Lincoln – University of Nebraska men’s basketball coach Tim Miles announced Wednesday evening that three high school seniors have signed National Letters-of-Intent to join the Husker basketball program.

The three-member class consists of guard Glynn Watson Jr. (Dellwood, Ill.) and forwards Michael Jacobson (Waukee, Iowa) and Edward Morrow Jr. (Chicago, Ill.). The trio all signed with the Huskerson Wednesday, the opening day of the fall signing period.

The class comes in as one of the most highly regarded in program history, as all three players are ranked among the top 200 players in the country by at least one recruiting service. Illinois natives Edward Morrow Jr. (No. 62) and Glynn Watson Jr. (No. 66) are both rated among the top 100 players by ESPN.com, marking the first time that Nebraska has signed a top 100 player out of high school going back to the mid-1990s.

For Tim Miles, this year’s recruiting class is another important step for building the Husker basketball program, as Nebraska looks to continue momentum after reaching the NCAA Tournament in 2014 and selling out the first season at Pinnacle Bank Arena. All three members of the class are from the Midwest, and Nebraska’s move into the Big Ten has brought more exposure to the program in the region. The three signees will join transfer Kansas transfer Andrew White, who was a top-50 player coming out of high school, as newcomers on the 2015-16 Nebraska roster, as the Huskers look to replace a trio of seniors.

“I’m extremely excited about our recruiting class,” Miles said. “When you look at these three young guys and the addition of Andrew White, I believe the future of Husker basketball is in good hands. These are guys who are driven to win, highly competitive and very talented, and they want to be at Nebraska and help build a winner. That is exactly what you want as a coach.”

The No. 21 Huskers open the 2014-15 season against Northern Kentucky on Sunday, Nov. 16, at 1 p.m.

Player                               Pos.      Ht.          Wt.         Hometown                   High School
Michael Jacobson          F            6-8          220         Waukee, Iowa               Waukee High School
Edward Morrow Jr.        F            6-7          215         Chicago, Ill.                    Simeon Career Academy
Glynn Watson Jr.            G           5-11        160         Dellwood, Ill.                 Saint Joseph High School

Michael Jacobson
Michael Jacobson comes to Nebraska from Waukee, Iowa, where he is one of the top prospects in the Midwest in the class of 2015. A three-year starter for Head Coach Justin Ohl at Waukee High School, Jacobson is ranked among the top 200 players in the nation by some recruiting services and is rated the top player in the state of Iowa by 247Sports. He is a consensus three-star selection by Rivals, Scout and 247Sports. As a junior, he earned second-team all-state honors from the Des Moines Register and first-team All-Central Iowa Metropolitan League accolades, averaging 17.1 points and 9.7 rebounds per game. A very smooth shooter for his size, Jacobson also shot 81.4 percent from the foul line and averaged nearly a 3-pointer per game that season.  As a sophomore, he was a Class 4A all-state pick, averaging 14.6 points and 10.5 rebounds while totaling more than 70 blocked shots. Over the summer, he played for the MoKan Elite program for Coach Rodney Perry and is one of five players from the program signing Division I scholarships during the fall signing period. Jacobson was recruited by Iowa, Iowa State, Harvard, Princeton, and UTEP among others and also by Iowa State in football before selecting Nebraska. He is the starting tight end at Waukee High School which has advanced to the semifinals of the Class 4A playoffs in 2014. An exceptional student, Jacobson has a 3.96 GPA entering his senior season.  Michael is the son of Bill and Katie Jacobson. His father, Bill, played college basketball at the University of Nebraska at Omaha for four seasons (1983-86), helping the Mavericks to a pair of Division II playoff appearances during his career. The elder Jacobson was also a three-time Academic North Central Conference selection at UNO.

Miles on Michael Jacobson:
“Michael is a highly-skilled player who played for a premier AAU program with the MoKan Elite. He is well prepared by his high school coach Justin Ohl, who was a college player and coach. Michael has 3-point range, makes free throws and has a knack for rebounding and steals. He has great size and could be taller than we thought. His dad played basketball at UNO, so the Nebraska connection continues with the Jacobson family, and we are happy to have Michael join us.”

