIN in Lincoln and The Wolf 93.3 FM in Omaha, along with affiliates across the 25-station network. Free live audio is also available on Huskers.com. Saturday’s game also will be provided to fans with a free live video stream on Huskers.com.

Nebraska improved to 6-0 on the season with a 77-42 win over UMass-Lowell on Wednesday night in Lincoln. Jordan Hooper led the Huskers with 25 points, 10 rebounds and three assists, producing her third double-double of the season and 29th of her career. With her third straight 20-point performance, Hooper also reached the 1,800-point mark for her career.

Hooper, who enters the Washington State game averaging a double-double with 19.8 points and 10.0 boards per game, needs three rebounds to match Kathy Hagerstrom at No. 4 on Nebraska’s career rebound list (874). Hooper is 39 points away from catching Debra Powell (1,843, 1982-85) at No. 8 on the NU career scoring chart, and needs six blocks to join NU’s career top 10 in that category.

Washington State comes to Lincoln with a 3-4 record after an 80-73 loss to a BYU team receiving top-25 consideration. Four Cougar starters produced double figures in the loss to BYU in Provo on Tuesday, including junior Tia Presley. The 5-9 guard leads WSU with 21.0 points per game, including a monster 37-point performance on Friday, Nov. 22 in a home win over Fresno State.

A win for the Huskers would give them their fourth 7-0 start in school history and first since 2009-10.

Nebraska Cornhuskers (#10 AP/#10 USA Today)
(6-0 Overall, 0-0 Big Ten)
vs. Washington State Cougars (3-4 Overall, 0-0 Pac-12)
Saturday, Nov. 30, 5 p.m. (Central)
Pinnacle Bank Arena (Lincoln, Neb.)
Tickets: Huskers.com / 1-800-8-BIG-RED
Radio: 25-Station IMG College Husker Sports Network
(PBP-Matt Coatney; Analyst-Jeff Griesch)
94.5 FM/1400 AM KLIN-Lincoln; 93.3 FM KFFF-Omaha
Free Live Audio: Huskers.com Free Video: Huskers.com
Promotion: Marines Toys for Tots (Fans Asked to Bring a New, Unwrapped Toy or Cash Donation)

Lincoln – All-American Jordan Hooper scored 25 points and pulled down 10 rebounds to lead the No. 10 Nebraska women’s basketball team to a 77-42 win over UMass-Lowell on Wednesday night at Pinnacle Bank Arena.

Playing in front of an enthusiastic home crowd of 5,019 on the Wednesday night before Thanksgiving, Hooper and the Huskers jumped out to a 34-2 lead and never looked back. Nebraska improved to 6-0 with the win, while the River Hawks slipped to 0-6.

Hooper, a 6-2 senior forward from Alliance, Neb., produced her third straight 20-point performance and fourth of the season by going 8-for-16 from the field, including 2-of-6 from three-point range. She was also a perfect 7-for-7 at the free throw line. Hooper also notched her third double-double of the season and 29th of her career. She added three assists, a block and a steal in just 23 minutes of work.

Hooper’s eight-point eruption in a 1:15 span early in the second half gave NU its largest lead of the night at 60-18. Her second three-pointer of the spurt came with 14:35 left and she was done scoring for the night. She crossed the 1,800-point mark for her career with her 21st point, which came during the 8-0 surge.

Emily Cady added 14 points and seven rebounds in just 17 minutes, while going 5-of-7 from the field and 4-of-4 at the line.

The Huskers dominated inside from start to finish, as junior Katie Simon added a season-high nine points and a career-high six rebounds in 15 minutes off the bench. Freshman Allie Havers contributed six points and six rebounds, and Hailie Sample pitched in five points, six rebounds and three assists in a solid effort.

Junior guard Tear’a Laudermill led the Husker backcourt with nine points and a season-high six rebounds despite battling illness. She added two assists and a career-high two blocked shots in just 16 minutes.

Sophomore guard Rachel Theriot contributed six points and two assists, while Sadie Murren pitched in two points and Hannah Tvrdy one to round out the scoring for the Big Red.

Nebraska controlled the game despite struggling from the field, hitting just 43.9 percent (29-66), including just 3-for-20 shooting from three-point range. The Huskers were a solid 16-for-19 (.842) from the free throw line and outrebounded the River Hawks, 52-41. NU also won the turnover battle, 17-14.

The Husker defense held UML to just 24.3 percent (17-70) shooting from the field, including 5-of-28 accuracy from long range. The River Hawks went just 3-for-6 at the foul line. Junior guard Shannon Samuels led UML with 16 points and six rebounds, as the only River Hawk in double figures. Melissa Frase added eight points and Nicole Hayner hit a pair of three-pointers to finish with six points.

The Huskers wrap up their four-game home stand by taking on Washington State on Saturday. Tip-off between Nebraska and the Cougars is set for 5 p.m., and tickets are available now on Huskers.com. Fans are encouraged to bring a new, unwrapped toy or cash donation to be collected by the Marines Toys for Tots program. Marines will be collecting items at the entrances on Saturday to benefit local children.

