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November 16, 2015
Huskers Dominate Ospreys
mug
Shepard
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Blackburn
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Kalenta
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                 1   2   total 
North Florida   15  31    46 
NEBRASKA        55  36    91 
----------------------------- 

Lincoln, Neb. — Jessica Shepard scored 27 points and grabbed 10 rebounds to become the first Husker freshman in history to score 20 points and produce double-doubles in each of the first two games of a career, powering the Nebraska women's basketball team to a 91-46 win over North Florida Monday night at Pinnacle Bank Arena.

Shepard, who earned the first Big Ten Freshman-of-the-Week award of the season earlier Monday after scoring 24 points and grabbing 13 rebounds in her debut on Saturday, hit 13-of-16 shots from the field while adding an assist, two steals and the first block of her career against North Florida.

The 6-4 forward from Fremont, Neb., did all her damage in just 21 minutes of action, while leading a dominant Husker post game against the Ospreys, who slipped to 1-1 on the young season.

Nebraska, which improved to 2-0 with its second straight win by 45 or more points, also got eight points and 10 rebounds from freshman starter Rachel Blackburn. The 6-3 forward from Leavenworth, Kan., added three assists in 22 minutes.

Anya Kalenta, a 6-3 senior forward, pumped in 10 points and eight rebounds in 13 minutes off the bench, while 6-5 junior center Allie Havers contributed four points and five rebounds. Darrien Washington, a 6-2 redshirt freshman forward, added three points and five boards in six minutes, as Nebraska's five posts combined for 52 points and 38 rebounds.

As a team, 11 Huskers scored, including 10 in the first half, as the Big Red sprinted to a 55-15 halftime lead. Nebraska led 14-10 late in the first quarter before closing on an impressive 13-0 run, which featured Shepard and sophomore guard Natalie Romeo combining for 11 points in the final 1:55. Romeo finished with seven points, three assists and two steals on the night.

The Huskers built more momentum in the second quarter, outscoring North Florida 28-5 to take the 40-point halftime lead. Shepard finished with 15 points, nine rebounds, an assist and two steals in just 12 first-half minutes, while sophomore guard Jasmine Cincore sparked the Husker surge with seven first-half points, including her first career three-pointer.

Shepard
Photo Courtesy Scott Bruhn/Nebraska Communications
Jessica Shepard produced her second straight double-double to open her career with 27 points and 10 rebounds against North Florida.

The 15 points allowed in the half tied for the eighth-fewest surrendered by the Big Red in a first half in school history.

Nebraska's production dropped off in the second half, while North Florida tried to rally, outscoring NU 21-18 in the third period. But the Huskers finished strong with an 18-10 edge in the fourth quarter.

Kyndal Clark, a fifth-year senior transfer, notched the first double-digit scoring game of her Husker career with 10 points, four rebounds, three assists and a steal in 21 minutes that included the first three of her NU career. Clark, who made the 100th start of her collegiate career, hit the first 222 threes of her career in 98 games at Drake.

Sophomore guard Emily Wood enjoyed the best game of her young career by knocking down the first two threes of her career to finish with six points in 10 minutes off the bench.

Senior All-America point guard Rachel Theriot managed four points, six rebounds and six assists in just 22 minutes while letting the younger Husker guards take over. Freshman guard Maddie Simon pitched in five points, three rebounds, four assists and a steal in 17 minutes off the bench.

As a team, Nebraska hit 41-of-81 shots (.506) from the field the field, including 5-of-19 (.263) threes. The Huskers also settled for 4-of-9 shooting at the free throw line. Nebraska notched 26 assists, including 16 on its 25 first-half baskets. They outrebounded North Florida, 57-25, including 24-6 on the offensive glass. The Huskers committed 14 turnovers, while forcing 22 by the Ospreys.

NU held North Florida to just 32.7 percent (18-55) shooting, including 5-of-20 (.250) from three-point range. The Ospreys added 5-of-10 free throws. Hadley Kiefer was the only Osprey in double figures with 10 points, including a pair of threes. Claire Ioannidis, who scored a school-record 29 points in her career debut against UMKC on Friday, was held to nine points. Kadesia Johnson also managed nine points for the Ospreys.

Nebraska continues its four-game season-opening home stand on Saturday, when the Huskers take on North Carolina Central at Pinnacle Bank Arena. Tip-off between the Big Red and Lady Eagles is set for 2 p.m., with tickets available now at Huskers.com.

Source: University of Nebraska Athletic Dept.