Tough defense in the last 4:35 of the game and good three-point shooting throughout led No. 10 seed Nebraska over No. 7 Illinois, 74-70, Thursday in the second round of the Big Ten Tournament in Indianapolis. The Huskers advance to face No. 2 UCLA Friday at approximately 5:30 p.m.
The win all but secures Nebraska’s fourth NCAA Tournament bid in the last eight years under coach Amy Williams. The win pushes the Huskers to 20-10 on the season, Nebraska’s third 20-win season in the last four.
Not that the road to victory was easy. The Huskers stumbled out of the gate, trailing the Fighting Illini 9-0 through four minutes. Illinois led 13-2 midway through the first quarter before Nebraska cut the lead to 19-15 on a 13-6 run through the remainder of the first quarter. The Huskers cut the Fighting Illini lead to one on a couple occasions in the second quarter, but couldn’t quite get over the hump to take the lead, and Illinois took a 32-30 lead to the halftime locker room.
Nebraska held close to begin the third quarter and took the lead on a Britt Prince jumper with 7:16 to go in the third quarter, 38-37. Illinois edged ahead again and opened a 56-47 lead with 43 seconds to go in the third quarter on the strength of a 14-2 run. Logan Nissley made a putback layup in the final seconds of the third quarter to cut the Illini lead to 56-47 heading to the fourth quarter.
Illinois led 60-52 with 8:16 to go before a 7-0 Cornhuskers run cut the UI lead to one midway through the fourth quarter. A three by Genesis Bryant with 4:35 remaining in regulation pushed the Illinois lead back to four, 63-59. But that was the last field goal Nebraska allowed. The teams scored two points each before a 7-0 NU run culminating with a Jessica Petrie three gave the Huskers a 68-65 lead with 1:40 to play. After two made Illini free throws, a Petrie putback pushed the lead to 70-67 with 27 seconds to go. Callin Hake and Prince made two free throws each to all but seal the victory.
Prince led Nebraska with 17 points on 6-for-10 shooting. She also added four assists. Alexis Markowski struggled, tallying just nine points on 3-for-10 shooting. But the Huskers’ 0ther posts stepped up, as both Petrie and Petra Bozan scored 11 each. Bryant led Illinois with 20 while Kendall Bostic scored 19 and Adalia McKenzie tallied 16.
But the real story was Nebraska’s defense. In addition to not allowing a field goal in the final 4:35, the Huskers held the Illini to just one for 12 shooting from the field down the stretch. The Huskers also outshot Illinois from behind the arc, 50 percent to 36 percent. NU hit eight threes to the Illini’s five.
Nebraska now advances to the Big Ten quarterfinals, where No. 2 seed and second-ranked UCLA awaits, recipients of the double bye. The Bruins hammered the Huskers, 91-54, on Dec. 27, the lone meeting between the two squads this season. The game can be heard on KLIN and B-107.3 beginning with pregame coverage at 5 p.m. ahead of a 5:30 tip Friday evening.