Edward Morrow Jr.
Edward Morrow Jr. is one of two highly regarded signees from the state of Illinois in Nebraska’s fall signing class. He hails from national power Simeon Career Academy in Chicago where he plays for Coach Robert Smith. The 6-foot-7 forward is one of the top players in the class of 2014, checking in at No. 62 nationally on ESPN’s top 100 list and is the highest-rated high school recruit Nebraska has signed in nearly two decades. He is considered a four-star recruit by Rivals and is rated among the nation’s top 150 players by the site. He was selected to for the Lebron James Skills Academy, which featured 80 of the top high school players in the nation, in the summer of 2014.  Simeon returns four starters, including three players expected to sign with Big Ten programs this week, and enters the 2014-15 season ranked 12th in USA Today Super 25 Preseason Poll. As a junior, Morrow helped the school go 23-4 in his first season as a starter, averaging 17 points, 11 rebounds and two blocked shots per game. Despite being undersized in the post, he turned in a 24-point effort on Jahlil Okafor, the No. 1 player in the 2014 class, and had 22 points against Cliff Alexander, who was the No. 3 player in the 2014 class.  For his efforts, he was a second-team All-City honoree by the Chicago Sun Times and a second-team all-state pick by the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association and the Champaign-Urbana News-Gazette. As a sophomore, he came off the bench and played a significant role for a team which went 30-3, won its fourth consecutive Class 4A state title and finished fifth in the country. He played behind five senior starters in 2012-13, including Milwaukee Bucks rookie Jabari Parker.  Morrow played for the Mac Irvin Fire AAU program and Coach Mike Irvin, averaging 14.1 points on 68 percent shooting, 7.6 rebounds and 1.8 rebounds per game in the Nike EYBL last summer. Morrow also helped lead the Mac Irvin Fire to the Las Vegas Classic in July of 2014, as the program featured six Division I signees. Edward, who selected Nebraska over Iowa, is the son of Ed Sr. and Nafeesah Brown, as both of his parents were student-athletes at Nebraska. Ed Sr. played football for Tom Osborne and was a member of the Huskers’ 1994 national title team, while Nafeesah played three seasons for the Husker women’s basketball program, totaling 1,089 points and 574 rebounds. As a senior, she averaged 20.2 points and 10.1 rebounds per game to earn first-team All-Big Eight honors.

Miles on Edward Morrow Jr.:
“The Morrow legacy continues and we are truly excited about that. Nafeesah and Ed Sr. were both student-athletes at Nebraska, and Nafeesah had an outstanding basketball career for the Huskers. Edward has such a great motor and a high ceiling. He is only going to improve and get better and better. He is a young guy who is dying to get better. He makes such an impact on the game, not only with his athleticism and his ability, but has a strong willpower. He runs the floor and rebounds, guards the opponent’s best player and make plays on the glass and in transition. I’m excited to have him in our program and help him become the player he wants to be. Being a part of Simeon Career Academy and being coached by Robert Smith and playing for the Mac Irvin Fire means he is among the elite. Simeon is one of the best high school basketball programs in the country, and Coach Smith will have him ready to play at this level.”

Glynn Watson Jr.
One of the nation’s top senior point guards, Glynn Watson Jr. hails from Dellwood, Ill., where he plays for legendary high school coach Gene Pingatore at Saint Joseph High School in Westchester, Ill. A consensus four-star prospect, Watson is ranked among the top 100 players in the country by every recruiting service and is ranked as high as 63rd nationally by Scout.com, which also ranks him as the sixth-best point guard in the class of 2015, and No. 66 on ESPN.com’s top-100 seniors. Watson earned an invitation to the USA men’s U18 National Team training camp in the summer of 2014. He joins fellow Big Ten signee Jordan Ash (Northwestern) in the St. Joseph backcourt in 2014-15 that is among the best in the state of Illinois. Watson, who is considered one of the top five players in the state of Illinois, earned third-team Class 3A all-state honors from the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association and all-state special mention by the Champaign-Urbana News-Gazette during his junior season. A first-team all-Catholic League pick, Watson averaged 15 points, five assists, five rebounds and two steals per game, while leading St. Joseph to a 25-8 record and the Class 3A Sectional semifinals in 2013-14. As a sophomore, he garnered honorable-mention Chicago Catholic League honors in his first season as a starter, helping St. Joseph to an 18-13 record and a sectional finals appearance. Watson also played for the Illinois Wolves and Head Coach Mike Mullins. He continues a tradition of strong guard play in his family as older brothers, Demetri and DeAndre McCamey, both also starred at St. Joseph. Demetri was a three-time All-Big Ten pick, earning first-team honors in 2009-10 before playing in Australia.  St. Joseph High School has the distinction of being the only school which has produced a pair of 1,000-point scorers for Nebraska, as Clifford Scales (1988-91) and Carl Hayes (1990-92) both played for Pingatore as he begins his 44th season at the school. The pair both scored 1,136 points at Nebraska and played major roles in the Huskers’ school-record 26-win team in 1990-91. Watson also looked at Creighton, Maryland, Purdue, Tennessee and West Virginia before choosing Nebraska. Glynn is the son of Glynn Watson Sr. and Sabrina Watson.

Miles on Glynn Watson Jr.:
“Glynn is a true difference maker. He is a playmaking point guard who knows how to make winning plays. He made numerous game-winning shots in high-level events on the summer circuit and really impressed me. Defensively, he has great hands and quickness. Offensively, he makes shots, makes plays and really has a knack to make his teammates better. Glynn played for the legendary Gene Pingatore at Saint Joseph High School, the same school that produced Isiah Thomas, Demetri McCamey and many other point guards. Playing at St. Joseph and for the Illinois Wolves program, we know he will be well prepared when he comes to Nebraska.”

