Wednesday, December 28
Lincoln, Neb.
7 p.m.
Northwestern
12-2, 1-0
62
at
58
Nebraska
4-9, 0-1
1
2
3
4
F
Northwestern
14
18
16
14
62
Nebraska
16
14
14
14
58
Coffey Takes Over to Lead Wildcats to Victory in Big Ten Opener
12/28/2016 9:30:00 PM | Women's Basketball
LINCOLN, Neb. — Nia Coffey scored a game-high 22 points to lead Northwestern to a 62-58 win over Nebraska in both team's Big Ten Conference opener.
The win improves the Wildcats to 12-2 overall and gives Northwestern its second win all-time in Lincoln.
The Wildcats out-shot the Huskers, hitting 41 percent (24-of-59) of their shots compared to Nebraska's 38 percent mark (23-of-60). Nebraska scored 30 of its points in the paint.
Despite shooting only 25 percent (5-of-20) from the field in the opening quarter, Northwestern was able to stay within striking distance thanks to the long distance shooting of Coffey.
The senior captain was 3-of-4 from behind the arc in the first 10 minutes and finished the quarter with 10 points, marking the 62nd consecutive game she has reached double-figures and the second straight game she has done so in the first quarter. She finished the game with four of Northwestern's five three-pointers.
The Wildcats took their first lead of the game at the 4:23 mark of the second quarter when Coffey grabbed a defensive rebound and threw it the length of the floor to a streaking Deary, who scored with ease to put NU in front, 27-26.
Northwestern heated up on the offensive end in the second quarter, hitting 8-of-16 shots to give the 'Cats a 32-30 lead at the half.
Defense was the story of the third quarter as Northwestern forced five of Nebraska's 17 turnovers in the period and held the Huskers scoreless over the final 4:39 to take a 48-44 lead into the final frame.
All told, Northwestern scored 19 points off turnovers.
Coffey took over the fourth quarter by scoring six points in the opening minutes to build Northwestern's lead to 58-49. The Huskers countered with a 6-0 run of their own to pull within a score, 58-55, with 3:57 remaining.
Both sides traded scoreless possessions over the final four minutes until Ashley Deary was fouled with 20 seconds remaining in the game. Deary hit both free throws to extend the Wildcats lead to 60-55.
The Huskers missed a 3-point attempt on the following possession and Inman hit a pair of free throws to ice the game.
The win improves the Wildcats to 12-2 overall and gives Northwestern its second win all-time in Lincoln.
The Wildcats out-shot the Huskers, hitting 41 percent (24-of-59) of their shots compared to Nebraska's 38 percent mark (23-of-60). Nebraska scored 30 of its points in the paint.
Despite shooting only 25 percent (5-of-20) from the field in the opening quarter, Northwestern was able to stay within striking distance thanks to the long distance shooting of Coffey.
The senior captain was 3-of-4 from behind the arc in the first 10 minutes and finished the quarter with 10 points, marking the 62nd consecutive game she has reached double-figures and the second straight game she has done so in the first quarter. She finished the game with four of Northwestern's five three-pointers.
The Wildcats took their first lead of the game at the 4:23 mark of the second quarter when Coffey grabbed a defensive rebound and threw it the length of the floor to a streaking Deary, who scored with ease to put NU in front, 27-26.
Northwestern heated up on the offensive end in the second quarter, hitting 8-of-16 shots to give the 'Cats a 32-30 lead at the half.
Defense was the story of the third quarter as Northwestern forced five of Nebraska's 17 turnovers in the period and held the Huskers scoreless over the final 4:39 to take a 48-44 lead into the final frame.
All told, Northwestern scored 19 points off turnovers.
Coffey took over the fourth quarter by scoring six points in the opening minutes to build Northwestern's lead to 58-49. The Huskers countered with a 6-0 run of their own to pull within a score, 58-55, with 3:57 remaining.
Both sides traded scoreless possessions over the final four minutes until Ashley Deary was fouled with 20 seconds remaining in the game. Deary hit both free throws to extend the Wildcats lead to 60-55.
The Huskers missed a 3-point attempt on the following possession and Inman hit a pair of free throws to ice the game.
••••••
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Team Stats
NU
NEB
FG%
.407
.383
3FG%
.263
.250
FT%
.563
.583
RB
36
42
TO
14
17
STL
8
6
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
22
FGM
7
3FGM
4
FTM
4
Pts
11
FGM
4
3FGM
0
FTM
3
Pts
9
FGM
4
3FGM
1
FTM
0
Pts
8
FGM
4
3FGM
0
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
F
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