The Nebraska women’s basketball team returns to action Saturday morning at Pinnacle Bank Arena to renew its annual series with Creighton.

Tip-off between the No. 19 Huskers (7-2) and the Jays (4-4) is set for 11 a.m. (CT), with live premium video coverage provided to subscribers of BTN.com All-Access.

The game can be heard live on the Husker Sports Network, including B107.3 FM in Lincoln and The Wolf 93.3 FM in Omaha. Free live audio is available on Huskers.com.

Nebraska opened a five-game home stand with a 95-75 win over Utah State on Sunday, Dec. 8. All-American Jordan Hooper erupted for 33 points and 14 rebounds to produce her fifth double-double of the season. It was the seventh 30-point scoring performance of Hooper’s career.

Along the way, Hooper joined first-team All-Americans Karen Jennings (1990-93) and Kelsey Griffin (2006-10) as the only players in school history to reach career milestones of 1,800 points and 900 rebounds. Hooper, a 6-2 senior forward from Alliance, Neb., enters the Creighton game ranked No. 6 all-time at Nebraska with 1,879 points and No. 4 with 908 rebounds. Hooper ranks second in the Big Ten in both scoring (21.6 ppg) and rebounding (10.8 rpg) through nine games this season.

Junior Emily Cady added her fourth double-double of the young season with 16 points and 10 rebounds while tying her career high with seven assists. The 6-2 forward from Seward, Neb., ranks 16th in the Big Ten in scoring (13.6 ppg) and third in rebounding (9.4 rpg). She also ranks second in field goal percentage (.614) and ninth in free throw percentage (.857).

Creighton comes to Lincoln with a 4-4 record with losses to Oklahoma, Kansas, Drake and most recently, a one-point loss to unbeaten BYU. The Jays, who advanced to the second round of the 2013 NCAA Tournament, are led by sophomore guard Marissa Janning (17.4 ppg, 5.3 rpg) and senior forward Sarah Nelson (11.9 ppg, 5.8 rpg).

Omaha, Neb. – All-American Doug McDermott scored a game-high 33 points to lead three Creighton players in double figures, as the Bluejays posted an 82-67 victory over Nebraska Sunday night.

McDermott hit 12-of-23 shots from the floor and grabbed eight rebounds, as the Bluejays led from start to finish in snapping Nebraska’s three-game win streak. Ethan Wragge and Jahennes Manigat added 16 and 10 points, as the Bluejays (7-2) raced out to an 18-2 lead and never looked back.

Sophomore Shavon Shields and Terran Petteway led Nebraska with 22 and 21 points, respectively in a losing effort, as Nebraska (6-3) was unable to get untracked offensively in the opening 20 minutes in its first road game of the year.

Creighton never let the Huskers get comfortable, as the Bluejays scored the first eight points and raced out to an 18-2 lead behind McDermott, who scored 11 of his 17 first-half points in the early surge.

In all, Creighton hit 13 of its first 20 shots from the floor, including 6-of-10 from 3-point range, before cooling off in the final portion of the half, while Nebraska missed 17 of its first 20 shots, as the Bluejays led by as many as 32 in the first half before the Huskers cut the deficit to 51-25 at the break.

Petteway had 17 of his 21 points in the second half, as Nebraska outscored Creighton, 42-31, in the second half, shooting 59 percent from the field.

The Huskers return to action next Saturday as they take on Arkansas State on Saturday, Dec. 14. Tipoff is at 3 p.m. and the game will be on the Husker Sports Network and televised nationally on BTN.

Notes
*-Shavon Shields posted his third career 20-point game and second of the season with 22 points.
*-Terran Petteway posted his third career 20-point game and team-high third of the season with 21 points
*-Tai Webster tied his season high in assists for the fourth straight game with five assists.
*-Doug McDermott’s 33 points is the most points by a Husker opponent this season. Chad Frazier of UAB had 32 against the Huskers on Nov. 22.

Lincoln – All-American Jordan Hooper erupted for game highs of 33 points and 14 rebounds to lead No. 15 Nebraska to a 95-75 win over Utah State on Sunday at Pinnacle Bank Arena.

With the victory, Nebraska improved 7-2 overall, while Utah State slipped to 5-3.

Hooper notched her fifth double-double of the season and the 31st of her career, while producing her first 30-point scoring effort of the season and the seventh of her career. It was Hooper’s sixth 20-point performance in nine games this season and 39th of her career.

The 6-2 senior forward from Alliance, Neb., produced her huge day without attempting a three-point shot for the first time in her 107-game career. She went 11-for-16 from the field and 11-for-15 at the free throw line.

