Entering Wednesday night’s contest, Nebraska basketball had lost a four straight games and was on the outside looking in the NCAA tournament, according to ESPN Bracketology. Nebraska held an opportunity to get their season back on track and resurrect their tournament hopes as they faced No. 25 Illinois on the road, and they took advantage.
The Huskers played arguably their most complete game of the season as they defeated Illinois 90-57. Nebraska moves to 15-13 (7-10) on the year as the Illini drops to 20-8 (10-8).
It was a hot start on offense for both sides. Nebraska ended the first up 26-23 after shooting 69 percent from the floor and hitting four threes. Junior Jaz Shelley hit three three-pointers for Nebraska and after one, led all scorers with nine points.
The high-powered Nebraska offense did not faze Illinois as the Illini shot an incredibly efficient 59 percent from the floor. Their leading scorer was Makira Cook, who had seven.
Nebraska’s offense continued to role after four straight Maddie Krull points, as NU held a 30-25 lead. But a 5-0 Illinois run tied the game and forced an Amy Williams timeout. Out of the timeout, the Huskers regrouped and found the first-quarter rhythm. Nebraska outscored Illinois 15-5 for the rest of the quarter.
The run was sparked by six straight Issie Bourne points and capped off by a last-second Sam Haiby bank shot as the Big Red headed to the locker rooms up 45-35.
Nebraska shot the lights out in the first half. NU went 20-of-30 from the field and 5-of-13 from 3. Jaz Shelley led the way for the Huskers totaling 12 points, knocking down four 3s. Bourne had eight points on 4-of-5 shooting.
Nebraska started the game in a man-to-man defense but switched to a primarily 2-3 zone defense in the second quarter. It paid dividends for NU as the Illini field goal percentage declined by 28 percent from the first to the second quarter.
Nebraska entered the third quarter, picking up right where they left off to end the second. Over the first 4:33 of half two, Nebraska outscored Illinois 11-5, extending their lead to 16. Out of an Illini timeout, Nebraska kept their foot on the gas, and pushed their lead to as much as 23. The Big Red entered the fourth quarter up 68-47.
Illinois started quickly in the fourth. They were carried by eight straight Cook points which cut the lead to 17. Cook finished the game with 16. After the mini run by Illinois Amy Williams called a timeout, and from there, it was all Nebraska. From the seven-minute mark to the end of the game the Huskers outscored the Illini 18-2 and walked away with a 90-57 victory.
Nebraska shot a season-high 59 percent from the field Wednesday night and was led by 26 Shelley points. Shelley hit six 3s, adding six assists and five rebounds. Bourne finished with 16 points on an efficient 8-of-13 from the floor. All five Nebraska starters finished with double-digit points.
Illinois shot 59 percent in the first quarter. After Nebraska implemented a zone defense in the second, the Illini shot 13-of-50 from the field.
Nebraska not only snapped a four game losing streak Wednesday night but a seven-game losing streak against ranked opponents. The Huskers close out the regular season Sunday at home against Northwestern.