Nov. 7, 2010
 
Burke and Kelley are back, lead team to win.
 
Lincoln. — Senior Dominique Kelley returned to the starting lineup with 10 first-half points to lead an aggressive Nebraska offense in a 97-55 women's basketball exhibition victory over Nebraska-Kearney on Sunday at the Bob Devaney Sports Center.

Kelley, a 5-7 guard who has started 93 consecutive regular-season games in her Husker career, hit 7-of-10 shots from the field, including 5-of-7 in the first half to finish with 14 points. Kelley, a Lincoln native, missed NU's exhibition opener against Pittsburg State on Oct. 31, after undergoing knee surgery in late September.

With the return of Kelley and fellow fourth-year guard Kaitlyn Burke, Nebraska's offense was firing on all cylinders. The Huskers shot 57.4 percent from the field for the game, and committed just 16 turnovers in front of a Nebraska home exhibition record crowd of 2,810 fans at the Devaney Center. Burke, a junior after being granted a medical redshirt last season, added six points and a pair of assists in 16 minutes off the bench.

Freshman Jordan Hooper led the Huskers in scoring for the second straight game by pouring in 20 points on 8-of-10 shooting, while also pulling down six rebounds. The two-time Nebraska High School Player of the Year from Alliance led five Husker starters in double figures. The 6-2 forward produced 41 points and 14 rebounds in NU's two exhibition wins.

Sophomore point guard Lindsey Moore pitched in 15 points, while adding six assists and three steals. Sophomore forward Katya Leick pitched in 12 points and seven rebounds in just 18 minutes, while senior center Catheryn Redmon added 10 points, five rebounds, four blocks and two steals in 22 minutes of action.

With Kelley, Burke and Moore guiding the offense from the backcourt, Hooper, Leick and Redmon combined to hit 17-of-23 shots from the field.

In addition to the sharp shoooting, NU was plus-10 in turnover margin, forcing 26 miscues by the NCAA Division II Lopers. The Huskers also outrebounded UNK, 45-40, led by 10 rebounds from senior center Jessica Periago.

Vanessa Leeper led the Lopers with 14 points and eight rebounds off the bench, while starter Tessa Kreutzer contributed 12 points in Coach Kevin Chaney's first game as Nebraska-Kearney's head coach. UNK hit just 32.4 percent (22-68) of its shots from the field, including 4-of-11 three-pointers. NU also outscored the Lopers at the line, 15-7.

The Huskers open the regular season against Vermont on Saturday, Nov. 13. Tip-off at the Devaney Center is set for 11:35 a.m., with live radio coverage provided by the Husker Sports Network. The Catamounts went 27-7 a year ago and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament after capturing the America East Conference Tournament title.

Source: University of Nebraska Athletic Dept.