 Lincoln – For the second consecutive season, Nebraska has signed the best recruiting class in school history, according to ESPN. Coach Connie Yori’s four-player recruiting class has been ranked No. 8 nationally by ESPN and features the highest profile recruit in Husker basketball history – two-time state Gatorade High School Player of the Year Jessica Shepard.

Shepard, who is a member of the USA Basketball U18 National Team, is ranked as the No. 3 overall player and the No. 1 post in the country by ESPN.

Lanie Page, a 2014 Kansas Player of the Year selection, joins Shepard in the ESPN Top 100 at No. 82 and has been ranked as high as No. 19 nationally over the past year. She is set to join her older sister, Kaylee, who is freshman for the Huskers this season and was a top-100 player in Nebraska’s No. 9 recruiting class by ESPN last year.

While Shepard and Page headline the class, Lincoln native Maddie Simon and Kansan Rachel Blackburn add size, strength and potential as top-150 recruits to a four-player class that is set to replace the most successful class of seniors in Nebraska history – Emily Cady, Hailie Sample, Tear’a Laudermill and Brandi Jeffery. Four years ago, the current class of Husker seniors formed a top-25 recruiting class that has gone on to average 25 wins per season and three straight NCAA Tournament trips for the Big Red.

“Our coaches have done another great job in identifying young women who can come in, fit into our culture and make an impact while also continuing to develop their skills as college players and grow as students and citizens at Nebraska,” Yori said. “We have waited a long time for Jess Shepard’s signing day, and it is an exciting day for everyone around Husker women’s basketball. What makes it even more exciting is that Lanie Page, Maddie Simon and Rachel Blackburn give us a well-rounded class of great young women.

“I think the things that stand out about this group is they are great young players, who have shown excellent character, who are from great families. They also have proven themselves as strong students with all four of them carrying better than a 3.6 GPA. They have all been competitors and winners at the high school level, and we’re excited to give them a chance to keep proving themselves as college student-athletes here at Nebraska.”

Jessica Shepard

6-4, Forward, Fremont, Neb. (Fremont)

The highest ranked recruit in the history of Nebraska women’s basketball and arguably the best high school player the state has ever produced, Jessica Shepard will join the Huskers as a true freshman in 2015-16. Shepard, who competed on the gold-medal winning USA Basketball team at the 2014 FIBA Americas U18 Championships, is the No. 3 recruit in the Class of 2015, according to ESPN. The 6-4 forward heads into her senior season at Fremont High School as a two-time Nebraska Gatorade Girls Basketball Player of the Year (2013, 2014) and three-time first-team Super-State (Lincoln Journal Star) and All-Nebraska (Omaha World-Herald) pick.

Nebraska Coach Connie Yori said Shepard has the talent and skills expected of one of the top high school players in the nation, but it is her character and competitive drive that makes her even more special.

“It’s no secret that Jess is the youngest player I’ve ever offered a scholarship to as a head coach. We knew Jess was a very special player, even at a young age, and it feels like this day has taken a long time to arrive,” Yori said. “Jess has a rare combination of size, skill, athleticism, versatility and a high basketball IQ. She is a skilled ball-handler who has the ability to take defenders to the basket. She has spent most of her high school career being double- and triple-teamed, so she has become an outstanding passer with both vision and poise. She is also developing her three-point game to complement the other ways she can score.

“What I love most about Jess is that in spite of all of her accolades, she has remained very humble and she isn’t satisfied. She continues to work on every aspect of her game. That says a lot about her character and competitiveness.”

Shepard, who committed to Nebraska in the summer of 2011, said it has always been her dream to play for the Huskers.

“I chose Nebraska because I grew up in Nebraska and have always wanted to represent my school, community and state at the University playing for Coach Yori and the great staff,” Shepard said. “I committed to Coach Yori and the University of Nebraska prior to my freshman year in high school.”

As a junior in 2013-14, Shepard averaged a Class A state record 30.4 points per game to go along with 15.6 rebounds and 2.4 assists in leading the Tigers to a 22-4 record and a state tournament berth for Coach Tony Weinandt. It was just Fremont’s second bid to state since 1985. Her performances included a career-high 43 points against Lincoln East and 40 points against Kansas High School power Bishop Miege and a top-10 ranked Papillion-LaVista team.

The honorary captain of both the Lincoln Journal Star Super-State and Omaha World-Herald All-Nebraska teams, Shepard’s junior season scoring average surpassed her 24.6 points, 11.1 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 2.0 blocks and 1.8 steals per game as a sophomore at Lincoln Southeast. She powered the Knights to the 2013 Class A state title, before moving with her family to Fremont in the summer of 2013.

As a freshman, Shepard earned her first Super-State and Class A honors by averaging 17.8 points and 9.1 rebounds in leading Lincoln Southeast to a state runner-up finish.

