The Huskers controlled this one from start to finish and are ready to move on to Kansas (receiving votes) on Saturday. Britt Prince led all scoreres with 24 points while Amiah Hargrove and Ashlyn Koupal also scored in double digits with 13 and 11 respecitvely. Hargrove notched a double-double with 10 rebounds with Koupal not far behind with eight.
Nebraska was efficient all around in scoring from all levels and nabbed 41 rebounds compared to 18 for the Aggies. The Huskers actually committed more turnovers
(19-18) than A&T – something they need to watch before taking on the Jayhawks. Overall, this was a good effort by Nebraska and a tune-up game to get them calibrated for the next part of the schedule.
First Quarter
The starters for Nebraska are Prince, Potts, Williams, Hargrove and Weidner. ALERT! Logan Nissley is now available to play after offseason lower leg surgery. Edessa Noyan is not available, but she is expected back in the near future. The Huskers waste no time in opening up a 6-0 lead behind Potts and Prince baskets. Nebraska looks smooth and composed on both ends of the floor – a hallmark of an experienced team. Britt Prince nailed three triples early in the game, including one in which she was pushed to the floor. She missed the free throw, which is also a notable event given her consistency in that area. The Aggies are a scrappy team that fights for each play, but they can only watch as Britt Prince rains threes. She has scored 14 of Nebraska’s 20 points as the Husker defense holds the Aggies to 17% shooting.
Nebraska 20 NC A&T 6
Second Quarter
I want to say nice things about the entire Husker team and the fact that 10 players have already logged minutes. However, it is the Britt Prince show as she has scored 16 of Nebraska’s 26 points early on. Nebraska played fast and loose and worked their way to 30 points until a five-minute scoring drought slowed things down. Fortunately, the Husker defense kept A&T from taking advantage of the situation and getting closer to Nebraska.
Emily Fisher has especially carved out more playing time in these first three games compared to last season. She is a versatile player who is listed as a guard/forward and transferred from Maryland. The Terps recruit athletes who are good basketball players and she is clearly showing that in her senior season. The points have not come yet tonight, but her defense is getting better and that gets her floor time on an Amy Williams team.
Nebraska 34 NC A&T 15
Halftime Statistics
The Huskers are shooting 56% (15-27) compared to 24% (5-25) for the Aggies. Nebraska is outrebounding A&T 23-12 and has 10 assisted baskets compared to three for the Aggies. Britt Prince is the leading scorer with 16 and Amiah Hargrove leads rebounding with six while Fisher has five. Kennadi Williams has four assists.
Third Quarter
Nebraska looks casual and effortless, but that is a mirage – they are working hard to make it look easy. Amiah Hargrove is the eraser; she fixes broken plays and is the second Husker in double digits with 10…and then 12 points. the Huskers pull away prior to the media timeout (46-22 Neb). Emily Fisher ended up on the floor in pain and a foul review determined the common foul should be upgraded to flagrant and Nissley nailed both free throws.
The Husker defense is no joke as they hold the Aggies to < double-digit scoring again.
Nebraska 57 NC A&T 24
Fourth Quarter
It really feels like Nebraska chose to overlook this game in favor of scouting and prepping for Kansas. They should be burying A&T by a much more significant margin (yes, I’m complaining a bit) but they are in control and playing with good instincts. They are also playing with effort as bodies hit the floor with Hargrove and Kennadi Williams hustling for the ball. Prince also took a hard foul (eeeeeek!) but got up and moved gingerly to the line to drain her free throws. Amy Williams immediately pulled her out of the game in favor of Allison Weidner.
Freshman Maddi Stewart drains her second three-pointer of the quarter in a confidence-building sequence. The Huskers have all three freshman (Stewart, Miles, Koupal) in the game with Hargrove and Weidner providing experience on the floor. These minutes will pay dividends later in the season and in future seasons. The 11th Husker to play, Arek Angui, enters the game and immediately picks up a foul and then a layup. Ashlyn Koupal may be a post player, but she does not automatically pass to a guard when she rebounds. I like seeing a “big” be a willing ball handler. Freshman Ava Miles is also hustling up until the end.
Final. Nebraska 76 NC A&T 35
