November 30, 2014

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                    1   2   total 
N. Colorado(NR)    35  21    56 
NEBRASKA   (15)    38  25    63 
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Lincoln, Neb. — No. 15 Nebraska rallied in the second half for the second straight game to work its way to a 63-56 win over previously unbeaten Northern Colorado at Pinnacle Bank Arena on Sunday.

Nebraska improved to 6-0 on the season, while the Bears slipped to 4-1.

All-American Rachel Theriot scored a season-high 25 points, including eight of Nebraska's final nine points in the last five minutes. The 6-0 point guard from Middleburg Heights, Ohio, added six rebounds and four assists for the game.

Senior forward Emily Cady contributed her second double-double of the season and 24th of her career with 16 points and a game-high 10 rebounds to help the Huskers outlast the Bears.

Nebraska bolted out of the gates, racing to a 26-5 lead after an Anya Kalenta jumper with 8:18 left in the first half. Kalenta's lone field goal of the game followed 11 consecutive points by Cady, who had 14 points in the game's first 11 minutes.

At that point, Nebraska began substituting, including the first career appearance for freshman Chandler Smith, who scored her first career point at the 5:50 mark in the first half.

However, with UNC's top scorers D'Shara Strange and Stephanie Lee on the bench with three fouls, Amber Van Deudekom and Kianna Williams led the Bears back.

Williams hit a pair of three-pointers in a three-minute stretch, while the light-scoring Van Deudekom exploded for 11 points in just over five minutes. Those 11 points represented a new career high for the senior, but she was far from finished, closing the day with 20 points, including the first two threes of her career.

Van Deudekom's free throws with 3:30 left in the first half cut NU's lead to single digits at 33-24. Nebraska's lead dwindled to 38-35 at the half, before Van Deudekom scored five straight points to open the second half and give UNC a 40-38 lead.

However, Northern Colorado's lead was brief, as Theriot's three-pointer put the Huskers back on top at 45-43 with 12:50 left. Another jumper by Theriot gave the Big Red a 47-43 edge with 11:58 in the game. NU did not trail again, as the Husker defense held UNC to just 13 points in the final 10 minutes.

Theriot and Cady were the only Huskers to produce double figures, while Tear'a Laudermill, Brandi Jeffery and Allie Havers all managed five points.

For the game, Nebraska shot just 35.8 percent (19-53) from the field, including just 2-for-13 (.154) from three-point range. The Huskers did go 23-of-31 from the free throw line and won the turnover battle, 18-9. Northern Colorado outrebounded the Huskers, 35-34.

UNC hit 42.9 percent (21-49) of its shots, including a sizzling 6-for-13 from three-point range. The Bears went 8-for-12 at the free throw line.

Van Dedekom was the lone Bear in double figures, while Williams finished with nine points and five rebounds. Nebraska native Kourteney Zadina from Seward, finished with seven points, five rebounds and four assists.

The Huskers return to home action on Wednesday when they face a top-10 Duke team. Tip-off between the Big Red and Blue Devils is set for 6:30 p.m. Tickets are available right now at Huskers.com.