A three-time first-team All-Heartland Athletic Conference selection, Shepard is on track to finish among the top players in Nebraska high school history in both points and rebounds.

As a member of the USA Basketball U18 Team at the FIBA Americas Championship, Shepard averaged 12.6 points and 3.8 rebounds per game while helping the team to a 5-0 record and a gold medal. She hit 66.7 percent of her shots from the field in the tournament.

Shepard played her club basketball for the All Iowa Attack under Coach Dickson Jensen in 2013-14. She also played her first season of high school volleyball for Fremont as a senior in 2014.

She is also an outstanding student, carrying a 3.90 grade-point average. She has earned academic all-state and all-conference honors, as well as a spot in the National Honor Society. She is a four-year honor roll selection.

The daughter of Mark and Kim Shepard, Jessica comes from a basketball family. Her older sister, Taylor, and older brother, Clayton, both play college basketball for Midland University in Fremont. She also has three younger sisters, Samantha (15), Emma (13) and Sarah (11).

Lanie Page

6-2, Guard, Alma, Kan. (Wamego)

Lanie Page joins fellow 2014 signee among ESPN’s top 100 recruits in the 2014 signing class, coming in at No. 82 overall as the No. 11 wing in the nation. She was also ranked as the No. 76 player in the nation by Blue Star Basketball. As a junior at Wamego High School, Page averaged 17.1 points, 7.2 rebounds, 2.9 steals and 2.7 blocked shots alongside her older sister, Kaylee, in helping the Red Raiders to a Class 4A state runner-up finish with a 24-1 record. Kaylee is a freshman at Nebraska this season. The sisters also helped Wamego to a state championship under the direction of their father and coach, Jim, in 2013. As a sophomore, Lanie averaged 16.0 points, 6.3 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 3.4 steals and 2.4 blocks.

Page was also a varsity starter as a freshman, despite being just 13 years old after testing out of eighth grade to go straight from seventh grade to high school. She averaged 12.7 points, 5.2 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 3.0 steals and 2.8 blocks despite sometimes going up against girls five years older than her.

Page enters her senior season with 1,137 points, 462 rebounds, 199 assists, 230 steals and 198 blocks in her career. She has hit 94 career threes and has connected at a 35 percent rate during her career, including going 36-of-81 (.444) as a junior. Last season against Marysville, Page erupted for a career-high 40 points in a 65-34 win.

Nebraska Coach Connie Yori said Page’s versatility could help the Huskers for years to come.

“Lanie has great size to go along with an excellent skill-set that goes beyond her age,” Yori said. “She’s has good length, and she can score from the mid-range or shoot the three. She is a versatile athlete who has the potential to be able to play inside and outside for us. Lanie plays with an edge that I really loved during the recruiting process. We are thrilled she is a Husker.”

As a junior in 2014, Page was the Sports in Kansas Player of the Year across all classes. She was the Kansas Sports.com Sophomore of the Year in 2013. She is a two-time first-team Class 4A pick by the KBCA. She was also a three-time letterwinner in tennis for Wamego, earning a state runner-up finish in 2013. In the classroom, Page carries nearly a 3.8 grade-point average and has been an honor roll student all four years.

“I chose Nebraska because of the education, facilities, resources and the people in Lincoln are good Midwestern-type people, and those are the kind of people I love to be around,” Page said. “Everyone is so supportive and polite, and it’s just a great atmosphere.”

Lanie is the daughter of Jim and Wendy Page. She has an older sister, Kaylee, and an older brother, James. Kaylee is a freshman wing at Nebraska in 2014-15. James is a 6-6 sophomore at Grinnell College. Lanie’s father played college basketball at Johnson County Community College and Pittsburg State. Her mother played collegiately at Emporia State.

Page chose Nebraska over Texas Tech and Kansas State, although she only visited Texas Tech.

Maddie Simon

6-2, Guard, Lincoln, Neb. (Pius X)

An emerging player with the coveted combination of size, speed, strength and skill, Maddie Simon joins Jessica Shepard as Nebraska natives in the Huskers’ 2014 signing class. Simon was ranked as the No. 22 player in the nation at her position by ESPN, while being ranked No. 149 overall by Blue Star Basketball.

As a junior at Lincoln Pius X in 2013-14, Simon led the Thunderbolts to a 21-3 record and a Class B runner-up finish by averaging 19.8 points, seven rebounds, two assists and one steal per game. She joined Shepard as a first-team Lincoln Journal Star Super-State and Omaha World-Herald All-Nebraska selection for Coach Bill Rice in 2013-14. She was also a first-team All-Class B pick as a junior. Her top performance came with a 35-point, 13-rebound eruption against Omaha Gross.

Simon was a second-team Class A all-stater as a sophomore after averaging 16.3 points, 4.8 rebounds and 2.2 assists in 2012-13. She hit 48 percent of her shots from the field and 74 percent of her free throws.

