• Box score • OWH • LJS • Arkansas State • Corn Nation • BBS Photos • Huskers.com • LJS* | |
 Clark |  Romeo |  Shepard |
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1 2 total
Arkansas State 27 44 71
NEBRASKA 32 47 79
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The Huskers closed non-conference play with a 9-2 record, including a 9-0 mark at Pinnacle Bank Arena to stretch their home non-conference winning streak to 20 games. Arkansas State slipped to 6-3 with their largest margin of defeat this season.
Clark, a 5-7 senior from Webb City, Mo., scored eight of her season-high 22 points in the fourth quarter to help the Huskers overcome a 52-51 deficit heading into the final period. The 2014 Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Year as a junior at Drake, Clark hit 6-of-11 shots on the night, including 4-of-8 three-pointers. She also sank all six of her free throws while grabbing four rebounds and two steals. She added two assists.
Clark's three-pointer from the corner in front of the Nebraska bench with 37 seconds left sealed the victory, pushing Nebraska's lead to 77-69, after the Red Wolves had cut NU's margin to five with back-to-back baskets in a five-second span.
Romeo, a 5-7 sophomore from Martinez, Calif., contributed seven points of her own in the fourth while adding three assists and a blocked shot. Romeo finished with 20 points, a game-high eight assists, and a career-high matching five rebounds while playing the full 40 minutes for the Big Red.
Shepard, the reigning Big Ten Player of the Week, notched her fourth double-double of the season with 19 points and a career-high 13 rebounds. The 6-4 freshman from Fremont, Neb., also dished out three assists and added a block in a career-high 37 minutes. Shepard pitched in four points, an assist and six of her 13 rebounds in the final period.
The Huskers also got a gritty effort from point guard Rachel Theriot, who managed 13 points, seven rebounds and four assists while battling a foot injury. The 6-0 senior from Middleburg Heights, Ohio, sank 5-of-6 free throws down the stretch to seal NU's ninth win.
Aundrea Gamble led three Red Wolves in double figures with a game-high 27 points on 10-of-22 shooting, while adding a team-high 11 rebounds. Khadija Brown-Haywood added 18 points and eight boards, while Brittney Gill contributed 13 points and six boards before fouling out.
In a cold-shooting first half for both teams, Nebraska took a 32-27 lead to the locker room at halftime with a balanced half marked by missed opportunities. Shepard led the Big Red with nine points and seven rebounds, while Theriot and Clark each contributed eight points. Romeo added six points on a pair of three pointers to help the Huskers.
Nebraska, which entered the game shooting 48.9 percent from the field through 10 games, hit just 35.3 percent (12-34) of its shots, but did knock down 4-of-9 threes, with two each from Romeo and Clark.
Arkansas State was even colder, hitting just 31.6 percent (12-38) of its shots, including 3-of-14 threes. The Huskers won the rebound battle, 27-23, in the first half, but the Red Wolves won the turnover war, 8-7.
Gamble led ASU with 12 first-half points, but no other Red Wolf managed more than four points against Nebraska's defense.
Arkansas State claimed control in the third quarter, outscoring the Huskers, 25-19, in the period before the Huskers rallied to outscore the Red Wolves, 28-19 in the final stanza.
Nebraska finished at 43.3 percent (26-60) from the field for the game, including 53.8 percent (14-26) in the second half. The Huskers knocked down 7-of-17 three-pointers and 20-of-26 free throws, including 16-of-18 in the second half.
Arkansas State hit just 36.1 percent (30-83) of its shots for the game, including just 5-of-30 from long range. The Red Wolves hit 6-of-9 free throws. ASU outrebounded Nebraska, 46-44, and won the turnover battle, 11-9.
Nebraska opens Big Ten Conference play on Thursday, Dec. 31 when the Huskers take on Iowa. Tip-off between the Huskers and the Hawkeyes at Pinnacle Bank Arena is set for 1 p.m., and tickets are available now at Huskers.com.