As a team, Nebraska shot a season-best 59.6 percent (28-47) from the field, while hitting 31-of-37 free throws (83.8 percent). While Hooper went without a three-point attempt, the rest of the Huskers were sharp from long range, connecting on 8-of-15 threes (53.3 percent).

“I thought we did a lot of good things,” Nebraska Coach Connie Yori said. “Other than the turnovers and being too sloppy with the ball at times, we moved it well and got the ball where we wanted to on the floor. Jordan was really good today, and I thought Emily (Cady) played a great floor game.”

Junior Emily Cady added her fourth double-double of the season and 12th of her career with 16 points and 10 rebounds. The 6-2 forward from Seward, Neb., also tied her career high with seven assists. Cady went 3-of-5 from the field and a perfect 10-for-10 from the free throw line.

Sophomore Rachel Theriot gave Nebraska three players in double figures with 11 points and eight assists. The 6-0 point guard from Middleburg Heights, Ohio, knocked down a pair of threes and grabbed four rebounds to help Nebraska close the game with a 38-27 advantage on the boards.

The Huskers also got big efforts off the bench from sophomore Sadie Murren, who scored eight points and hit a pair of threes, and junior guard Brandi Jeffery, who finished with six points on a pair of threes and had four assists. Freshman center Allie Havers added six points, while Hannah Tvrdy contributed a point to give NU 21 points off the bench.

Tear’a Laudermill contributed eight points and Hailie Sample added six points and three assists to round out the scoring for the Big Red.

Makenlee Williams led Utah State with 21 points, while senior point guard Jennifer Schlott contributed 13 points in 23 minutes before fouling out. Elise Nelson gave USU four players in double figures with 10 points, five rebounds, five assists and four steals. Franny Vaaulu added eight points, seven rebounds and four steals in a strong effort inside.

Nebraska won the game by 20 points despite Utah State attempting 25 more field goals than the Huskers (72-47). The Aggies also won the turnover battle, 25-17.

Fouls and free throws, especially in the first half, played a major role in the outcome. Utah State, which sent South Dakota to the line 44 times in its previous game, found itself in deep foul trouble at the half.

Utah State jumped to a 15-8 lead out of the gate before Nebraska regained the lead 18-17 on seven straight points from Hooper, capped by a three-point play with 13:54 left in the half.

But the Aggies committed 19 first-half fouls, including four each for starting guards Schlott and Williams, who entered the game combining for nearly 45 points per game. They did not come off the floor after committing their second or third fouls midway through the half.

Hooper scored four straight points to cap a 9-2 NU surge and give the Huskers their first 10-point lead at 42-32, before Nebraska scored its last 10 points of the half at the free throw line. NU’s lead grew as large as 18 points at 52-34 with 55 seconds left, before Utah State scored the last five of the half to head to the locker room trailing 52-39.

Utah State finished the game hitting 41.7 percent (30-72) of its shots, including 8-of-27 three-pointers. The Aggies were also 7-of-9 at the line.

Following the game, Yori announced that junior Katie Simon had elected to end her playing career at NU. The fourth-year forward did not attend Sunday’s game.

Nebraska continues its five-game home stand on Saturday when the Huskers take on Creighton. Tip-off between the Huskers and Bluejays is set for 11 a.m.

Official Basketball Box Score

Utah State vs Nebraska

12/08/13 2:06 p.m. at Pinnacle Bank Arena (Lincoln, Neb.)

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VISITORS: Utah State 5-3

TOT-FG  3-PT         REBOUNDS

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

44 VAAULU, Franny…… f  4-9    0-0    0-0    3  4  7   4   8  1  0  0  4  28

50 STRIKAS, Ingrida…. f  2-6    1-2    2-2    2  0  2   3   7  1  3  0  2  20

02 NELSON,Elise…….. g  3-6    0-1    4-5    3  2  5   3  10  5  2  0  4  28

03 SCHLOTT, Jennifer… g  6-16   0-4    1-2    1  1  2   5  13  8  3  0  3  23

21 WILLIAMS, Makenlee.. g  9-21   3-12   0-0    0  3  3   4  21  2  1  0  1  32

05 BAIRSTOW, Stephanie.    2-3    1-1    0-0    0  0  0   1   5  0  3  0  2  18

11 CLONINGER, Shelby…    1-4    1-2    0-0    0  0  0   0   3  0  0  0  0   8

20 MILES,Mariah……..    0-1    0-0    0-0    0  0  0   0   0  1  0  0  0   2

24 PORTER, Jasmine…..    2-2    1-1    0-0    0  1  1   1   5  0  0  1  0   7

25 JOHNSON, Lynette….    0-0    0-0    0-0    2  0  2   3   0  0  3  0  0   9

32 TURNER, Cristal…..    1-4    1-4    0-0    0  3  3   5   3  2  0  1  0  25

TEAM…………….                         2     2             2

Totals…………..   30-72   8-27   7-9   13 14 27  29  75 20 17  2 16 200

TOTAL FG% 1st Half: 17-43 39.5%   2nd Half: 13-29 44.8%   Game: 41.7%  DEADB

3-Pt. FG% 1st Half:  3-14 21.4%   2nd Half:  5-13 38.5%   Game: 29.6%   REBS

F Throw % 1st Half:  2-3  66.7%   2nd Half:  5-6  83.3%   Game: 77.8%    1

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HOME TEAM: Nebraska 7-2

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    2-2    1  1  2   2   6  3  4  0  1  22