Nebraska Coach Connie Yori said Simon’s athleticism and continual development give her the chance for an outstanding career.

“Since we first saw Maddie at our basketball camp when she was a freshman, she has improved some aspect of her game each time we’ve watched her,” Yori said. “She has developed into a very good passer and shooter who will fit well in our offensive system. Maddie can get out and run, drive in transition, hit mid-range jumpers and hit the three. She has been a three-sport star in high school, and we think that athleticism will translate into being a versatile defender for us. I think she is a recruiting steal, and we couldn’t be happier that she has decided to stay in Lincoln and play for the Huskers.”

Simon said she has grown up feeling close to the Nebraska program and is excited she can continue her career as a Husker.

“I love the coaches and players. The facilities and fan support for women’s basketball are also great, but most of all Lincoln is my hometown,” Simon said. “I have grown up watching and wanting to play here my whole life.”

Simon played her club basketball for the Nebraska Lasers for Coach Allen Simpson. She averaged 20 points, eight rebounds and three assists for the club.

A tremendous all-around athlete, Simon expects to be a four-year letterwinner in both basketball and track and field, while adding three letters in golf. She was the Class A state runner-up in both the 100 and 300 hurdles in 2014. She also finished third in the 100, while adding a runner-up finish in the 300 in 2013. She was also a member of Pius X’s All-Class gold medal-winning 4×400 relay in 2013. She also qualified for the state tournament in golf in 2013. Simon owns better than a 3.6 GPA and has been an honor roll student for four years at Lincoln Pius X.

The daughter of Doug and Nicole (Ali) Simon, Maddie has two older brothers, Bennett and Zach, who both graduated from the University of Nebraska. Maddie’s mother was a hurdler and a CoSIDA Academic All-American during her college career at Nebraska.

Simon chose Nebraska over Iowa, Iowa State, Oklahoma State and Creighton.

Rachel Blackburn

6-3, Forward, Easton, Kan. (Leavenworth)

Rachel Blackburn filled in the final piece of a talented four-player Nebraska signing class in 2014. The 6-3 power forward out of Leavenworth High School in Kansas was ranked as the No. 63 player in the nation by Blue Star Basketball and No. 69 by Prospects Nation. She was also the No. 17 post in the country according to ESPN.

Blackburn averaged 10 points and 10 rebounds as a junior for the 2014 Class 5A state champions, while also leading the Sunflower League in the number of charges drawn for Coach Derek Zeck.

Nebraska Coach Connie Yori said Blackburn’s toughness and energy could make her a fan favorite for years to come.

“Husker fans are going to love Rachel because she represents what we’ve built our program on,” Yori said. “She’s tough, hard-working, skilled and is a great energy player. Rachel comes from a program where she has competed at a high level and has had great coaching. She’s been pushed at the high school level, so she understands the consistent effort that it will take to be successful at Nebraska. Rachel also has natural leadership qualities. She’s a mature young lady who plays with both passion and intelligence.”

Blackburn said Nebraska’s winning tradition and family atmosphere were important factors in her decision to become a Husker.

“I chose Nebraska because of the success of the program and the fan base,” Blackburn said. “Family is very important to me, and I feel like the Nebraska coaches and players are a close-knit family.”

Blackburn, who was an honorable-mention Class 5A all-state selection as a junior by the Kansas Basketball Coaches Association, owns the Leavenworth career record with her .675 career field goal percentage. She owns a career-high 36-point performance. Blackburn played her club basketball for Coach Derek Zeck and the MoKan Eclipse.

A talented all-around athlete, Blackburn set the Leavenworth school record with a javelin throw of 125-7 as a sophomore in 2013. She won the Sunflower League title and qualified for the state meet in the event.

Blackburn is also an excellent student, carrying a 3.8 grade-point average as a senior. She has been an honor roll selection all four years of high school

The daughter of Col. David (Ret.) and Lisa Blackburn, Rachel has an older sister, Rebecca, and a younger sister, Katelyn. Blackburn chose Nebraska over Arizona, Kansas State, Texas Tech, Iowa State and Wake Forest.

Lincoln – Rachel Theriot scored a game-high 19 points and Emily Cady produced her second straight exhibition double-double to power the No. 16 Nebraska women’s basketball team to a 78-46 win over Concordia-St. Paul on Sunday at Pinnacle Bank Arena.

Theriot, an honorable-mention All-American last season, hit 7-of-16 shots from the floor while adding four rebounds and four assists to lead the Huskers.

Cady, a second-team All-Big Ten choice last season, added 10 points and a game-high 13 rebounds for the Big Red. In two exhibition games, Cady averaged 15 points, 12 rebounds and three assists in just over 20 minutes per contest.

Sophomore center Allie Havers contributed 11 points and eight boards off the bench, as Nebraska dominated the glass against the NCAA Division II power Golden Bears. The Huskers outworked No. 10 CSP on the glass, 60-35 and won the turnover battle 20-12 on the day. Concordia-St. Paul advanced to the NCAA Division II Elite Eight last season.

