For the second consecutive game, Nebraska women’s basketball needed to hold on late after dominating much of the contest.
Nebraska (14-9, 6-6 Big Ten) grabbed just their third road victory of the season with a 78-66 victory at Northwestern Monday night.
The Huskers could not have had a better start. Big Red made 5-of-6 3s as part of a 30 point first quarter. Nebraska was up 20-3 at one point during that scorching start.
Then things cooled for both teams.
Nebraska managed just seven points in the second quarter. Northwestern tallied 10. The Huskers led by eight at the half.
Nebraska seemed to have figured out the post-first quarter woes out of the break, stretching the lead back to 22 points. But the full court pressure that has so often wreaked havoc on this team began to do so in the final frame.
Northwestern put together a 19-4 run to begin the fourth quarter. That cut the difference to just seven points.
Nebraska then made 16 free throws over the final four minutes, enough to escape with the 12 point win.
All of those fourth quarter fouls added up to a more than 40 minute quarter. For reference, quarters typically take about half that time.
Nebraska shot 41.2 percent for the game, including 10-of-21 from 3. Northwestern managed to shoot 31.8 percent, including 6-of-20 from deep.
Turnovers, again, were a giant problem. Nebraska committed 11 in the fourth quarter to end up with 24 on the night.
In the first 13 games of the season, in which Allison Weidner played, Nebraska had at least 20 turnovers three times. In the 10 games since Weidner’s injury, Nebraska has eclipsed 20 turnovers five times.
Issie Bourne scored a game-high 18 points, adding either rebounds. Sam Haiby was next with 17 points.
Jaz Shelley had another full stat line of 12 points, eight rebounds, seven assists, four blocked shots, and two steals.
Alexis Markowski notched another double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds.
The Huskers will see Northwestern again this month, in Lincoln Feb. 26. Next up, though, is a home date with Illinois Thursday.