Dec. 11, 2010
 
Huskers get in a funk then find there bounce.
 
Lincoln, Neb. — Catheryn Redmon led three Huskers in double figures with 16 points, eight rebounds and five blocked shots, as the Nebraska women's basketball team worked its way to a 66-53 win over Northern Colorado at the Bob Devaney Sports Center on Saturday night.

With the victory, Nebraska improved to 8-1 on the season, while Northern Colorado slipped to 3-7 on the year.

Sophomore forward Katya Leick added a career-high 15 points to go along with six rebounds, while Jordan Hooper scored all 11 of her points in the second half, while matching Redmon with a team-high eight rebounds. Hooper played just four first-half minutes after picking up her second foul.

Senior guard Dominique Kelley also played just four first-half minutes after picking up her second foul, and like Hooper, played just 19 minutes in the game for NU. Kelley finished with seven points, two rebounds and three assists, while hitting both of her field goal attempts and all three of her free throws.

Freshman guard Kellie McCann-Smith gave the Huskers a lift off the bench by scoring six points while notching a career-high five steals. McCann-Smith also had two rebounds and two assists in a career-high 20 minutes.

Sophomore forward Meghin Williams, who made her first appearance of the season at Creighton on Wednesday night, added four points and a career-high three rebounds in a career-high 11 minutes.

Nebraska led by as many as 19 points in the game, the last time coming on Leick's layup with 1:04 left to make it 64-45. In the last 32 seconds, with reserves on the floor, Northern Colorado forced four NU turnovers in fullcourt pressure and converted them into back-to-back Victoria Timm three-pointers to trim the lead to 11 with 16 seconds left.

Timm led the Bears with 16 points, while adding three rebounds and three steals. Lauren Oosdyke and Kaisha Brown each contributed nine points and four rebounds for the Bears.

Nebraska hit 24-of-55 shots from the field (43.6 percent), including 4-of-17 three-pointers, while hitting 14-of-22 free throws. NU outrebounded Northern Colorado, 45-34, but committed a season-high 27 turnovers. Nine of those turnovers came in the game's final 5:30. The Huskers forced 24 turnovers by UNC.

The Bears hit just 22-of-62 shots from the field (35.5 percent), including 3-of-13 three-pointers. UNC also hit just 6-of-10 free throws.

Redmon provided the Huskers with a major presence inside in the first half, scoring 10 points and grabbing eight rebounds in the opening 20 minutes. Leick added six points off the bench, while McCann-Smith sparked the Huskers with four points and a career-high four steals in the half.

Nebraska carried a 30-19 lead into the locker room despite hitting just 10-of-29 shots from the field, including just 1-of-8 three-pointers. NU did outscore the Bears 7-4 at the free throw line, but hit just 7-of-13 attempts.

The Huskers held the Bears to just 7-of-24 shooting from the field, including just 1-of-7 three-point attempts. UNC also hit just 4-of-7 free throws and committed 16 first-half turnovers. NU also outrebounded the Bears, 22-19.

Nebraska will take a week off from competition for Finals Week, before playing three games at the Duel in the Desert Classic in Las Vegas, Dec. 18-20. The Huskers open the tournament by taking on Houston (6-1) at the Cox Pavilion on Saturday at 6 p.m. (central). The Huskers will play Marist on Sunday at 8:30 p.m., before facing Louisville on Monday, Dec. 20 at 8:30 p.m.

Source: University of Nebraska Athletic Dept.