Golden Bear All-American Anika Whiting, a 6-2 senior forward, was held to just six points on 2-of-9 shooting against the Husker defense. She also managed just three rebounds before fouling out. Last season, Whiting averaged nearly 18 points and eight boards per game.

Nebraska’s dominance in the possession game allowed the Huskers to overcome a subpar shooting performance. The Big Red hit just 37.8 percent (28-74) of their shots from the field, including just 1-of-13 threes on the day. NU also connected on just 21-of-33 free throws.

However, the Huskers held Concordia-St. Paul to just 16-of-55 shooting (.291), including just 4-of-17 threes (.235). The Golden Bears went 10-for-14 from the free throw line.

Mishayla Jones led the Golden Bears with 11 points and six rebounds, while Amanda Barton added 10 points, including a pair of threes.

In an entertaining first half, the Huskers ran to a 38-21 halftime lead thanks to 13 first-half points from Theriot. The junior point guard went 6-for-10 from the field and added three rebounds in 17 minutes.

Cady, Tear’a Laudermill and Natalie Romeo each added six first-half points as all eight Huskers who played in the first half found the scoring column.

As a team, Nebraska hit 16-of-36 shots from the field, but went 0-for-3 from three-point range. The Huskers were also just 6-of-12 at the free throw line. NU outrebounded CSP, 26-17, and won the first-half turnover battle, 12-7.

Ameshia Kearney, Jones and Barton each scored five first-half points to lead the Golden Bears, who hit just 9-of-30 shots from the floor, but did connect on 2-of-8 three-pointers. Kearney hit CSP’s lone free throw attempt of the half.

The Huskers open regular-season play against Pepperdine at Pinnacle Bank Arena on Saturday, Nov. 15, at 11 a.m. That game time was announced for the first time duringSunday’s game. The game can be heard live on the Husker Sports Network, including 107.3 FM in Lincoln and 93.3 FM in Omaha. It will also be available for free on Huskers.com.

Tickets to Saturday’s game against the Waves are available now at Huskers.com.

The No. 16 Nebraska women’s basketball team closes its two-game exhibition schedule by welcoming the NCAA Division II No. 10 Concordia-St. Paul Golden Bears to Pinnacle Bank Arena, Sunday at 2 p.m.

The game will be the first meeting between the Huskers and Golden Bears and will feature free live audio from the Husker Sports Network on Huskers.com. No TV or live video will be available.

Tickets for Sunday’s game can be purchased in advance by visiting Huskers.com or by calling 1-800-8-BIG-RED. Tickets also will be available at the Pinnacle Bank Arena Ticket Office before the game. Reserved seats are just $10, while adult general admission tickets are just $5. Youth and seniors receive discounted rates, while UNL students with ID are admitted free.

Sunday’s matchup between Nebraska and Concordia-St. Paul should offer another one of NCAA Division II’s best teams. The Golden Bears were ranked No. 10 nationally in both the WBCA Preseason Top 25 and the Women’s Division II Bulletin Top 25. The Golden Bears finished with a 28-9 overall record, while advancing to the 2014 NCAA Division II Elite Eight. Concordia-St. Paul has advanced to the NCAA Division II Tournament 10 times in the past 12 years. Last season, the Bears beat Wayne State twice during the regular season, including a 69-50 win on Jan. 17.

The Huskers, who are coming off an 84-43 exhibition-opening win over Division II No. 6 Wayne State last Sunday, return four All-Big Ten starters who led the Big Red to a 26-7 record, a Big Ten Tournament title and the NCAA Tournament second round. Honorable-mention AP All-American and first-team All-Big Ten point guard Rachel Theriot rejoins seniors Emily Cady (second-team All-Big Ten), Tear’a Laudermill (second-team All-Big Ten) and Hailie Sample (Big Ten All-Defensive) in 2014-15.

Theriot, a 6-0 junior from Middleburg Heights, Ohio, claimed preseason first-team All-Big Ten honors after averaging 14.1 points and 7.1 assists per game as a sophomore. She averaged 18.7 points and a tournament-record 10.0 assists on her way to 2014 Big Ten Tournament MVP honors.

