LINCOLN — Nebraska's players all realized that women's basketball teams as respected and talented as LSU don't visit the Devaney Center before conference play very often.
They couldn't waste their chance.
The 20th-ranked Huskers overwhelmed No. 5 LSU with a ferocious start in front of a record nonconference crowd Sunday, taking control before the Tigers could manage a response.
Nebraska won convincingly 77-63, and sent a clear message about an undefeated squad that might have been initially underrated by everyone but itself.
The Huskers are for real. Senior Kelsey Griffin and her reliable cast of contributors made that point quite effectively.
“We can play with some of the best teams,” Griffin said. “It's a great win.”
Nebraska was the aggressor early, seemingly executing every aspect of its game plan to perfection during the first nine minutes.
The Huskers (11-0) made seven of their first 10 shots while holding LSU to just 2 of 14. Senior Cory Montgomery capped the early blitz by making a wide-open 3-pointer that gave NU a 21-4 lead with 11:35 left in the first half.
LSU, stunned, had no answer.
“They jumped on us right from the beginning,” LSU senior Allison Hightower said. “It was almost like, in that situation, it was almost too late. They had the momentum and the energy.”
The Tigers (9-1) did go on an 18-6 run midway through the first half to keep the game from getting wildly out of hand. They trimmed the deficit to five on their first possession of the second half.
But the Huskers scored nine consecutive points after that, maintaining a double-digit advantage for the game's final 18 minutes.
“It was great to get a good start,” NU coach Connie Yori said. “Obviously, that set the tone. ... That start was definitely a key for us.”
As expected, Griffin played a major part in Nebraska's early success.
She bailed the Huskers out by converting a layup as the shot clock ran down on their first possession. She nailed a deep jumper soon after. And she had three defensive rebounds in the opening three minutes.
By the game's conclusion, Griffin had piled up 30 points and matched a career high with 14 rebounds — an “All-American” performance, in Yori's mind.
Griffin won't take the credit, though.
Four other NU players made field goals during the first five minutes of the second half, keeping LSU's comeback attempt from ever gaining any traction. Others drew charges. Others made key passes.
Everyone contributed Sunday, exactly what Griffin and the Huskers needed against a high-caliber LSU opponent.
“It was a team win,” Griffin said. “You can look at the stat sheet. It might tell part of the game, but it doesn't tell the whole game. We had clutch plays.”
LSU (9-1)..................34 29—63
Nebraska (11-0)....................41 36—77
L: Turnbow 3-5 2-2 8, Barrett 1-4 4-4 6, Graham 6-13 0-1 12, Eason 0-2 1-2 1, Hightower 7-21 1-1 15, Nelson 3-4 2-2 8, Webb 0-2 2-2 2, Lutley 1-2 0-0 2, Hughes 1-3 0-0 2, Jones 1-3 3-4 5, Black 0-1 0-0 0, Williams 1-1 0-0 2. Totals 24-61 15-18 63.
N: Griffin 12-19 6-9 30, Montgomery 5-10 3-4 16, Moore 2-8 5-7 9, Turner 1-4 0-0 2, Kelley 4-7 5-5 13, Burke 0-1 0-0 0, Neals 0-1 0-0 0, Kuhlmann 3-3 0-0 7, Redmon 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 27-54 19-25 77.
3-Point Goals: LSU 0-4 (Jones 0-1, Barrett 0-1, Webb 0-2), Nebraska 4-12 (Montgomery 3-6, Kuhlmann 1-1, Neals 0-1, Turner 0-1, Burke 0-1, Moore 0-2). Fouled Out: None. Rebounds: LSU 36 (Jones 7), Nebraska 34 (Griffin 14). Assists: LSU 4 (Eason 2), Nebraska 11 (Moore 7). Total Fouls: LSU 25, Nebraska 18. Technicals: LSU Bench, Nebraska Bench. A: 7,717.
Contact the writer:
402-473-9585, jon.nyatawa@owh.com
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