Husker Defense Shows Grit in Win Over Texans

Photo Credit: Nebraska Athletic Communications

Lincoln - Freshman Britt Prince pumped in a game-high 19 points to lead No. 24 Nebraska to a low-scoring 63-50 women's basketball win over Tarleton State on Wednesday evening at the Pinnacle Bank Arena. 

The Huskers improved to 9-1 despite struggling through their worst shooting performance of the season, hitting just 17-of-57 field goal attempts (.298). Nebraska entered the game as the Big Ten's best team in both field goal and three-point field goal percentage while ranking among the top 10 teams in the nation. The Big Red extended its home winning streak to 11 games while improving to 8-0 at PBA on the year.

Nebraska did manage to knock down 7-of-22 three-pointers (.318), including three by Prince, who added five rebounds, two assists and a steal on the night.

Fellow freshman Amiah Hargrove was the most efficient Husker on the night, going 5-of-6 from the field including a three-pointer on her way to a career-high 13 points. Hargrove also contributed three rebounds and a steal.

Senior Alexis Markowski put three Huskers in double figures with 15 points and six rebounds. The All-America candidate scored 10 points in the first half to reach 1,500 in her career, becoming just the fourth Nebraska player in history to achieve the combined career totals of 1,500 points and 1,000 rebounds, joining first-team All-Americans Karen Jennings, Kelsey Griffin and Jordan Hooper. 

While those three Huskers combined for 47 points, the rest of the Big Red managed just 16 total points. But Nebraska's defense made the total stand by forcing 21 Tarleton State turnovers and holding the Texans to 38.5 percent shooting (20-52). The Huskers also won the rebounding battle, 38-36, including a 14-8 edge on the offensive glass.

Tarleton State, which fell to 5-6, was committed to making everything difficult for Nebraska, committing 23 fouls compared to 10 for the Huskers on the night. The Big Red cashed in by outscoring the Texans 22-2 at the free throw line.

The teams were tied at 13 after a low-scoring first quarter, but Nebraska built a 33-26 lead at halftime. The Huskers took control with a 13-2 surge midway through the third quarter to claim a 48-30 lead after a Kendall Moriarty free throw with 2:13 left. Hargrove scored seven straight points during the burst.

Tarleton State refused to give up, cutting the margin to 49-35 at the end of the third, before holding Nebraska without a field goal for nearly the first six minutes of the fourth quarter. The Texans trimmed the lead to 50-44, before Hargrove, Markowski, Moriarty and Callin Hake combined on an 8-0 run to put the game out of reach at 58-44 with 2:53 left.

Karyn Sanford led Tarleton State with a career-high 14 points, including four three-pointers, while grabbing four rebounds. Faith Acker added a double-double with 10 points and a game-high 11 rebounds.

Nebraska finishes its five-game home stand by playing host to Chattanooga on Sunday, Dec. 15, at Noon (CT). Tickets are available now at Huskers.com. The game will be televised live statewide by Nebraska Public Media with a live video stream for subscribers of B1G+. It can be heard across the Huskers Radio Network, including Huskers.com.