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in Loss to Terps
 Jeffery |  Sample |  Theriot |
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1 2 total
Maryland (14) 27 48 75
NEBRASKA (12) 27 20 47
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Playing in front of more than 7,500 fans and a CBS national television audience in Nebraska's Big Ten home opener, NU slipped to 10-3 overall and 0-2 in the Big Ten. Maryland improved to 11-2 and 2-0 in the conference. Nebraska also saw its 12-game home winning streak come to an end, dating back to last season.
The Huskers battled to a 27-27 tie with the Terps at halftime, but Maryland used a 13-2 surge in the first four minutes of the second half to take a 40-29 lead after a Lexie Brown jumper.
Nebraska trimmed the Maryland margin back to eight points at 46-38 with 11:19 left, before the Terps erupted on another 13-2 surge to take a 19-point lead at 59-40 after a Laurin Mincy three with 7:45 remaining.
Nebraska would get no closer than 17 the rest of the way, as Hailie Sample briefly stopped the surge with NU's first field goal in 5:40 to make it 59-42. Maryland closed the game with its biggest lead of the night at 28 points.
"We lost to a good team today. Maryland is pretty talented. We could've played better in the second half," Nebraska Coach Connie Yori said. "I call these the elephant games, where you play against super-athletic teams. The two things you really have to do, you really have to take care of the ball, and you really have to defensive rebound. Early in the second half, we didn't do either of those and the game got away from us."
Shatori Walker-Kimbrough finished with game highs of 24 points and nine rebounds, while hitting 10-of-13 shots from the floor for the Terps. However, it was senior guard Laurin Mincy who did the most damage for Maryland in the second half, scoring 20 of her 22 points after the break. Those were the only two Terps in double figures on the night, as Lexie Brown added nine points, five rebounds and a team-best six assists.
"First of all, we love coming here. To come in here is awesome with their fans for Nebraska are just tremendous," Maryland Coach Brenda Frese said. "This is a big-time college environment with a team like this, it was really loud tonight. I thought Nebraska came out really strong and agreessive. I thought the difference from the first half to the second half was our defense and our rebounding."
Maryland shot 55.9 percent (19-34) in the second half and outrebounded Nebraska by 16 in the second half. The Terps also won the second-half turnover battle, 6-5.
Rachel Theriot and Tear'a Laudermill were the only two Huskers in double figures with 12 points apiece, but the duo combined to go 9-for-35 from the floor against a solid Terrapin defense. The Terps also held NU's second-leading scorer on the season - Emily Cady - to just six points on 1-of-8 shooting from the floor.
Senior guard Brandi Jeffery added eight points for the Huskers on the night, with all eight of those coming in the first half for NU.
The Huskers hit just 20.7 percent (6-29) of their second-half shots, including just 2-of-9 threes. NU was a perfect 6-for-6 at the foul line in the second half, but the Huskers managed just 20 total points in the second half.
The two teams went to the locker room tied at 27 at the half, after a last-second layup by Sample off a highlight-reel assist from Theriot, who finished the game with seven assists. It was Sample's only score of the half, while she added three rebounds, including two offensive rebounds on NU's final possession of the half.
Jeffery led the Huskers with eight first-half points on 4-of-8 shooting, while adding a pair of rebounds. Laudermill pitched in seven points, including NU's lone three of the half, while grabbing three boards and adding an assist.
Theriot managed six points, three rebounds, three assists and one steal, while Cady contributed four points and five rebounds but went just 1-for-5 from the floor.
As a team, Nebraska hit just 34.3 percent (12-35) of its first-half shots, including 1-of-3 threes. NU also hit both of its free throws, and outrebounded Maryland, 19-17 in the opening period. The Huskers also won the turnover battled, 10-6.
Maryland hit 45.8 percent (11-24) of its first-half shots, but just 1-of-7 three-pointers. The Terps were also 4-for-4 at the free throw line.
Walker-Kimbrough led the Terps with 18 points on 8-of-9 shooting in the opening half, as the only Maryland player to hit more than one shot from the floor. Brown added Maryland's lone three of the half, while Mincy, Kiara Leslie and Teirney Pfirman each pitched in two points.
Maryland starting center Brionna Jones played just three first-half minutes after picking up two fouls and did not attempt a shot from the floor or get a rebound. In the second half, Jones had six points, three rebounds and three assists in 13 minutes.
The Huskers return to Big Ten road action next week when they head to Michigan State on Thursday. Tip-off between the Big Red and the Spartans at the Breslin Center is set for 7:30 p.m., with live national television coverage by the Big Ten Network.