The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current, December 01, 1997, Page 10, Image 10
Husker women win CableVision Classic By Darren Ivy Staff Reporter During a time when many people celebrated Thanksgiving, Nebraska Women’s Basketball Coach Paul Sanderford gave thanks for solid rebounding and tough defense. It was that combination that enabled NU (6-1) to overcome poor shooting and tired legs to win its third straight CableVision Classic Saturday night before 2,671 fans. After the 68-59 win against Kentucky (1-4), Sanderford wrote on the chalkboard in the Cornhusker locker room: “Good teams win when they play well. Great teams find a way to win.” “Tonight we just found a way to win,” Sanderford said. NU cruised to an 82-42 opening round win against Stetson on Friday night, but had a difficult time with an athletic Wildcat team. Sanderford said UK’s defense contributed to Nebraska’s woes. Kentucky played away from the Huskers’ power forward and center, while playing help-side defense on the other NU players. “When the ball doesn’t go in when you do that, the rim gets small er and smaller,” Sanderford said. In the first half, the rim was small for NU’s starters, who scored just seven points. Anna DeForge, NU’s leading scorer, was held scoreless before halftime, but finished the game with 13 points. However, the play of the NU bench helped the Huskers stay in the game in the first half. Sophomore Charlie Rogers, an all-tournament selection, Naciska Gilmore and Brooke Schwartz came off the bench to score NU’s 22 other first-half points as the Huskers led at halftime 29-25. Sanderford also was thankful for 28 offensive rebounds NU had against Kentucky. It helped overcome a season-low 32-percent shooting performance. DeForge, the tournament’s most valuable player for the third straight season, said there were several possi ble causes for the poor shooting. “We missed little shots, we didn’t get good shots, and we were tired,” H If you re going to rebound, you can play as ugly as we did tonight and^win the game” Anna DeForge Nebraska guard DeForge said. “I can’t pinpoint one real reason we shot so poorly.” She said rebounds kept the Huskers in the game. Nebraska had 59 offensive rebounds and 114 total rebounds in the tournament. “If you’re going to rebound, you can play as ugly as we did tonight and win the game,” DeForge said. NU adjusted to UK’s defense in the second half and played power bas ketball. DeFoige was thankful for the sec ond half “I was disappointed with my per formance in the first half,” she said. “I cleared my mind at halftime and started the second half like it was a new game.” NU appeared to be on its way to a convincing victory when it went ahead 53-41 with 6:14 left. But UK dosed to within 57-55 with 2:41 left. NU made free throws down the stretch to close outihe win. Against Stetson, Jami Kubik’s 16 points and Emily Thompson’s 13 rebounds were both career highs. DeForge had 15 points and Schwartz added 12. “We’ve got 14 (more wins) to go to get into the Big Dance,” Sanderford said. “It is still November, thank goodness. I’m not going to give these back, because we’ve worked extremely hard for them.” ...' . '• Exclusively for UNL Faculty & Staff 20% OFF Regular-Priced Merchandise in Stock* Tuesday, December 2 9:00am-8:00pm Show your UNL Identification Card to receive this special discount on The Original Big Red Collection, books, and gift items from Nebraska Bookstore, downtown. ‘Certain exclusions apply. See store for details. ' Holiday Hours: Mooday-Friday fkOS-fcOOpm Saturday - ' • IMMtaai BiW>|uii Sunday IJOatSksaf . Douanua UaoolB . OM1U 12:00pin-5:00pm %_ ' Huskers survive scare at CU FOOTBALL from page 8 end Grant Wistrom said. “If we didn’t, we knew we were in trou ble.” NU led 10-3 at the half, but came out firing in the second half with Green rushing for 64 yards to the Colorado 16-yard line on the first play of the second half. Green took the ball the rest of the way on the next play, opening the Husker lead to 17-3 with a two-play, 80 yard drive. Colorado answered with a two play, 80-yard drive of its own. Hessler hit Darrin Chiaverini for a 45-yard gain to the Nebraska 35. On the next play Dwayne Cherrington caught a 35-yard pass to keep CU within seven. Green added the final NU touchdown on the next drive, taking the ball 11 yards and opening the lead to 24-10. “Offensively, I was disappoint ed we didn’t put it away,” Osborne said. “We had a chance to go up 35 10 and it would have been over. Defensively, I’m disappointed when they had a chance to move it, they moved it on us late in the game. “They almost beat us.” The Nebraska offense strug gled at times, drawing flags for four false start penalties. Matt Hoskinson, who filled in at cen ter for Josh Heskew much of the day, said the offensive line penal ties were ridiculous. Heskew sprained his ankle in the second quarter. “We’re going to get a little chas tised and rightfully so,” he said. “It could be 800 decibels, it doesn’t matter. You look at the ball, you watch the ball, you go on the ball. We didn't do that. That’s disap pointing.” Colorado gained more total yards than Nebraska, the first time this season Nebraska has gained fewer yards then its oppo nent. Hessler was 19-of-35 pass ing for 362 yards and three touch downs. “I guess we’re kind of famous for making people have their best day,” NU Defensive Coordinator Charlie McBride said. “I guess this was his best day.” Nebraska