Nebraska Rallies to Beat Minnesota 79-74
December 31, 2017

In a tight game in which neither team built a double-digit lead, the Nebraska Cornhuskers came back in the final minute to beat Minnesota 79-74 in the Gophers’ first home conference game. It was junior Maddie Simon’s jump hook in the lane that rattled in with 24.1 seconds left that gave Nebraska a 75-74 lead, which increased as the Gophers missed a couple of three-point attempts and then had to foul and send the Huskers to the line.

The Gophers used the three-pointers to build a 41-38 halftime lead, connecting on 53.8 percent of their attempts behind the arc. Freshman Destiny Pitts was three-for-four on three-pointers while senior Carlie Wagner was good on her only two shots, both three-pointers.

Minnesota coach Marlene Stollings said they continued to get good looks at the basket in the second half, but the shots didn’t fall as they had before, the Gophers making only 5 of 19 three-pointers and shooting only 28.6 percent overall from the field in the second half. The Gophers also lost the battle on the boards after intermission and were outrebounded in the game 39-31 despite four offensive rebounds by Jessie Edwards in the second half, which led to additional chances from the field.

Even with the second-half troubles, the Gophers built a 59-51 lead late in the third period, only to have the Huskers score the final six points of the quarter.

The score remained close in the fourth quarter and was tied with under five minutes to go when Nebraska’s Nicea Eliely converted a three-point play for a 69-66 lead. Taylor Kissinger added a pair of free throws, but the Minnesota defense stiffened and produced a chance for a comeback.

Edwards made one of two free throws, and, after a steal by Pitts, Kinesha Bell hit two from the line to cut the lead to two points.

Kissinger’s jumper made it 73-69, but Bell made one of two free throws, and the Gophers then forced a shot clock violation, negating a basket by Simon that left her hands right after the buzzer went off.

Wagner’s basket brought the Gophers to within a point with 1:26 left. With 40 seconds to go, Bell stole the ball in the backcourt from Hannah Whitish and layed it in to put Minnesota back up 74-73.

However, coming out of a time out, Kissinger fed Simon, who made her jump hook to give Nebraska the lead for good. Pitts missed a three-point attempt, which Simon rebounded and, after being fouled by Wagner, made both free throws with 12.9 to play.

Minnesota had one more chance, but Wagner missed a three-pointer. Eliely rebounded, was fouled by Pitts with 3.8 seconds left, and made her free throws to put the game out of reach.

Bell led all scorers with 30 points to go with 7 rebounds, 7 assists, and 3 steals. Edwards had 8 rebounds and blocked 3 shots. For Nebraska, Simon had 18 points while Whitish and Eliely each scored 14.

The game left each team at 1-1 in the Big Ten, the Gophers having defeated Northwestern on the road and Nebraska having lost to 12th-ranked Ohio State.

The Gophers go on the road to face Ohio State next and then return to Williams area for a game against Michigan State.