Women's basketball drops second consecutive game

Much like last Thursday’s game against Penn State, the IU women’s basketball team kept pace with Nebraska.

And, much like last Thursday’s game, it only took a lead to let it slip away.

The Hoosiers led by as many as eight during the first half, but could not hold on as No. 21 Nebraska overcame an early deficit to defeat IU 76-61 at Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln, Neb.

IU Coach Curt Miller said Nebraska exploited every mistake.

“They took advantage of a lot more of our mistakes than we could take advantage of their mistakes,” Miller said.

Two major contributors to the Huskers’ victory were senior forward Jordan Hooper and sophomore guard Rachel Theriot.

The duo combined for 54 of the team’s 76 points.

Hooper had 31 points on 55 percent shooting from the field, while Theriot finished with 23 points on 52.6 percent shooting from the field.

“When you make a defensive assignment mistakes they have great players like Hooper and Theriot to step up and hurt you,” Miller said.

After Hooper muscled in a shot from the right block in the post and drew a foul, Nebraska Coach Connie Yori briefly collapsed on the sideline after experiencing dizziness and did not return.

Omaha, Neb., ABC News affiliate KETV confirmed Yori went to a local hospital to be examined.

Associate Head Coach Sunny Smallwood took over, and the Huskers never looked back, going on a 17-6 run during the following six minutes.

Nebraska outscored IU 30-11 during the final 12 minutes and 47 seconds.

Initially, the Hoosiers struggled from the field and especially the 3-point line, missing their first six attempts from beyond the arc.

This drought did not last very long, though.

IU cut an early eight-point deficit to two with 13 minutes 17 seconds remaining in the first half on back-to-back 3-pointers from freshmen guards Larryn Brooks and Karlee McBride.

A 3-pointer by freshman guard Taylor Agler extended the Hoosiers’ run to 11-0 to give them a 17-14 lead, its first of the half.

Agler’s 3-pointer was part of a three minute and 10 second stretch in which IU shot 4-of-4 from 3-point range.

The run eventually grew to 16-2, which gave the Hoosiers its largest lead of the game at 22-16 at the nine minutes 39 second mark.

The Hoosiers did not relinquish their lead until Hooper made a pair of free throws with 16 minutes and three seconds remaining in the second half.

Emily Cady’s layup accounted for two of Nebraska’s 15 second-chance points.
“I thought the big difference in the second half was their effort to the glass with second-chance points, second-chance opportunities,” Miller said. “They were inspired.”

Miller said he thought his team played a great first half.

“We came in and really executed with a very young team,” he said.

“Not only mentally with the game plan but physically and did a lot of really good things.”

Sunday was the second-consecutive game the Hoosiers played against an opponent ranked in the Top 25. Miller said these were back-to-back games during which he thought his team competed well.

“Overall, with a very young team, with four freshman on the floor most of the night, I’m proud of our growth — and I look forward to continuing to get better,” Miller said.