23 Cady, Emily……… f  3-5    0-1   10-10   1  9 10   1  16  7  2  0  1  32

35 Hooper, Jordan…… f 11-16   0-0   11-15   4 10 14   0  33  1  1  1  1  32

01 Laudermill, Tear’a.. g  2-4    2-4    2-2    0  1  1   2   8  1  4  1  0  19

33 Theriot, Rachel….. g  3-5    2-3    3-4    0  4  4   1  11  8  7  0  1  38

10 Tvrdy, Hannah…….    0-2    0-1    1-2    0  0  0   0   1  0  0  0  1   2

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

13 Jeffery, Brandi…..    2-5    2-3    0-0    0  2  2   0   6  4  1  0  1  21

21 Murren, Sadie…….    2-4    2-3    2-2    0  1  1   4   8  0  0  0  0  18

22 Havers, Allie…….    3-3    0-0    0-0    0  2  2   3   6  0  3  1  1  14

TEAM…………….                         2     2             3

Totals…………..   28-47   8-15  31-37   8 30 38  13  95 24 25  3  7 200

TOTAL FG% 1st Half: 13-22 59.1%   2nd Half: 15-25 60.0%   Game: 59.6%  DEADB

3-Pt. FG% 1st Half:  4-6  66.7%   2nd Half:  4-9  44.4%   Game: 53.3%   REBS

F Throw % 1st Half: 22-26 84.6%   2nd Half:  9-11 81.8%   Game: 83.8%    3

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Officials: Mark Zentz, Sue Blauch, Frank Steratore

Technical fouls: Utah State-TEAM. Nebraska-None.

Attendance: 4494

Score by Periods                1st  2nd   Total

Utah State………………..   39   36  –   75

Nebraska………………….   52   43  –   95

The Nebraska basketball team makes the 56.5 mile drive up I-80 on Sunday afternoon, as the Huskers trek to Omaha to face the Creighton Bluejays.

Tipoff for the annual matchup between the two programs is at 5:07 p.m. (CT) on Fox Sports 1 with Cory Provus and Bill Raftery on the call. On DirecTV, the game will be shown on Ch. 219, while DISH Network has the game on Ch. 150. Fans should check with their local cable provider to see if the game is on their local cable packages, as Fox Sports 1 is not on all basic cable packages throughout the state of Nebraska.

Sunday’s matchup with the Bluejays will be carried across the state on the 27-station Husker Sports Network with Kent Pavelka and Matt Davison calling all of the action, including flagship stations KLIN (1400 AM/94.5 FM) in Lincoln and KFAB (1110 AM) in Omaha (complete list of affiliates is on page five of the game notes). The game can also be heard for free on Huskers.com and is available on the Huskers’ app on iOS or android devices, as well as Sirius and XM Radio.

The Huskers are 6-2 on the season and head into their first road test of the season riding a three-game win streak after a 60-49 win over Miami Wednesday evening in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge. Nebraska continued its string of solid efforts on the defensive end, holding Miami to 32 percent shooting and has held its last three opponents to just 57.3 points per game on 37 percent shooting.

Nebraska also received strong performances from forwards Walter Pitchford (13 points and five rebounds) and Leslee Smith (seven points and 10 rebounds), who combined to limit Miami’s two starting forwards to a combined 1-of-8 shooting.  Pitchford has now been in double figures in three of the Huskers’ last four games, while Smith has pulled down nine or more rebounds in four of Nebraska’s last five contests.

The Huskers have relied on its new faces this season, as five of the team’s top six scorers are in their first season of competition at Nebraska. On Wednesday, NU started a lineup which featured one freshman and three sophomores.

If the Huskers are looking to snap a two-game losing streak to the Bluejays, Nebraska will need another strong defensive effort on Sunday, as Creighton is averaging 83.4 points per game.  The Bluejays feature two-time All-American Doug McDermott, who averages 24.4 points per game and an experienced lineup around the four-year starter, including fifth-year senior Ethan Wragge and sixth-year senior Grant Gibbs.