Jan. 29, 2012
 
Huskers roll over Illinois
 
Champaign, Ill. — Lindsey Moore scored a game-high 20 points and Jordan Hooper produced her 10th double-double of the year with 12 points and a career-high 16 rebounds to lead the No. 19 Nebraska women's basketball team a 67-47 win at Illinois on Sunday afternoon.

With the victory, Nebraska improved to 18-3 overall and 7-2 in the Big Ten by notching its fourth Big Ten road win. Illinois slipped to 7-15 overall and 1-8 in the conference.

Moore, a junior point guard from Covington, Wash., scored seven straight points in a crucial stretch late in the second half to seal the win for the Huskers to secure her sixth 20-point game of the season and 12th of her career. Moore added four rebounds, three assists and three steals.

Hooper had the worst shooting game of her young career, going just 4-of-24 from the field and just 1-of-12 from three-point range. Despite her poor shooting day, Hooper still contributed in a big way with a career high on the boards for the second straight game after grabbing 15 rebounds in Thursday's win over Iowa. The 6-2 sophomore forward from Alliance, Neb., added three steals.

Freshman Emily Cady pitched in 17 points and five rebounds on 4-of-7 shooting from the field and a perfect 8-for-8 game at the free throw line. The 6-2 forward from Seward, Neb., added an assist while hitting her lone three-point attempt of the game.

Freshman guard Tear'a Laudermill (Riverside, Calif.) hit a pair of big three-pointers and junior forward Meghin Williams (Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.) added six points of her own to go along with four rebounds and two assists off the bench to help the Huskers.

Nebraska hit just 33.3 percent (21-63) of its shots from the field, including just 4-of-20 three-pointers, but hit 21-of-25 free throws on the day. The Huskers also dominated the turnover battle, 23-14, but were outrebounded 45-43 on the day.

Illinois got a double-double from Ivory Crawford with 12 points and 10 rebounds, but Crawford hit just 3-of-17 shots from floor. Lydia McCully added 10 points and eight rebounds, while Kersten Magrum gave the Illini three players in double figures with 10 points off the bench.

The Huskers held preseason first-team All-Big Ten forward Karisma Penn to just three points on 1-of-4 shooting from the field in 30 minutes of action, and the rest of the Illini combined for just 12 points.

NU held Illinois to just 29.3 percent (17-58) shooting from the field, including just 1-of-9 from three-point range. Illinois did hit 12-of-17 free throws.

The Huskers turned all the little things into a big 18-point lead at halftime. Nebraska forced 15 Illini turnovers and turned the Illinois miscues into 16 points in the first half. The Huskers also pulled down 12 offensive boards and turned them into 20 second-chance points in the first half alone.

Hooper led the Huskers on the glass in the first half, finishing with nine points and 11 boards in the opening 20 minutes. Cady averaged 13 points and three rebounds, while Moore added nine points, three boards, three assists and three steals at the half.

Nebraska led 40-22 despite hitting just 12-of-36 shots from the field and just 3-of-10 three-pointers. The Huskers outrebounded the Illini 24-21, and won the turnover battle 15-6. NU also went 13-of-14 at the free throw line.

The Huskers held Illinois to just 8-of-25 shooting (32 percent), including just 1-of-7 threes, while going 5-of-8 at the line. Ivory Crawford led Illinois with eight points and four rebounds.

Nebraska returns to Big Ten road action on Thursday, when the Huskers take on conference-leading Purdue in West Lafayette, Ind. Tip-off between the Huskers and the No. 13 Boilermakers is set for 6 p.m. (central) with live radio coverage on the Husker Sports Network, including free live audio on Huskers.com.

Source: University of Nebraska Athletic Dept.