Nebraska’s last-second comeback effort was not enough to erase an overall tough offensive afternoon against the Minnesota Golden Gophers, who escaped Williams Arena with a 62-58 victory Sunday.
With the loss, the Huskers move to 12-5 on the season and 4-2 in the Big Ten.
Sunday afternoon could be described as one thing for the Big Red: an offensive struggle. NU shot 34% from the field and a horrid 30% from three. Nebraska was on scoring droughts of more than three minutes three different times against Minnesota. Their longest came in the first when the Huskers did not score for nearly half the quarter.
Despite the struggle, Nebraska stayed in the hunt. Good defense and offensive burst, like the team’s 17-0 run in the third, gave NU the chance to steal the game in the contest’s final seconds.
With 3:16 left, Minnesota held a 57-47 lead. The game seemed all but over until an unlikely offensive burst emerged. Sophomore Callin Hake scored 8 points in the final three minutes of the contest, sparking an 11-2 comeback run. Hake’s two threes and second chance layup cut the Gopher lead to one with 40 seconds to play.
Unfortunately for the Big Red, Minnesota’s ensuing possession produced a dagger. The Gophers Amaya Battle knocked in a three-pointer with eight seconds to play, extending her team’s lead to four. Battle, a career 29% three-point shooter, thwarted NU’s comeback and Hake’s late heroics.
Nebraska was once again led by All-Big Ten Forward Alexis Markowski, who finished with 17 points and 14 rebounds, her 11th double-double of the year. Her All-Big Ten counterpart, Jaz Shelley, finished 12 points, five rebounds, and eight assists.
The Husker’s next contest will be at Pinnacle Bank Arena against the Michigan Wolverines on Wednesday, Jan. 17.