No. 23 Nebraska women’s basketball overcame a slow start to dominate the fourth quarter and blow out Cal Baptist, 87-56, Sunday at Pinnacle Bank Arena. The Cornhuskers went into the Christmas break 12-0, tying the second-best start in school history.
Jessica Petrie drove the late-game surge, scoring 10 of her game-high 17 points in the second half. Amiah Hargrove added 15 points and eight rebounds, while Britt Prince tallied 11 and Callin Hake scored 10. Lauren Olsen scored 17 points to lead the Lancers (6-7), while Emma Johansson added 14. Nebraska was opportunistic in the game, converting 22 CBU turnovers into 23 Husker points. The Lancers forced only nine NU giveaways and converted them into nine points, leaving Nebraska with a 14-point advantage in that category.
That’s not to say it was easy for the Huskers, especially early. Cal Baptist led 7-2 in the first quarter and trailed by just two, 19-17, after one period. Nebraska built a lead as large as seven with 1:17 to go until halftime, but the Lancers scored the last four points of the half as the beginning of a 9-0 run that bled into the early third quarter, giving CBU a 40-38 lead with 8:57 to go in the third quarter. The Huskers took control of the game for the first time with a 14-0 run that consumed most of the third quarter, giving Nebraska a 52-40 lead with 2:37 to play in the third quarter. The Lancers cut the Huskers’ lead to 55-46 with one quarter to go.
Nebraska locked the game down in the fourth quarter. After a Cal Baptist free throw for the first point of the fourth quarter, the Huskers surged on a 15-2 run, opening a 70-49 lead midway through the fourth quarter. A 14-2 run to end the game sent Nebraska into Christmas break on a high note.
The Huskers close non-conference play a perfect 11-0. After breaking for Christmas, Nebraska will return for a huge Big Ten matchup against No. 19 USC on Tuesday, Dec. 29, at 2 p.m. at Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln. Pregame coverage will begin at 1 p.m. on KLIN and B-107.3.