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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 5, 1998)
Quick start shoots Huskers past MU Tigers commit 29 turnovers in loss to NU By Jay Saunders Assignment Reporter The Missouri women’s basketball team found out the hard way what happens when Nebraska gets off to a quick start. A new pressing defense and a hot shooting performance from senior Anna DeForge gave the Comhuskers a 9-2 lead after the first three min utes. The Tigers could never recover as NU went on to win 79-61 in front of 2,394 at the Bob Devaney Sports Center. “We set the tempo early, and that was a big key,” NU Coach Paul Sanderford said. “We showed teams that if they press us they will pay.” Nebraska (17-6 overall and 6-3 in the Big 12 Conference) forced Missouri (10-10 and 2-8) to commit five turnovers in the first five min utes of the game. Three of the Tigers’ first four nnssf'ssinns rpsultpH in turnovers. The Huskers took advan tage of all three opportunities to build a 6-0 lead. Sanderford said NU used its “95” defense for the first time this season. The “95,” which Sanderford said was a “run-and-jump press,” set up a dou ble team on the inbounds pass. The new press seemed to work. Missouri turned the ball over 29 times. The Tigers, who came into the game leading the league with 13 steals per game, were given a taste of their own medicine. NU had 19 steals. “We jumped on them pretty early,” Sanderford said. “We were going to force the ball, and it caused them some problems.” The Husker lead grew to 21 points with 14 minutes left in the sec ond half. NU was able to break the Missouri press and score on a lot of transition baskets. The Huskers cre ated an up-tempo game that led to nine layups. A fast-paced game was exactly what the Tigers did not want. NEBRASKA’S NACISKA GILMORE makes a layup on a breakaway while being pursued by Missouri’s Amy Monsees Wednesday night at the Bob Devaney Sports Center. “We are a fast-break, run-and-gun team,” sophomore guard Brooke Schwartz said. “That is our style. We get them out of their game and into ours.” DeForge was once again a key to the Fluskers’ success against Missouri. In three games last year against the Tigers, DeForge averaged more than 25 points per game. She had 15 points by halftime, and ended just shy of her average with 24 points and four rebounds. DeForge also made all four of her 3-point attempts. Missouri Coach Joann Rutherford said even though DeForge was a huge factor in NU's win, the biggest key was Nebraska’s fast start. “(DeForge) really came out and set the stage early,” Rutherford said. “Nebraska was very strong early and that made the difference in the game. We couldn’t get over the hump.” Forward Jami Rubik was the only other player in double figures for the Huskers with 12 points. Senior Emily Thompson scored eight points and had 11 rebounds. Missouri was led by junior Kesha Bonds with 21 points. “(Bonds) works hard and she focuses on boards more than any thing,” Thompson said. “She scored most of her points by putting back shots after rebounds.” Rebounds have been a strong point for both teams all season. For only the second time this year though, the Huskers were outrebounded. Missouri won the rebound battle 42 36. It was the first time the Huskers had been outrebounded since the finals of the preseason NIT against No. 2 Connecticut. Rutherford said that the rebounds didn’t matter because the Tigers didn’t play a well rounded game. “We are not a big team, so (outre bounding) them is a big accomplish ment,” Rutherford said. “Nebraska did a lot of other things that we could n't stop though.” The 18-point win marked the 17^ straight time NU has beaten Missouri. The win also closed out a three-game homestand in which Nebraska won all three games by an average of 26.7 points per game. Sanderford said even though every thing wasn’t perfect, he still liked the end result. “It is a win, and I don’t want to give it back.” Nebraska comeback falls short m overtime By Sarah Dose Staff Reporter COLUMBIA, Mo. - Nebraska played hard in the second half, but not quite well enough to beat Missouri. The Tigers, who improved to 11-1 at home this season, managed to over come the Cornhuskers’ strong sec ond-half come back to beat NU 81-76 in overtime before a sold-out crowd at the Hearns Center Wednesday night. Nebraska fell to 13-9 overall and 4-5 in the Big 12 Conference, while Missouri improved to 13-9 and 5-4. “When you’re on the road, you just have to find a way to kick it over,” NU Coach Danny Nee said. “We were just never really able to do it.” With 39 seconds remaining in the contest, Nebraska freshman forward Chad Johnson tied the game at 68 - eventually sending the game into overtime. But the Huskers were left short handed after three players fouled out near the end of regulation. Andy Markowski, a 6-foot-8 forward, fouled out with 1:53 remaining in the game and 6-5 forward Larry Florence along with 6-10 center Venson Hamilton followed suit. Lacking their big men, the Huskers were forced to foul the Tigers in overtime. Missouri didn’t score a single field goal in the extra period - instead scoring 13 points on free throws to outscore NU 13-8. “I was really proud of how our kids played,” Nee said. “We were down 13 at half; we came back and battled as best we could. “Our players showed a lot of guts and determination, but Missouri did everything they had to do to win the game.” A few Tiger turnovers and Lue’s Turnovers suck. We have to get better at it.” Danny Nee NU head coach only 3-pointer of the game tied the game at 50 with 10:40 left in the sec ond half. Lue, who scored a game-high 26 points, made just 1 of 7 shots from 3 point range. But he said he didn’t feel off. “It felt good, but it just missed,” Lue said. Nebraska jumped to a 4-0 lead to open the game, but Missouri guard John Woods canned a 3-pointer - and from then on, NU felt the pressure. Both Nebraska and Missouri shot 50 percent from the field in the first half, but MU took more shots and went to the locker room ahead 43-30. Nebraska went to the locker room with 13 turnovers. “Turnovers suck,” Nee said. “We have to get better at it. It was one sta tistic that stood out at halftime, and I thought that’s why we were down 13 points. Turnovers just suck. If you give another word, I’ll use it.” But at the start of the second half, Nebraska brought out its zone defense and managed to capitalize on a few Missouri turnovers. An early 7 0 Nebraska run dropped Missouri’s lead to nine at 48-39. Lue said Nebraska’s reduction of turnovers brought the Huskers right back into the game. “We got out and started running early in the second half - getting fast breaks and not playing half-court offense,” Lue said. “We stopped turn ing the ball over once we got going and started transitioning.” Huskers drop another thriller in Columbia By Lisa Vonnahme Staff Reporter COLUMBIA, Mo. - The Nebraska men’s basketball team is no stranger to close games in the Hearns Center. Including NU’s 81-76 loss to Missouri Wednesday, six of the last Nebraska-Missouri games in Columbia have been decided by a total of 13 points. Wednesday’s five-point margin is the largest in those six games. “Missouri did everything they had to do to win the game,” NU Please see THRILLER on 10