Nebraska Cornhuskers (26-7, 12-4 Big Ten)
3 – Hailie Sample – 6-1 – Sr. – F – 6.2 ppg, 6.4 rpg
23 – Emily Cady – 6-2 – Sr. – F – 12.7 ppg, 9.2 rpg
31 – Anya Kalenta – 6-3 – Jr. – F – JUCO
33 – Rachel Theriot – 6-0 – Jr. – G – 14.1 ppg, 3.4 rpg
1 – Tear’a Laudermill – 5-9 – Sr. – G – 11.8 ppg, 2.7 rpg
Off the Bench
13 – Brandi Jeffery – 5-7 – Sr. – G – 3.7 ppg, 1.9 rpg
22 – Allie Havers – 6-5 – So. – C – 3.2 ppg, 2.6 rpg
11 – Esther Ramacieri – 5-8 – So. – G – 0.2 ppg, 0.5 rpg
2 – Kaylee Page – 6-2 – Fr. – F – High School
5 – Natalie Romeo – 5-7 – Fr. – G – High School
12 – Emily Wood – 5-5 – Fr. – G – High School
30 – Chandler Smith – 6-0 – Fr. – G – High School
34 – Jasmine Cincore – 5-8 – Fr. – G – High School
Head Coach: Connie Yori (Creighton, 1986) 
13th Season at NU (241-142); 25th Season Overall (436-282)

Concordia-St. Paul Golden Bears (28-9, 16-6 NSIC)
25 – Kionda Nicks – 6-2 – Jr. – F – 5.1 ppg, 6.5 rpg
40 – Anika Whiting – 6-2 – Sr. – F – 17.7 ppg, 7.2 rpg
2 – Ameshia Kearney – 5-9 – Sr. – G – 12.4 ppg, 2.9 rpg
20 – Mishayla Jones – 5-6 – So. – G – 1.6 ppg, 1.2 rpg
12 – Voneisha Harris – 5-10 – Sr. – G – 1.5 ppg, 2.1 rpg
or 30 – Lauren Shifflett 5-8 – RFr. – G – 2.5 ppg, 0.5 rpg
Off the Bench
34 – Amanda Barton – 6-2 – Sr. – F – 6.7 ppg, 3.5 rpg
22 – Asha Knight – 5-11 – Sr. – F – 1.5 ppg, 0.7 rpg
32 – Tierra Bender – 5-7 – Sr. – G – 1.3 ppg, 1.7 rpg
23 – Jordyn Dudley – 6-0 – Jr. – G – 0.6 ppg, 0.3 rpg
42 – Caitlyn Russell – 6-3 – So. – C – Evansville
10 – Kayla Miller – 5-10 – Fr. – G – High School
40 – Kyrah Fredenburg – 5-11 – Fr. – G – High School
Head Coach: Paul Fessler (Northern Iowa, 1988)
15th Season at CSP (306-128); 19th Season Overall (407-146)

Big Red Begins Season at No. 16 in AP, Coaches Polls
The Huskers open the 2014-15 season at No. 16 in both the Associated Press Preseason Poll and the USA Today Coaches Preseason Top 25. Nebraska closed the 2013-14 campaign at No. 13 in the AP rankings, which did not include NCAA Tournament results.

NU, which went 26-7 last season and 12-4 in the Big Ten before winning its first Big Ten Tournament title, ended the season at No. 17 in the final USA Today Coaches Top 25. Both Nebraska’s final AP and Coaches Top 25 rankings were the second-best year-end rankings in school history. The Huskers have finished the season in the AP Top 25 four times in the past five years.

The Huskers finished No. 19 in the official NCAA RPI, which was its third-best RPI finish in history – all in the last five seasons.

Before Nebraska Coach Connie Yori came to Nebraska for the 2002-03 season, the Huskers had never finished a season ranked in the top 25 in either of the major polls or the RPI.

Nebraska Opened Basketball Season with Big Red Tip-Off
The Nebraska men’s and women’s basketball programs hit the floor for the first time together on Wednesday, Oct. 29, at Big Red Tip-Off at Pinnacle Bank Arena.

The fun family-friendly event included 15-minute scrimmages by both the men’s and women’s teams and a head-to-head three-point contest between the two programs.

Nebraska women’s basketball Coach Connie Yori and men’s basketball Coach Tim Miles both addressed the thousands of fans who filled the arena for the free event.

The two teams wrapped up the night with an autograph session at the arena.

Husker Season Ticket Sales Reach Another All-Time High
Nebraska’s second season inside the spectacular Pinnacle Bank Arena promises to be packed with action from start to finish, and Husker women’s basketball fans are showing that they want to see it all in person this season.

Heading into their final exhibition game with Concordia-St. Paul on Sunday, Nov. 9, Nebraska had sold a school-record 3,904 season tickets for the 2014-15 campaign.

In their first season at Pinnacle Bank Arena in 2013-14, Nebraska shattered its previous season ticket sales record with more than 3,700. The previous record came in 2010-11, when NU sold approximately 2,700 season tickets.

Last season, Nebraska ranked No. 11 nationally with an average home attendance of 6,161 fans per game. The Huskers ranked No. 8 nationally in total attendance with 110,892 fans flocking to the arena to watch the Big Red roll to a 16-2 home record.

Theriot Claims Preseason All-Big Ten Honors
Nebraska junior Rachel Theriot captured preseason first-team All-Big Ten team announced at Big Ten Conference Women’s Basketball Media Day on Thursday, Oct. 16.

