Nebraska women’s basketball needed to play one of their better games of the season to threaten No. 3 Ohio State at home. On Saturday, the Huskers just didn’t have quite enough.
The Buckeyes stayed undefeated on the year, handing NU (11-7, 3-4 Big Ten) a 76-67 loss at Pinnacle Bank Arena.
As simple as it sounds, the ability to make shots was the difference in the game.
Ohio State came out with a stout, aggressive defense that caused issues for Nebraska. The Huskers shot just 26 percent in the first quarter as OSU built a 13-point lead.
That pressure from the visitors lessened slightly in the second quarter, with Nebraska closing the gap by three points.
Then in the third quarter, Nebraska looked to be playing much more free.
Five Same Haiby points sparked a 13-6 run to pull the game within a single possession. But Buckeye Rebeka Mikulasikova scored nine straight for Ohio State as part of a 14-5 run to close out the quarter.
Nebraska didn’t make a basket over the final 2:35.
Despite a furious run of three Issie Bourne layups in 58 seconds, the Huskers couldn’t close the gap enough in the final frame.
Ohio State shot 51.8 percent for the game, including 8-of-15 on 3s.
Nebraska managed just 36.8 percent shooting, going 5-of-27 from 3. NU made just one of its final 16 three-point attempts.
Four Huskers scored in double-figures, led by Haiby’s 16 points. She also grabbed seven rebounds.
Alexis Markowski scored 15 points and pulled down eight rebounds. Bourne, despite playing just 25 minutes with foul trouble, finished with 13 points and eight rebounds.
Callin Hake pitched in 11 points while going 3-of-6 on 3s.
Nebraska goes on the road Wednesday to face Purdue.