The run for Nebraska women’s basketball is over.
The No. 8 seed Huskers (24-9, 11-7 Big Ten) fell to No. 9 seed Gonzaga (27-6, 15-2 WCC) 68-55 Friday in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. Nebraska made the tournament as an at-large after reaching the Big Ten Conference semifinals. Gonzaga won the West Coast Conference Tournament.
Nebraska started the game on fire from deep, making four 3s in the first quarter. Overall, though, the Huskers made just one shot inside the arc in the opening frame, leading to 35 percent shooting.
Only ahead by two, Nebraska gave up a 7-0 run to start the second quarter. Though a MiCole Cayton 3 breifly took the lead back, another 7-0 Bulldogs run gave Gonzaga the lead for good.
The difference stretched to double digits in the third quarter and stayed there for the fourth, only briefly getting as close as seven points before Gonzaga put the game away with 9-0 run.
The Huskers dealt with foul trouble throughout the contest. Jaz Shelley and Alexis Markowski each had three fouls before the 7:00 mark of the third quarter. Shelley picked up her fourth with 4:09 left in the third while Markowski got hers early in the fourth quarter.
Although neither player fouled out, both were hampered by having to make visits to the bench.
Shelley scored 11 points and added four assists while Markowski scored 10 points and grabbed nine rebounds.
Sam Haiby scored a game-high 20 points. No other Husker scored more than six points.
The Huskers finished the game at 32 percent shooting, including 9-of-22 on 3s.
Nebraska now turns to the offseason and looking to next year, where most of the roster is expected to return along with another good recruiting class.