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Florida A&M
Nov. 25, 2011
 
Hooper has big game in win over Florida A&M
 
Tallahassee, Fla. — Jordan Hooper scored 15 of her game-high 21 points in the first half to help the Nebraska women's basketball team to a 72-64 victory over Florida A&M at the Al Lawson Center on Friday.

Nebraska remainined unbeaten and improved to 5-0 with the victory, while Florida A&M slipped to 1-3 while losing its home opener.

Hooper scored six early points to help shoot the Huskers to a 14-2 lead in the game's first five minutes. Hooper went 4-for-7 from the field in the first half, including a three-pointer, and her final field goal of the first half gave NU its biggest lead at 36-17 with a minute left in the half.

The 6-2 forward from Alliance, Neb., added eight rebounds, an assist and two steals on the day for her third 20-point scoring performance of the season.

Freshman Hailie Sample added six of her career-high eight points in the first half. The 6-1 forward from Flower Mound, Texas, added six rebounds, three assists and a block in a strong effort. Fellow freshman forward Emily Cady pitched in six points, eight rebounds and two steals, as NU's starting forwards finished with 35 points and 22 rebounds.

For the game, 10 Huskers found the scoring column, including seven in the first half.

Nebraska's defense was the story again in the first half, building the 15-point edge despite shooting just 37.1 percent (13-35) from the field. NU did hit 3-of-8 three-pointers, including lone threes from Adrianna Maurer and Brandi Jeffery off the bench.

The Huskers also outscored FAMU, 8-2 at the free throw line in the first half, but were outrebounded 28-24 by the Lady Rattlers. NU won the turnover battle 9-4 in the opening period.

Despite double-figure scoring performances from Florida A&M's Antonia Bennett, Qiana Donald, Tameka McKelton and Kimberly Sparkman, the Huskers still increased their lead to 19 points on several occassions in the second half before the Rattler rally.

Bennett got hot in the second half, after missing much of the first half with foul trouble, Bennett scored 14 after halftime to cut NU's 15-point halftime lead to six points on two occassions in the final five minutes. Donald also had 14 points in the second half, while pulling down 10 of her 11 rebounds after intermission.

Senior Kaitlyn Burke hit a huge three-pointer with 4:07 left to push Nebraska's lead to 66-57. Burke finished with six points, four rebounds and two assists, including four points in the final five minutes to help the Huskers.

Redshirt freshman Rebecca Woodberry added a big basket with 3:15 to push the Husker lead back to double digits at 68-57, but five straight points from FAMU's Qiana Donald cut the NU margin back to six at 68-62 with 1:31 left.

Woodberry, a 5-10 guard from Phoenix, Ariz., then stepped up again with Nebraska's sixth and final three-pointer of the game with 51.5 seconds left to pump the margin back to 71-62. Woodberry finished with seven points and three rebounds in the game.

Donald, who finished with 14 points and 11 rebounds, scored again with 30 seconds left before Lindsey Moore and Kaitlyn Burke dribbled out the next 20 seconds while the Rattlers were trying to foul.

Moore, who finished with eight points, eight assists and four steals, had her streak of 17 consecutive games scoring in double figures snapped.

For the game, Nebraska hit 28-of-68 shots from the field (41.2 percent), including 6-of-19 three-pointers (31.6 percent). The Huskers also knocked down 10-of-18 free throws. Nebraska won the turnover battle, 16-12, but were outrebounded for the first time this season, 49-42.

Florida A&M hit 25-of-66 shots (37.9 percent) from the floor in the game, including 7-of-20 three-pointers (35 percent), while hitting 7-of-13 free throws (53.8 percent).

Nebraska continues its three-game road trip with its second game in Tallahassee on Sunday afternoon. The Huskers will take on Florida State at 1 p.m. (central) at the Tucker Center. The Seminoles are ranked 24th in this week's USA Today/ESPN Coaches Poll after advancing to the second round of the 2011 NCAA Tournament. Free live audio will be available from the Husker Sports Network on Huskers.com. Live premium video will be available from Seminoles All-Access.

Source: University of Nebraska Athletic Dept.