Nebraska is finding ways to win even when it’s ugly, even when their star player goes 1-6 in the first half, which might not have been the case a few years ago. This team constantly has people who pick
it up when they need it most and my favorite thing about them is you never know who it is going to be. Everyone on this squad can hurt you and have a big game, have big quarters, it’s what makes them so dangerous. Nebraska will end their non conference schedule with a win, they’ll go into conference play undefeated where the real tests await. USC, Iowa, Indiana, UCLA, Michigan State are five of the six first games for Nebraska. It’s a gauntlet, but I have faith that Nebraska is well equipped to take down some giants.
Starting lineup is the same as always; Hake, Prince, Weaver, Bozan, and Petrie.
First Quarter
Cal Baptist got the scoring started early, but Britt Prince hits the jumper to get herself on the board. The Lancers have gone on a quick 5-0 run and are currently up 7-2. Jessica Petrie cuts the lead to three and will have a chance to cut it to two as she got fouled (5-7 CBU). Nebraska is playing so sped up right now that they’re making incredibly bad passes and their defense is not what it normally is. Amiah Hargrove is sent to the line for free throws and hits both, the very next possession she gets a layup and the foul. Hargrove puts the Huskers up one (10-9) and a media timeout is taken with 5:00 left in the quarter.
Logan Nissley has Nebraska’s first three and her first points of the game. Cal Baptist hit a three to take the lead, but free throws for Callin Hake give it back to Nebraska (15-14). The Huskers haven’t made a field goal in four minutes, the only good thing about that is the Lancers have also been on a scoring drought. Hailey Weaver changes that with a drive to the basket and gets fouled on the way up, but misses the free throw. CBU hits a three to tie the game at 17, but Petra Bozan gets the second chance points at the horn.
Nebraska 19 Cal Baptist 17
Second Quarter
I’ll give Cal Baptist a bunch of credit, they are playing very good basketball right now as they’ve just retaken the lead. Callin Hake gets it back with a transition three and Jessica Petrie extends in with back to back buckets (26-23 Neb). Three pointers for Nebraska are just not falling in this half, shooting just 16% from beyond the arc. Callin Hake does what she does best and draws the opponent into an offensive foul. Amiah Hargrove is awarded free throws and she sinks both. Britt Prince snatches the ball and gets a wide open Hargrove at the top of the key for the big three (31-26 Neb). Media timeout with 4:38 left in the half.
Amiah Hargrove picks up where she left off and hits the long jumper, she’s got 12 points so far. Hargrove will have a chance to add on to those points at the charity stripe and splits the pair. I feel like I say this every game at some point, Nebraska has been getting such good looks just nothing wanting to all. Callin Hake heads to the line for a chance at two and she converts, Bozan connects on a jumper the possession after. Cal Baptist gets a last second layup to end the half cutting the Husker lead to three.
Nebraska 38 Cal Baptist 35
Halftime Stats
Amiah Hargrove: 13 points, 5 rebounds
Callin Hake: 7 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists
Jessica Petrie: 7 points
Petra Bozan: 4 rebounds
Britt Prince: 3 assists
Nebraska is shooting a very poor 33.3% from the field and only 20% from three. The Huskers are winning the rebounding battle 22-21, but only have 5 assists and 7 turnovers.
Third Quarter
Cal Baptist immediately hits the three to tie this game at 38 and then take the lead with a layup. Jessica Petrie ties it up with a shoulder shimmy layup and Callin Hake drains the three from the bench side corner to take the lead back. Petra Bozan lays it in for two on a fast break post up. Callin Hake gets another assist in transition to a running Petrie, she’ll also get fouled on the way up (48-40 Neb). Nebraska has gone on a 10-0 run before we hit the media timeout with 4:51 left in the quarter.
Jessica Petrie makes good on a CBU turnover, that turnover being a charge and you’ll never guess who took it. Callin Hake. Petrie is up to 14 points after that basket, Logan Nissley sinks the elbow jumper and that will lead to a Cal Baptist timeout (52-40 Neb). The timeout serves the Lancers well as they hit back to back shots to cut the lead to single digits. Logan Nissley will push it back over double digits with a left wing three, but CBU goes down and gets another layup to end the quarter.
Nebraska 55 Cal Baptist 46
Fourth Quarter
I apologize for these paragraphs being incredibly short this recap, but it’s truly been such a bad game. Yes, Nebraska is winning, but they have played down to the level of their opponent for probably the first time this year. Not taking away anything from CBU either, they have played a great game, just seems like Nebraska still should be winning this game by 30+ at the moment. Hailey Weaver does get sent to the line where she splits the pair, but Jessica Petrie cleans it up off the glass and she has 16 points on the day. Weaver snipes the three off a Petrie assists and forces CBU to call a timeout with 8:38 left.
Britt Prince hits just her second field goal of the day with a three and Hargrove lays it in on the next possession. Nebraska’s defense forces Cal Baptist to call another timeout, otherwise they would have most likely turned the ball over. They commit a turnover anyway with an over and back call, but they are headed to the monitor to take a closer look. The call will stand and stay Nebraska basketball, Britt Prince immediately hits the elbow jumper (68-49 Neb). Callin Hake has drawn three offensive fouls this game which is kind of insane. Hailey Weaver is up to eight points after her layup falls and Britt Prince drains another long two. Petra Bozan lays it up for two more and Kennadi Williams connects on a three a couple possessions later. A scoring frenzy has happened here late as Williams gets two more and a chance at the three point play, free throw is good (80-54 Neb). Nebraska has notched another 80 point game somehow, extending that streak to 12 straight. Prince has had a better half offensively as she hits another jumper. Jessica Petrie is at the charity stripe and will go one of two. Kennadi Williams is up to eight points here late after a steal. A possession later, Claire Johnson puts herself in the scoring column to end the game.
Nebraska 87 Cal Baptist 56
Postgame Stats
Jessica Petrie: 17 points, 4 rebounds
Amiah Hargrove: 15 points, 8 rebounds
Britt Prince: 11 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists
Callin Hake: 10 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists
Logan Nissley: 8 points, 5 rebounds
Petra Bozan: 8 points, 4 rebounds
Hailey Weaver: 8 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists
Kennadi Williams: 8 points
Nebraska shot 45.1% from the field, including 30.8% from beyond the arc. The Huskers won the rebounding battle 41-39 and assisted on 14 shots, only committing nine turnovers.
