Nebraska is looking to snap a three game losing skid and what a team to do it against in a very tough Illinois team. The Huskers have not looked their best as of late, but definitely turned that around in this one. A few sloppy possessions throughout, but overall a much better performance.
Starting lineups are the same as they have been; Nissley, Hake, Prince, Maupin, Petrie.
First Quarter
Nebraska has not been able to do anything on the offensive end, they’ve turned the ball over and blown layups.
Illinois has a four point lead up until Britt Prince bullies her way to the basket for two points. Jessica Petrie and Logan Nissley hit back to back shots to tie the game at six. After a few empty possessions from the Huskers, Amiah Hargrove drills a three to give them the 9-7 lead. Callin Hake gets a steal and leads the pass to a backside running Kennadi Williams, but she gets blocked on the way up. A media timeout is taken with 4:06 left in the first quarter.
An immediate turnover from the Huskers gives Illinois the ball back. Good ball movement by Nebraska sends a cross court pass to Williams who drains the corner three (12-7 Neb). Mid range Prince has made her arrival, she’s got four points. Petra Bozan’s hook shot rolls off the rim, but Eliza Maupin flies through defenders to clean up the glass and collect the second chance points (18-11 Neb). Nebraska has caused Illinois to commit seven turnovers here in the first quarter. Bozan gets the block and sends the ball up to Kennadi Williams with three seconds left, she’ll forward it to Hailey Weaver, who just seemed to not be aware of how much time was left.
Nebraska 19 Illinois 11
Second Quarter
Britt Prince gets fouled and will head to the line, she sinks both attempts. Nebraska’s defense has taken a slight decline at the start of the quarter, but Logan Nissley makes up for it has she hits the jumper to put the Huskers up 23-16. Nissley hits the corner three assisted by Prince; Eliza Maupin goes back down and gets two of her own. The defense for Nebraska has picked up here in the last couple minutes, snatching the ball from Illinois and causing travel calls. Callin Hake passes cross court to Williams, who runs baseline and passes out to the corner for a shifting Hake who drills the three; Nebraska up 11 (31-20) at the media timeout with 4:52 left in the half.
Some incredible ball movement from Nebraska as Callin Haken drives the lane, passes through a defender to Claire Johnson, and an extra pass to a backside Petra Bozan for two points. Britt Prince gets the steal and sprints down the court, almost getting tripped up, but gets composed enough to keep her balance and score. Nebraska is up 37-20 after Bozan has her shot fall through the net. Britt Prince is so tough, she bulldozes her way through the lane and gets the off balance hook shot to go, she’s up to 10 points. Prince tries to make something happen at the end of the first half, but can’t get the shot to fall; however, Jessica Petrie is there to clean up the glass and get the ball back up and through the net as time expires.
Nebraska 41 Illinois 23
Halftime Stats
Britt Prince: 10 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists
Logan Nissley: 7 points
Petra Bozan: 6 points, 3 rebounds
Jessica Petrie: 6 rebounds
Callin Hake: 3 rebounds, 1 block
Kennadi Williams: 3 assists
Nebraska is shooting 47 percent from the floor, including 44 percent from long range. The Huskers are out rebounding Illinois 19-15 and have 11 assists to 5 turnovers.
Third Quarter
Britt Prince hits the mid range corner shot to put her up to 12 points. A nice lob pass from Eliza Maupin into Jessica Petrie will have Petrie headed to the line to shoot two. Jessica Petrie, a couple possessions later, hits the shoulder shimmy bank shot and it’s a 47-32 Nebraska lead. The Huskers have started to slack a little bit on the rebounds, that’s one of the main reasons Illinois has started to claw their way back. Kennadi Williams gets fouled as the shot clock expires, she hits one of two. An offensive foul is called against Illinois as Hailey Weaver falls to the ground. Nebraska is in the bonus with 5:10 left in the third quarter, so they will shoot free throws from here on out. Nebraska takes a timeout after Illinois drills a three, the Huskers are up 11 (50-39) with 4:18 left in the third.
Petra Bozan will be headed to the line after another timeout, she splits the pair of free throws. Britt Prince will get called for an offensive foul that looked pretty acted to me, but what do I know? I will say Bozan has been playing lightyears better than she did against Wisconsin as she gets the turn around hook shot to fall (53-39 Neb). Eliza Maupin will head to the line after getting fouled, misses the first, but rattles around the second. Illinois hits a three to bring the deficit to 12; now within 10 as they get a layup a series after. Jessica Petrie toughs her way through the lane and gets the roll on her shot as the shot clock goes dark.
Nebraska 56 Illinois 44
Fourth Quarter
To start the fourth off strong, Britt Prince muscles her way to the rim for two, she is up to 14 points. Jessica Petrie hits the big three to put Nebraska up 61-49. Defense to offense as Prince gets the rebound and sends it to Logan Nissley and she drains the transition three; Huskers are up 15 and Nissley has 14 points. Callin Hake does what she does best and takes the charge giving Nebraska the ball. I don’t know how Kennadi Williams got that ball through two defenders to Nissley on the backside, but she did, and Nissley cashes in. Nebraska calls timeout in the midst of a great hustle play by Hake to save a turnover. The lead is 15 with 5:43 left in the game.
Incredible defense by Nebraska causes Illinois to turn the ball over yet again. Jessica Petrie makes an amazing move down low and gets called for the dumbest travel call I’ve ever seen. Amiah Hargrove gets the momentum back as she has her shot fall and draws the foul, she converts the three point play (69-56 Neb). Here’s where I start to get nervous, Nebraska’s lead has been cut to single digits and we look a little out of control. Prince does get fouled and will get free throw attempts, she will make both. Illinois has stepped up their defensive pressure and it has caused Nebraska to make a few sloppy plays. Nebraska will get called for a 10 second violation as they cannot get the ball across the timeline. Illinois has cut it to a six point game with 1:44 left in the game. Nebraska is doing everything they can to just give this game away. Nebraska finds a way to break the stifling press and finds a wide open Petrie for the bucket with 51 seconds left. Illinois has brought it back to seven and Nebraska calls timeout with 35 seconds left. Nissley gets fouled and will head to the charity stripe where she sinks both attempts. I’m not going to document every time we head to the line, just know it has been a lot because that’s all Illinois can really do right now.
Nebraska 81 Illinois 75
Postgame Stats
Britt Prince: 20 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists
Jessica Petrie: 15 points, 6 rebounds
Logan Nissley: 15 points, 3 assists
Petra Bozan: 11 points, 4 rebounds
Nebraska shot 49 percent from the floor, including 43 percent from long range. The Huskers were out rebounded 34-27, but had 17 assists to 14 turnovers.
