I predicted a close fought game in which the Huskers pulled away late.
I was wrong.
Nebraska was in control of this one from the start and rode Britt Prince’s career-scoring day to an easy win in Sioux Falls. Prince scored 35 points and Natalie Potts added 19. Potts was also the leading rebounder for the Huskers with eight. Ashlyn Koupal led the team with five assists and Allison Weidner dished four. Kennadi Williams had three steals, as did Weidner.
The Huskers shot 54% from the field compared to 57%
for Kansas; Nebraska took 72 shots while the Jayhawks threw up 47. Nebraska outrebounded Kansas 32-22 and committed 12 turnovers to 24 for the Jays.
Next game: The Huskers take on Mount St. Mary’s on Tuesday at 6 pm central.
First Quarter
The first five minutes are a closely matched with neither team putting much distance between them. Natalie Potts and Britt Prince lead Nebraska early with eight and five points apiece. Kansas’ dynamic duo of Davis and Nichols are at the exact same scoring output. Hargrove, Potts, and Noyan each pick up an early foul, which could cause the Huskers to be too conservative on defense (20-15 Neb).
After the mid-quarter timeout, each team picked up three quick points with Potts being the first player into double digits (23-18 Neb) which was followed by a Prince layup to extend the Husker lead to seven (25-18 Neb). A big cheer erupted when South Dakota native Ashlyn Koupal took the floor and she made her presence known quickly (27-20 Neb). As the clock wound under one minute, Logan Nissley increased Nebraska’s lead to 10 (30-20 Neb). Surprisingly, this is the most first quarter points scored by the Huskers. I expected that to come in the first few games against body bag opponents and not a major conference team. Maddi Stewart does her best Callin Hake impression and draws a charge, her third of the season.
Nebraska 30 Kansas 20
Second Quarter
The Huskers commit their first turnover of the game but the Jayhawks commit an offensive foul on their end to give Nebraska the ball back. Logan Nissley hits a three and then takes a charge to set up a 15 point lead for the Huskers (35-20 Neb). The Huskers are killing the Jayhawks on the boards (10-4) and Kennadi Williams decides to join in the fun with a three-pointer that requires the Jayhawks to call a timeout (38-20 Neb). The timeout works for Kansas as they score five points on back-to-back possessions (38-25 Neb). Kansas’ star forward Davis is committing fouls left and right but not getting called for any of them. She pulled two Huskers down on a play with no call.
Davis finally was called for her second foul and sat down on the bench. Emily Fisher is playing great defense for Nebraska but she also got called for her second foul (42-27 Neb). The Huskers are in the bonus with four minutes left in the half. Maddi Stewart forced a five second call and then Amiah Hargrove picked up her second foul. Kennadi Williams nails her second three-pointer to give Nebraska an 18-point lead (48-30 Neb).
In a HUGE development, KU’s Davis is called for her third foul with three minutes left in the half. Koupal, with help from Fisher, gives Nebraska a 20-point lead (50-30 Neb). There is no player on the KU roster under 6’0” and 5’4” Williams is holding her own (and more) on both ends of the floor. KU responded well with one of their stars on the bench and decreased the Husker lead to 14.
Nebraska 54 Kansas 40
Halftime Stats
Potts and Prince are in double digits with 14 and 13 points respectively. Potts leads with four rebounds and Koupal has four assists. KU is shooting 58% from the field compared to 56% for the Huskers who are taking many more shots (34) than Kansas (24). The Huskers are still leading the rebound battle 16-10.
Third Quarter
Britt Prince scores the first two baskets of the second half to increase the Husker lead (58-40 Neb). Natalie Potts picks up her second foul but then draws the third foul on KU’s Williams – which was reviewed for a possible upgrade to flagrant. The replay showed Potts’ head getting thrown back by a high elbow and the foul was deemed excessive – Prince hit both free throws to increase the lead back to 20 (60-40 Neb). Amiah Hargrove was called for her third foul but then a tremendous hustle play by Kennadi Williams saved the ball inbounds to Weidner which led to a Prince transition three (65-43 Neb).
Prince followed that by taking a charge and then increasing her season scoring average (22 pts) by putting in her 23rd and 24th points. Kansas players are visibly complaining when a call doesn’t go their way and are committing harder fouls than necessary – with a hit on Prince being upgraded to a flagrant one. Amiah Hargrove is on the sideline wearing a back brace; I am unsure what is going on but a lead like this is a good time to get younger players in anyway. Nine Huskers have found the scoring column.
Nebraska 80 Kansas 52
Fourth Quarter
The Nebraska lead ballooned to 30 in the early part of the quarter (87-57 Neb) and Prince scores her 31st and 32nd points (89-57 Neb). I’m not sure why Prince is still in the game, but…okay? AND then she breaks away again for a teammate to find her for the three point play and she is up to 35 points. The Huskers are closing in on triple digits (95-64 Neb).
Edessa Noyan fouled out of the game halfway through the quarter and the Jayhawk players are getting more frustrated and fouling with abandon. Kennadi Williams went down hard after a reach. You don’t like to see players hitting the floor and especially with a 30-point lead.
The Huskers went over 100 points with two minutes left (101-68 Neb). Two more minutes of basketball occurred,
Final. Nebraska 105 Kansas 73
