 Shepard |  Romeo |  Theriot |
-----------------------------
1 2 total
Rutgers 26 40 66
NEBRASKA 27 29 56
----------------------------- | ||
Nebraska had its six-game winning snapped to slip to 15-6 overall and 6-4 in the Big Ten, while Rutgers ended its four-game losing streak to improve to 13-9 overall and 4-6 in the conference.
Jessica Shepard led all scorers with 23 points on 9-of-16 shooting while going 5-for-5 at the free throw line, but managed just four rebounds. Natalie Romeo added 18 points, including 4-of-8 three-point shooting, while adding five boards.
Rachel Theriot gave the Huskers three players in double figures with 11 points, five rebounds and six assists.
Rutgers took a 49-44 lead early in the fourth quarter after the two teams went to the final period tied at 40. Nebraska responded with a layup from Romeo before a traditional three-point play from Shepard tied the game at 49 with 6:50 left.
The Huskers then got a defensive stop but turned the ball over to set up a Shrita Parker jumper to give Rutgers a 51-49 lead. Parker scored 14 points for the Scarlet Knights, including all three of RU's three-pointers in the game.
Nebraska then threw ahead successfully to Shepard under the basket, but after a tough catch could not finish at the rim and Rutgers responded with a traditional three-point play from Briyona Canty with 5:20 left to take a 54-49 lead.
The Huskers could get no closer than three points the rest of the way, as Rutgers made the plays down the stretch. Nebraska hit just 3-of-11 shots and committed four turnovers in the final five minutes. NU committed just five turnovers in the first meeting with Rutgers on Jan. 16.
For the game, Nebraska hit 46 percent (23-50) of its shots from the field, including 5-of-15 threes and all five of its free throws. But the Huskers were outrebounded 30-27 and grabbed just two offensive boards in the game. NU also lost the turnover battle 20-13.
Rutgers hit 50 percent (27-54) of its shots, including 3-of-8 threes, and overcame 9-of-17 free throw shooting to win. Tyler Scaife led the Scarlet Knights with 20 points, while Rachel Hollivay added 12 points. Canty finished with 11 points and seven rebounds, while Kahleah Copper managed seven points and seven boards.
Nebraska used a 20-8 first-quarter lead to take a 27-26 lead into the halftime locker room. Shepard led the Huskers in the first half with 10 points on 4-of-7 shooting while adding three rebounds. Romeo pitched in eight points, including a pair of threes, while Theriot pitched in five points and two assists.
The Huskers hit 11-of-22 first-half shots, including 3-of-5 threes, while knocking down both of their free throws. The Big Red hit 9-of-13 shots, including 2-of-3 threes, in the first quarter.
Rutgers finished the half 12-of-26 from the floor, including 2-of-5 from three-point range, despite going 4-for-13 and 0-for-2 from three-point range in the opening quarter. Scaife and Hollivay each scored eight first-half points to lead the Scarlet Knights, while Parker came off the bench to hit back-to-back threes to tie the score at 22 with four minutes left in the half, Nebraska answered with five straight points, including a three-pointer from Romeo.
The Huskers return to Pinnacle Bank Arena Tuesday to take on Penn State. Tip-off between Nebraska and the Lady Lions is set for 7 p.m., with tickets available now at Huskers.com.