Theriot, a 6-0 point guard from Middleburg Heights, Ohio, joined senior point guards Rachel Banham (Minnesota) and Samantha Logic (Iowa) on the five-player honor squads of both the conference coaches and media. Michigan State sophomore Aerial Powers and Northwestern sophomore Nia Coffey rounded out the coaches top five. Sophomores Amanda Zahui from Minnesota and Lexie Brown from Maryland, along with junior Ameryst Alston from Ohio State claimed spots on the media’s six-player team.

As a team, Nebraska was picked No. 3 in the conference by the media, trailing Maryland and Michigan State. Iowa earned the No. 3 spot ahead of the Huskers in the coaches ranking of the top three teams.

Scouting the Concordia-St. Paul Golden Bears
Coach Paul Fessler has bult a traditionally strong NCAA Division II program at Concordia-St. Paul. Entering his 15th season at the helm of the Golden Bears, Fessler has produced a 306-128 record while leading the team to 10 NCAA Tournament appearances in the past 12 seasons. Last year, Fessler guided CSP to its first NCAA Elite Eight appearance after claiming its third Sweet 16 bid in the past 10 years.

The Golden Bears, who enter 2014-15 ranked No. 10 by both the WBCA and Women’s Division II Bulletin, are coming off a 28-9 campaign. CSP went 16-6 in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference. Down the stretch, the Golden Bears defeated No. 19 Northern State (54-36), No. 2 Harding (68-57), No. 8 Central Missouri (85-60) and No. 7 Emporia State (70-67) before falling to No. 10 Nova Southeastern in the NCAA Elite Eight at Erie, Pa.

Concordia-St. Paul returns three starters and 10 letterwinners, including leading scorer and rebounder Anika Whiting. The 6-2 senior forward from Ashland, Wis., averaged 17.7 points and 7.2 rebounds last season. She started all 37 games and averaged 31.5 minutes per contest. In addition to her strong presence inside, Whiting hit 20-of-49 three-pointers (.408) and a sizzling 84.5 percent (169-200) of her free throws. In her three seasons as a starter, Whiting has amassed 1,485 points and 647 rebounds. She pumped in a career-high 32 points against Central Missouri in the second round of the NCAA Tournament last year.

The Golden Bears also return senior Ameshia Kearney. The 5-9 guard from Minneapolis averaged 12.4 points and 2.9 rebounds per game. Kearney, who scored a season-high 26 points against Sioux Falls in February, also knocked down 69 threes on the year while hitting 36.9 percent of her long-range attempts.

That dynamic duo of double-figure scorers is joined by returning starter Kionda Nicks. The 6-2 junior forward from St. Paul, Minn., averaged 5.1 points and 6.5 rebounds per game last season. Nicks was a back-door stopper for the Golden Bears last year, blocking 104 shots. She also committed 113 fouls.

Concordia-St. Paul must replace a pair of double-digit scorers from last season, including Rachel Hansen. The point guard averaged 13.1 points, 6.1 rebounds and a team-best 4.7 assists. A four-year starter, Hansen closed her career with 1,305 points, 597 rebounds, 474 assists and 182 steals.

Carissa Wolyniec joined Hansen, Whiting, and Kearney in the starting five for all 37 games. The 5-11 guard averaged 11.1 points and 4.4 boards while burying a team-best 100 threes (.392).

Senior Voneisha Harris (1.5 ppg, 2.1 rpg), Mishayla Jones (1.6 ppg, 1.2 rpg) and Lauren Shifflett (2.5 ppg, 0.5 rpg) are leading contenders to replace Hansen and Wolyniec in the starting backcourt. Tierra Bender (1.3 ppg, 1.7 rpg) and Jordyn Dudley (0.6 ppg, 0.3 rpg) add more experience at guard.

Amanda Barton, a 6-2 senior forward, adds depth up front after averaging 6.7 points and 3.5 rebounds per game as a junior. Barton started two games and played in 10 contests before missing the rest of last season with a health issue. A sixth senior, Asha Knight (1.5 ppg, 0.7 rpg) adds more depth at forward.

The Golden Bears added a trio of newcomers, led by Caitlyn Russell, a 6-3 sophomore center who transferred from Division I Evansville. Russell played in 20 games for the Purple Aces last season. Freshmen guards Kayla Miller and Kyrah Fredenburg may also be asked to contribute.

As a team, Concordia-St. Paul averaged 70 points per game last year, while surrendering 62.1 points per contest. The Golden Bears hit just 40.3 percent of their shots, including 33.9 percent of their threes, but held opponents to just 35.3 percent success, including 30.4 percent from long range. CSP hit 72.9 percent of its free throws, attempting 4.1 more free throws per game than the opposition. Despite their size, the Golden Bears struggled with a minus-1.7 team rebounding margin, but owned a plus-2.6 team turnover margin, committing just 11.2 turnovers per game. They also blocked 5.6 shots per game.

Nebraska vs. Concordia-St. Paul Series History
Sunday’s game marks Nebraska’s first meeting in school history with Concordia-St. Paul.