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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (March 4, 1982)
Thursday, March 4, 1982 Daily Ncbraskan Page 1 1 11 r i ! Huskers defeat Illinois, end season Hy Ward W. Triplet! Ill Debra Powell scored 26 points and Janet Smith added 2 1 as the Nebraska women's basketball team upset Ill inois 89.86 at the Hob Devaney Sports Center Wednesday night. The lluskcr victory raised UNL's final season record to 14-17, while dropping Big Ten runner-up Illinois to 2 1 -8. The loss also may have hurt the lllini's chances for a bid in the first NCAA tournament. "I told our players before the game that since we had to stay home, we might as well make someone else stay home too," said Nebraska Coach Colleen Matsuhara. Matsuhara said the Huskers did a good job stopping the Illinois sideline offense which had been a key Mini play all year. The Huskers also held Cindy Stein, Illinois' leading scorer to eight points. Neither team led by more than five during the first 16 minutes of play. Then, with 3:47 left in the halftimc, Debra Powell scored two of her 21 first-half points to start a lM lluskcr scoring spree. Janet Smith scored on a last second bank shot to give Nebraska a 10 point half tinu lead, 45-35. The Huskers' hot streak continued into the second half, A steal and a layup by Cathy Owen gave the Huskers a 16 point lead, 5741 with 15:55 left. The Huskers kept the lead over 10 points until Illinois Kcndra Gantt sparked a lllini rally that narrowed the Nebraska lead to two, 72-70 with 6:21 left. The lllini could not manage to get any closer as Nebr aska hit key shots down the stretch and built the lead back up to eight, 86-78 with a 1:07 remaining. Cathy Owen and Powell made free throws in the last minute to hold back the lllini final attempts at a comeback. "This was a good way to end the season," Matsuhara said. "It was also a good way for Janet to end her career." Smith, 6-2, the only senior on the Nebraska team, also had 12 rebounds and finished her career as the only Ne braska player, male or female, to have over 1200 rebounds and points. "Our record was nothing to write home about, but we played ten teams that were in and out of the top 20," Matsuhara said. "We knew that we had a young team and a very tough schedule, but we knew it would only make them better for next season," she said. Tennis team healthy, confident for win Hy Mark Quaiulahl lluskcr women's tennis Coach, Kathy Hawkins said her team is ready to play at Iowa Friday and Wisconsin Satur day. "We had a real strong eight week prc-season," Hawkins said. 'There's a lot of improvement from last fall. Based on our last matches with these teams, we'd like to win," she said. Nebraska lost to Wisconsin 8-1 last fall and gave a -0 dual to Iowa at their last meeting. "We expect to be more competitive," Hawkins said. "I'm looking for the team to play the way they've been practicing these last eight weeks. If we do that, we'll do fine." "We're very confident with all six singles and all three doubles," she said. "Our strength is overall team depth." Hawkins said the Huskers have been fighting an un usually high number of sicknesses and minor injuries so far this season. Br! for the Iowa and Wisconsin duals, she said the 'cam is "basically healthy." "Cross your fingers," she said. Hawkins is expecting a lot from freshmen LeeAnn Givcns, Jamie Pisarcik and Susan Hayes. "They have a semester's experience now, so they're mentally tougher," she said. She said the Huskers' number one singles nctter, junior Cindi Reiman, is always tough. Rcinian was concentrating on keying up for her re match against Iowa's Karen Kettncchcr, Hawkins said. Kcttncchcr, who took the region six tournament last year, barely beat Rciman'in their most recent matchup. "Cindi is an improved player," Hawkins said. "She could have beaten her (Kettncchcr), so this is sort of a revenge match." Hawkins said the depth of the spring team would be helpful. "I don't feel we are weak at any spots," Hawkins said. She said there were some recent changes in the doubles lineups, and the women haven't played a lot together. Hawkins termed this weekend's duals as "two of the toughest in the spring." "If we win at least one, it'll boost our confidence and set the pace for the rest of the season," she said. "Those meets are important for our overall record." ft; Photo by Jodie Fields Nebraska's Debra Powell (32) shoots over Illinois defenders Pat Morency (22), Kim Brombolich (33) and Lisa Robinson (34 ). Yell squad to sponsor demonstration session Yell squad orientation will be at 7:30 tonight at the Bob Devaney Sports Center Track. The orientation will include demonstrations and a question and answer period for people interested in trying out for the 1982-83 yell squad. Yell squad Captain Mike Eaton said tryouts are open to all full-time students. Tryouts will be the second week of April. Five clinics will be conducted prior to the tryout sessions, Eaton said. pn n m 11 vu u s fT x fFnpr n a r ii m n .v. a m mmm jv u j uu u m if mi wm lliiililiil llilMliii.il f Al ) 1 A Special Thanks to the Silver Gloves Association For information contact Terry Kroeger 474-9502 or Jim Reinhardt 476-6175 Tickets in advance or at the door. Friday, March 5, 7:30 PM AdmiSSiOn Pershing Auditorium 3. 50 Lower Level Ail proceeds go to Nebraska Kidney Foundation