Nebraska Athletics, Minneapolis, Minn. A 13-point halftime deficit was turned into a four-point lead by Nebraska thanks to a 17-0 third-quarter outburst, but the Huskers were unable to finish the comeback in a 62-58 women’s basketball loss at Minnesota on Sunday afternoon.
At Williams Arena in Minneapolis, Nebraska, which dropped to 12-5 overall and 4-2 in the Big Ten, was behind 32-19 at the half. However, with 4:45 remaining in the third quarter, the team rallied to take a 38-34 lead. During the run, Alexis Markowski scored seven points, recording her 11th double-double of the year and sixth in six Big Ten games. Her final stats of 17 points and 14 rebounds were team highs.
Natalie Potts scored four of her ten points during the run, and Jaz Shelley, who finished the game with 12 points and eight assists for the Big Red, added two three-pointers. Potts finished the afternoon with six rebounds.
But Minnesota (13-3, 3-2 Big Ten) answered back, going on a 12-0 run of their own during the last 4:30 of the third quarter to take a 46-38 lead into the fourth. In the last five seconds of the quarter, Janay Sanders’ missed free throw and layup put a five-point stop on the Gopher rally. At the last second, Mallory Heyer made a three-point shot, and NU was unable to win the rebound for a free throw. With 16 points and seven rebounds, Heyer led Minnesota, and Sanders scored 11 points in his only game.
After Mara Braun’s game-opening field goal with three minutes left, Minnesota extended its advantage to double digits (57–47). The two teams were still trading blows early in the third quarter. Although the top scorer for the Gophers finished with nine points on two of seventeen shots, both of his field goals came in the final minutes of play.
With 50 seconds remaining and their backs to the wall, the Huskers scored eight points in a two-minute stretch, two of which came from Callin Hake, bringing the Minnesota lead down to 59-58. Nebraska led 11-2 at one point, but Shelley responded with a three-pointer.
With eight seconds remaining, Amaya Battle scored the game-winning three shot for Minnesota, securing a 62-58 victory. With 11 points, 4 rebounds, and 5 assists, Battle concluded.
Only 34.4 percent (22–64) of Nebraska’s shots were made during the game, including 30 percent (9–30) of their three-pointers. Additionally, NU only made five of seven free throws (.714). Minnesota was outrebounded 42–36 by the Big Red, including a 25–14 margin in the second half.
Minnesota made 9 out of 10 free throws and scored 40.7 percent (24-59) of its field goals, including 5-of-17 threes (.294). In the turnover fight, the Gophers prevailed 14–13.
On Wednesday, Nebraska will host Michigan in its first Big Ten home game back. The Huskers and Wolverines will face off in a “Red Out” at Pinnacle Bank Arena at 7 p.m. Tickets are on sale now at Huskers.com. Supporters are urged to dress in red to show their support for the Huskers, who wear red at home. B1G+ subscribers will get access to a live TV feed, and Huskers.com users will be able to access free live audio from the Huskers Radio Network.
