Nebraska WBB Falls to #9 Maryland

The Nebraska women’s basketball team is now 0 for 10 all time against the Maryland Terrapins. Ouch.

The Huskers mostly hung with the Terps for three quarters last night, but Maryland put the hammer down and pulled away in the end for an 81-63 win in Lincoln.

Maryland improved to 14-1 overall and 3-1 in the Big Ten while giving Coach Brenda Frese her 500th career victory. Nebraska slipped to 7-8 overall and 2-2 in the conference. The Huskers also saw their five-game home winning streak come to an end.

Freshman Kayla Mershon, a 6-3 forward from Chanhassen, Minn., produced a career-high eight points on 2-of-3 shooting from the field including a three-pointer to spark the Huskers in the first half. She added four rebounds and a steal.

Juniors Nicea Eliely and Hannah Whitish led the Huskers with nine points apiece, while freshman Sam Haiby contributed eight points, four assists and three steals against the Terps. Senior Maddie Simon, sophomore Taylor Kissinger and freshman Ashtyn Veerbeek each scored six points, while sophomore Kate Cain pitched in five points and game highs with 10 rebounds and six blocks for the Big Red.

The Husker just looked and seemed disjointed throughout the game due to Maryland’s excellent defense. The fact that the Huskers were in the game as long as they were is a credit to the balance shown by this team - one in which everyone is expected to step up and handle business. Cold three-point shooting usually spells doom for Amy Williams’ team as that seems to spark the rest of what the Huskers want to do offensively. Tuesday was about as cold as I’ve ever seen from beyond the arc.

Maryland won with consistency and efficiency on the offensive end by hitting 51.6 percent (32-62) of its shots from the field, including a blistering 58.8 percent (10-17) from three-point range.

While Maryland was firing on all cylinders on the offensive end, Nebraska hit just 37.7 percent (23-61) of its shots, including just 5-of-15 threes. The Huskers were 0-for-6 from long range in the second half, as Maryland pulled away down the stretch.

Despite Nebraska’s shot-making struggles, the Huskers went toe-to-toe with the Terps, trailing 45-43 with 5:45 left in the third quarter. Maryland erupted on a 12-2 surge over the next 3:37, and the Huskers never fully recovered. NU cut the margin back to seven at 63-56 with 7:30 left in the game, but a 15-2 Terp outburst sealed Nebraska’s fate.

The Huskers stay at Pinnacle Bank Arena on Sunday to take on Rutgers. The Scarlet Knights are receiving votes in both national polls and were unbeaten in Big Ten play entering Tuesday night’s action. They are the only team to beat Maryland this season. Tip time between Nebraska and Rutgers is set for 2 p.m.