Official Basketball Box Score

UMLW vs Nebraska

11/27/13 7:06 p.m. at Pinnacle Bank Arena (Lincoln, Neb.)

——————————————————————————–

VISITORS: UMLW 0-6

TOT-FG  3-PT         REBOUNDS

## Player Name            FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA OF DE TOT PF  TP  A TO BLK S MIN

21 Fiola, Lauren……. f  0-2    0-0    0-0    0  0  0   1   0  0  2  0  0   8

22 Stewart, Kenya…… f  2-12   0-4    0-0    6  5 11   3   4  0  0  2  2  28

12 Mitchell, Asia…… g  0-3    0-0    0-0    1  2  3   2   0  0  0  0  0  18

13 Samuels, Shannon…. g  7-21   0-3    2-4    4  2  6   3  16  3  3  0  1  23

15 McCarron, Rachel…. g  1-2    1-2    0-0    0  1  1   1   3  0  1  0  0   9

03 Snyder, Ashley……    0-1    0-0    0-0    0  0  0   0   0  0  0  1  0   4

04 Griffin, Allison….    0-0    0-0    0-0    0  0  0   1   0  0  0  0  0   3

05 Gonsalves, Jennifer.    0-2    0-1    0-0    0  0  0   0   0  0  1  0  1   8

11 Lomanno, Brittany…    2-9    0-4    0-0    1  1  2   1   4  2  2  0  0  17

20 Hamilton, Olufemi…    0-0    0-0    1-2    0  1  1   0   1  0  0  0  0   7

24 Frase, Melissa……    3-8    2-7    0-0    0  1  1   1   8  0  0  0  0  17

31 Dunphy, Priscilla…    0-1    0-1    0-0    0  1  1   0   0  0  0  0  0   5

32 Parra, Lauren…….    0-0    0-0    0-0    1  2  3   3   0  0  1  0  0  10

33 Doucette, Lindsey…    0-4    0-1    0-0    1  9 10   2   0  1  3  1  1  30

34 Hayner, Nicole……    2-5    2-5    0-0    0  1  1   1   6  0  1  0  1  13

TEAM…………….                            1  1             3

Totals…………..   17-70   5-28   3-6   14 27 41  19  42  6 17  4  6 200

TOTAL FG% 1st Half:  7-37 18.9%   2nd Half: 10-33 30.3%   Game: 24.3%  DEADB

3-Pt. FG% 1st Half:  1-11  9.1%   2nd Half:  4-17 23.5%   Game: 17.9%   REBS

F Throw % 1st Half:  1-4  25.0%   2nd Half:  2-2  100 %   Game: 50.0%    1

——————————————————————————–

HOME TEAM: Nebraska 6-0

TOT-FG  3-PT         REBOUNDS

## Player Name            FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA OF DE TOT PF  TP  A TO BLK S MIN

03 Sample, Hailie…… f  2-3    0-0    1-2    1  5  6   0   5  3  0  1  1  23

23 Cady, Emily……… f  5-7    0-1    4-4    2  5  7   2  14  1  2  0  2  17

35 Hooper, Jordan…… f  8-16   2-6    7-7    3  7 10   1  25  3  2  1  1  23

01 Laudermill, Tear’a.. g  4-8    1-3    0-0    0  6  6   1   9  2  1  2  0  16

33 Theriot, Rachel….. g  3-7    0-2    0-0    0  1  1   2   6  2  0  0  0  23

10 Tvrdy, Hannah…….    0-5    0-3    1-2    0  0  0   1   1  0  1  0  1  22

11 Ramacieri, Esther…    0-1    0-1    0-0    0  0  0   1   0  0  2  0  0   5

13 Jeffery, Brandi…..    0-1    0-1    0-0    0  4  4   3   0  1  0  0  0  14

14 Simon, Katie……..    4-8    0-1    1-2    3  3  6   4   9  0  0  0  0  15

21 Murren, Sadie…….    1-4    0-2    0-0    0  1  1   1   2  2  2  0  0  18

22 Havers, Allie…….    2-6    0-0    2-2    0  6  6   0   6  1  2  1  1  24

TEAM…………….                         2  3  5             2

Totals…………..   29-66   3-20  16-19  11 41 52  16  77 15 14  5  6 200

TOTAL FG% 1st Half: 14-32 43.8%   2nd Half: 15-34 44.1%   Game: 43.9%  DEADB

3-Pt. FG% 1st Half:  1-10 10.0%   2nd Half:  2-10 20.0%   Game: 15.0%   REBS

F Throw % 1st Half: 11-13 84.6%   2nd Half:  5-6  83.3%   Game: 84.2%    2

——————————————————————————–

Officials: Maj Forsberg, Bob Enterline, Bruce Morris

Technical fouls: UMLW-None. Nebraska-None.

Attendance: 5019

Score by Periods                1st  2nd   Total

UMLW……………………..   16   26  –   42

Nebraska………………….   40   37  –   77