Freshmen Ashtyn Veerbeek and Leigha Brown each enjoyed career-high scoring performances off the Nebraska (2-3) bench to help power a 77-39 win over Radford (3-2) on Sunday.
After an 82-68 loss to Miami Friday, Nebraska had dropped three of four to open the season. A balanced scoring performance and all-around strong defensive effort against the Highlanders (a preseason favorite to win the Big South conference) helped Nebraska get back on track.
Veerbeek had a career-high nine boards in 20 minutes to go with 13 points (3-for-3 from 3-point range). Brown also had 13 points on 5-of-9 shooting, with nine coming after the halftime break. Senior forward Maddie Simon also had 13 with three boards and two assists.
Sophomore center Kate Cain contributed eight points, seven boards, two assists and two blocks, while guards Nicea Eliely, Hannah Whitish and Sam Haiby all added six. All 11 Huskers scored in the game.
The defense, which has been a work in progress all season, held Radford to 25 percent shooting from the field and six percent from 3 (1-for-16). Nebraska forced 13 turnovers (and scored 19 points off them), kept Radford off the free throw line (nine attempts to Nebraska’s 16) and won the rebounding battle.
Nebraska led 34-21 at the half — and frankly controlled the action from the jump, a Kissinger triple four minutes in gave Nebraska a 12-2 lead — but the damage was done in the fourth. Nebraska closed.
A 24-4 final frame saw the Huskers close the final 4:26 on a 15-0 run. After a first half in which the Highlanders went without an assist, Nebraska held them to just one make on their final 10 shots.
The Huskers, who outscored the Highlanders 24-4 in the final period, scored the game's final 15 points over the last four minutes.
Nebraska returns to road action on Thursday when the Huskers travel to No. 5 Louisville for their first true road game of the season, part of the ACC/Big Ten challenge. Tip-off is set for 6 p.m. CT.
