Nebraska WBB Defeats Georgia Tech 80-72

The Huskers were cold from long range early, but heated up and grabbed the win

Anni Stewart is still out, but everyone else is dressed and healthy, giving Nebraska 10 players.

First Quarter

It took almost a minute for either team to score. Jaz Shelley got things started to put the Huskers up 2-0 early. That was followed by Natalie Potts taking a charge and then scooping in a basket of her own. Tech got on the board with a quick layup (4-2 Neb). After exchanging baskets, the scoring went cold for over two minutes (6-4 Neb). A basket by Shelley took the game to the media timeout (8-4 Neb).

Out of the break, the teams traded three-pointers with Krull hitting for Nebraska (11-7 Neb). Kendall Coley picked up two fouls in short order but the Yellowjackets could not hit the free throws (11-9 Neb). Both offenses again went cold for an extended period of time. Shelley ended the drought but Tech responded with a three (13-12 Neb). Logan Nissley hit a three to end the quarter.

Nebraska 16 Tech 12

Second Quarter

Tech scored the first seven points of the quarter to take the lead (19-16 GT). It took three and a half minutes before Darian White finally put some points on the board for the home team (19-18 GT). Coley picked up her third foul and went to the bench. The media timeout came after a basket by each team (21-20 GT).

Both offenses continued to struggle out of the break, but Nebraska struggled more as Tech took a five point lead before the Huskers found the basket at 2:40 (25-22 GT). Tech extended their lead to 10 with a buzzer beating half court shot.

Tech 32 Nebraska 22

Shelley leads Husker scorers with six. Markowski and Potts have four apiece. Markowski is all over the boards with seven. Darian White has three assists. The Huskers are 2-14 from long range (14%). Ouch.

Third Quarter

Both offenses came out of the locker room with a purpose as the Huskers and Yellowjackets scored in the first minute (34-25 GT) but Tech scored more and extended their lead (39-25). They are slowly but surely pulling away from a struggling Husker team.

The Huskers are starting to look better from long range and reduced the deficit to 10 (42-32 GT). An energized Husker team cut into the lead even more with a White jumper (42-34 GT). The score differential got as low as six before baskets by both teams (45-38 GT) led to the media timeout with a Markowski free throw pending.

She made the free throw and brought Nebraska within six (47-39 GT). And then five (48-43) before Tech opened the lead to nine (52-43). The pesky Huskers won’t go away as a Petrie three brought them back within six (52-46 GT) with two minutes left in the third.

The lead is down to four with a Potts layup (52-48 GT).

Back and forth…

Two points!! (Potts again) It is now 54-52 GT.

AND THE HUSKERS TAKE THE LEAD BACK WITH A SHELLEY THREE!!

Nebraska 55 GT 54

Fourth Quarter

A Yellowjacket three put them back in the lead (57-55 GT). Nebraska responded with a six point scoring run to go up by four (61-57 Neb), courtesy of two Nissley three-pointers. She now joins Shelley as a double digit scorer. Markowski is in her usual double-double watch position with nine points and nine rebounds.

A hustle play by Hake gave Nebraska another possession and they used it well to go up by six and then eight…(65-57 Neb). Markowski is now in double digits for scoring – she just needs one rebound to complete the double double.

The lead is 10!! (67-57 Neb) with six and a half minutes.

A Tech three broke their scoring drought (67-60 Neb). The score hung there for over a minute as both defenses locked in. Three Tech free throws cut into the Husker lead but Markowski went to work to extend it again (69-63 Neb) at 4:20. The Huskers will be in the bonus for the final four minutes of the game.

NATALIE POTTS PUTS NEBRASKA UP BY NINE!! (72-63 Neb) with two and a half minutes left.

The Yellowjackets took a timeout and it helped them get their bearings with a basket (72-65 Neb). A Shelley three (to beat a shot clock violation) and Tech basket resulted in a 75-67 score with 1:16 to go. Markowski has her double double.

A Tech three and Markowski layup led to a 77-70 score with 26 seconds left. Nebraska is wisely using just about every second on the shot clock.

77-72 with 17 seconds…Husker timeout.

Shelley made three and missed one free throw in the final seconds.

Final. Nebraska 80 Georgia Tech 72

Stats and Thoughts

Jaz Shelley led Nebraska in scoring with 22 points. Other double digit scorers include: Markowski (15), Potts (13) and Nissley (11). Markowski grabbed ten rebounds for yet another double double.

Shelley dished out eight assists and White seven. Krull registered the only blocked shot for the Huskers.

After a cold start from three point range, Nebraska brought the heat late and finished 10-26 (39%). They shot 52% from the field (32-61). The Huskers outrebounded the Yellowjackets 39-29.