“4-0 feels pretty good” noted Matt Coatney of the Huskers Radio Network at the moment the horn sounded with Nebraska (4-0) ahead of Creighton (1-2) 67-62.
It feels good for Nebraska coach Amy Williams as well, who earned her first victory over Creighton the coach of NU.
“I’m excited that we were able to get a great win over a quality opponent,” Williams said.
The victory also snapped a five-game losing streak to the in-state rivalry.
But it shouldn’t have been as close as it was down the stretch.
The Huskers led by as much as 16 in the second half. But from that moment late in the third quarter until the final buzzer, Nebraska added just two made baskets and shot 10-of-17 on free throws.
That allowed Creighton to keep the game close, though had they actually shot well they could have even stolen the game outright.
While the Huskers were missing enough free throws, the Jays were inching closer. Nebraska was up seven with 28.9 seconds to go and things got weird from there.
Creighton earned a tie-up on an inbounds and turned their next possession into a quick two. Just eight seconds later Nebraska was called for a five-second call on an inbounds.
The Jays burned more than half of their remaining time and got a bucket to draw the game to a three-point deficit, but Sam Haiby hit both her ensuing free throws to ice the game.
“This early in the season we haven’t had quite enough practice at late game, situational stuff and I didn’t think we handled that particularly well in the fourth quarter,” Williams said. “But we did enough.”
Besides the free throw woes in the final frame, Nebraska also had to overcome a slow scoring night for Issie Bourne. The Aussie sophomore shot just 2-for-11 and scored five points.
Pius X grad Alexis Markowski, though, shined her rivalry debut. Markowski scored 11 points and grabbed four rebounds.
Haiby led the Huskers with 15 points, nine of which came at the free throw line.
“For her to get herself (to the free throw line) is what a senior does
As a team, Nebraska shot 32.3 percent from the floor and made only 5-of-20 3s. The Huskers finished 22-of-31 at the free throw line after making 12-of-14 through three quarters.
The Huskers will look to stay undefeated Saturday against NC Central.