:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/66226591/1129475807.jpg.0.jpg)
This one hurts. It will likely hurt even more come tournament selection time.
The Huskers were in control at the half, up nine points (39-30) but could only manage 22 points in the second half as they lost to a short-handed Minnesota team. Road wins are hard to come by in the Big Ten this season, and just about any team can win on any given night.
Still, this was one the Huskers probably needed as they have a difficult schedule coming up.
With the loss, Nebraska slipped to 15-6 on the season and 5-5 in the Big Ten, while Minnesota improved to 13-8 and 3-7 in the league.
Leigha Brown led Nebraska with 15 points, including 13 in the first half, while Hannah Whitish added 13 points, but just three after halftime. Sam Haiby gave Nebraska three players in double figures with 10 points. Isabelle Bourne added eight points, four rebounds, two steals and a career-high three blocks, while Kate Cain managed four points, six rebounds and six blocks, becoming Nebraska’s career leader with 241 blocked shots.
The second half, especially the fourth quarter, was miserable for the Huskers as Minnesota scored 14 points off 13 Nebraska turnovers while Nebraska scored zero points off five Gopher turnovers. The Huskers did Nebraska out-shoot Minnesota (42.9-36.9 percent) and out-rebound the Gophers, 41-35, but second chance points (10-2 in favor in Minnesota) and points off turnovers lifted the Gophers to the win.
Despite the recent propensity for poor play in the second half, this Husker team doesn’t looked discouraged or tentative. They are still attacking and trying to work through these issues with a lot of grit and determination. Hopefully, that pays off soon.
Big Record for Cain
In case it got lost in the text above, a big congratulations to Kate Cain for become the career block leader at Nebraska. She registered six stuffs to bring her career total to 241. She still has the rest of her junior season and her senior year to add to that total and set a record that is likely to stand for a while.
Next Game
The Huskers return home on Sunday hosting Ohio State. Tip-off between Nebraska and the Buckeyes is set for 2 p.m.