Nebraska guard Sam Haiby captured second-team All-Big Ten honors Monday, headlining a group of four Huskers who earned recognition from the conference when the all-league teams were announced.
The junior guard led the Huskers in scoring (17 points per game), assists (4.5) and steals (1.2) while ranking third on the team in rebounding (6.8). She is the only Big Ten women’s basketball player to rank among the top 12 in the conference in scoring (11th), rebounding (12th) and assists (8th). During the season, Haiby was a four-time selection to the Big Ten Weekly Honor Roll.
She was Nebraska’s focal point all season and instrumental in leading a charge mid-year that saw Nebraska win six of eight games. Haiby produced eight 20-point performances this season, including a career-high 33 points to open Big Ten play against Illinois on Dec. 10. She also produced three double-doubles on the year, including back-to-back in wins at No. 23 Michigan State (11 points, 12 rebounds) and against then-unbeaten and No. 15 Ohio State (11 points, 10 assists).
When Nebraska upset then-ranked Northwestern at home on New Year’s Eve, it was Haiby who hit the game-winning shot at the buzzer.
Center Kate Cain and forward Issie Bourne also earned honorable mention honors on the All-Big Ten team.
Cain has averaged 10.3 points, 6.3 rebounds and a Big Ten-best 3.0 blocks per game this season. The No. 6 shot-blocker in Big Ten history with 347 career rejections, Cain owns the Nebraska school record in that category by 109 blocks. She also claimed a spot on the five-player Big Ten All-Defensive Team for the third time in her four seasons. She recently became just the 10th Husker in history to achieve the combined career milestones of 1,000 points and 750 rebounds.
As for Bourne, it’s the first honor of what looks to be a distinguished career. The sophomore was a regular starter for the first time this season and averaged 13.9 points (25th Big Ten) and 7.9 rebounds (6th Big Ten) while adding 2.3 assists and 1.1 blocks. Bourne was named the Big Ten Player of the Week and the College Sports Madness National Player of the Week (Feb. 22) after back-to-back 20-point double-doubles.
Rounding out Nebraska’s list of Big Ten honorees was junior forward Bella Cravens, who earned Nebraska’s Big Ten Sportsmanship Award for women’s basketball. A first-year Husker, Cravens started 15 games this season as NU battled injuries and holds averages of 6.4 points and 7.5 rebounds per game.
Nebraska (11-11, 9-10 Big Ten) will open its Big Ten tournament run on Wednesday against Minnesota. Tip-off is scheduled for 10 a.m. CT on BTN.
Derek is a newbie on the Hail Varsity staff covering Husker athletics. In college, he was best known as ‘that guy from Twitter.’ He has covered a Sugar Bowl, a tennis national championship and almost everything in between (except an NCAA men’s basketball tournament game… *tears*). In his spare time, he can be found arguing with literally anyone about sports.