must recover before heading to San Antonio, Texas, Saturday for the Big 12 champi onship game against Texas A&M. “Everybody’s disappointed with this win,” Hoskinson said. “It could have been an entirely differ ent game. Had we executed in the second half, we could have honest ly made this thing about 56 points.” Tulsa awaits NU in first road test By Sam McKewon Staff Reporter Having started the season 5-0 at home, the Nebraska men’s bas ketball team will receive its first road test of the season against Tulsa tonight at the Tulsa (Okla.) Convention Center. The game, televised by ESPN2 at 6:06 p.m., is not only the first road game for three Cornhusker freshmen but a mea son progress. ^ r “We’re 5-0, and you can’t ask for anything more,” junior for ward Andy Markowski said. “But it’s a game like this against Tulsa, on national television, that will tell us how far we’ve come.” The Golden Hurricane is coming off a 24-10 season in which it lost in tfce second round of the NCAA^Tournament to Clemson. Before 1997, Tulsa made three consecutive trips to the Sweet 16. This season, the Golden Hurricane looks more like a trop ical storm, with a 3-2 record, including a 78-40 loss to Gonzaga. Tulsa is led by senior guard Rod Thompson, who averages 14.4 points per game. Junior for ward Michael Ruffin is the team’s leading rebounder with 10.6 boards per contest. Tulsa has also had scoring problems, averaging only 66 points per game. One of its • 'v. ^pr returning starters from last sea son, junior guard Johnnie Gendron, is shooting 21 percent from the field. Nebraska Coach Danny Nee said a major key for the Huskers will be to continue Tulsa’s offen sive woes with pressure, man-to man defense. NU has held its opponents to 60 points per game, white scoring 74#g»otnts this year Putting the clamps on the Golden Hurricane, Nee said, will be critical in keeping the NU win streak alive. “We’re playing good defense right now,” Nee said. “We’ve got to keep forcing bad shots for other teams.” Today will also be the first time freshmen Chad Johnson, Brant Harriman and Todd Smith play outside the Bob Devaney Sports Center. Markowski said the freshmen must adjust quickly. “We need those guys to play well, so they’ve got to be ready to go,” Markowski said. “They’re going to be a little nervous, but I think we’ll play well.” Nee said he has little concern that his team can go into Tulsa and win. “My only worry is that the plane takes off OK and it lands OK,” Nee said. “That’s my only reservation.” Hamilton leads Huskers to win over Roadrunners HOOPS from page 7 chance. “It was a lack of not being focused,” Hamilton said. “The fundamental things didn't come through.” Ironically, what may have saved the Huskers was an equal ly poor shooting performance by UTSA. The Roadrunners shot a season-low 29 percent. Senior Roderic Hall, who aver aged XI points per game, scored oniy three points in a l-of-4 shooting performance. “Thank God (UTSA) didn't shoot the ball well,” Nee said. “I liked our defense. We were fly ing at them, and they got very few good looks.” Hamilton, who has scored in double figures in every game this season, also recorded his fourth double-double. The senior from Forest City, N.C., victimized the Roadrunners, whose tallest post player was 6 foot-8. Center Leon Watson and for ward Mike Clemens each picked up two first-half fouls. UTSA Coach Tim Carter said the play in the middle was a huge factor in the Huskers' win. “We struggled inside,” Carter said. “We only had one big guy tonight. When it got tough, we needed to dig deep er.” Sour season ends for CU BUFFS from page 9 my hands a lot It was just a good battle. At that time in the game, you’re not supposed to call anything. With a minute or so left, the flow of the game is going. Let it flow. Let the guys on the field decide the winner of the game.” Hessler agreed. “What makes me so upset about it is that I know daina well that Nebraska defender was up there holding him,” Hessler said. “What’s the big deal with a little push?” pletihg 19 of 35 passes for 362 yards and three touchdowns and two inter ceptions. “These guys, they knew it was going to be a dog fight,” Savoy said. “They knew it was going to be a knock-down, get-up game. And sure enough, we battled.” NU cruises past Aggies, Longhorns STREAK from page 7 Monson was just exhausted, so Befarends cosies in, we tie the game up, Monson comes back and gets a block.” Monsonh Hock ofUTb JaneWinkel allowedthe Buskers to tie the game at 10. NU then built a three-point lead off two Texas hitting errors and kills - by Monson and Korver before UT outside hitter Katie Austin pounded two straightattempts long, allowing NU to close the game and die match. Monson posted 16 kills and a .308 hitting percentage alter pounding 15 kills and a .419 percentage Friday, extending her streak of matches with .300-plus hitting to seven. Senior Lisa Reitsma, playing her final regular-season match at the col iseum, led all players with 22 kills. “It’s the first time I can honesdy say I was nervous before a match,” Reitsma said, “but what a great way to end the season.” The team and fans hemmed Reitsma - an All-American who in leads NU this season in attacks, kills and blocks - before the match with a standing ovation and a special introduction. “Lisa deserves all the recogni tion,” Pettit said. “This season, she has taken a team and helped to turn it around. The fans wanted her to know they appreciate what she’s done.”