LINCOLN – Sam Haiby led Nebraska with 27 points and nine rebounds, but a furious fourth-quarter rally fell short in a 64-62 women’s basketball loss at unbeaten and No. 15 Michigan at the Crisler Center on Thursday night.
Trailing 60-49 midway through the fourth quarter, the Huskers got a three-pointer from Isabelle Bourne to spark a 9-0 run. Bourne, who finished with nine points, added another basket before Haiby got a steal and layup to pull the Big Red within 60-56. The Huskers got another stop before Bella Cravens knocked down an elbow jumper to bring Nebraska within 60-58.
The Huskers, who slipped to 5-4 overall and 3-3 in the Big Ten, then watched Naz Hillmon score her final two points in a career-high 35-point night to extend the margin to four. Haiby answered with a bucket of her own to get Nebraska back within two. With time winding down, NU was forced to commit five fouls in order to send Michigan to the line.
Akienrah Johnson, who finished with nine points, calmly sank two free throws with nine seconds left to put the Wolverines up 64-60. Nebraska took a timeout to advance the ball and got a lob over the top to Kate Cain, who finished with 12 points and six rebounds, to narrow the gap to 64-62 with 2.7 seconds left. Michigan took timeout to advance the ball. The Wolverines needed to get the ball in clean, but Husker freshman Whitney Brown got a deflection and Cravens scooped up the loose ball. Cravens took two dribbles before heaving the potential game-winning shot from the Michigan logo at half court. The shot would have counted had it gone, but it did not draw iron. Cravens finished with 10 points and six rebounds.
The Huskers will remain in Michigan for the rest of the week to prepare for another top-25 battle on Sunday, when they take on No. 23 Michigan State. The Spartans suffered their first loss of the season on Thursday with a setback to No. 12 Maryland. Tip-off between Nebraska and Michigan State is set for 2 p.m. (CT)
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