Courtesy of Husker Athletics
Lincoln – Nebraska’s Britt Prince scored 18 points to lead all scorers, but the No. 20 Huskers dropped their first game of the season in a 74-66 women’s basketball loss to No. 17 USC at Pinnacle Bank Arena on Monday afternoon.
Nebraska slipped to 12-1 overall and 1-1 in the Big Ten, while the Trojans improved to 10-3 and 2-0 in the conference.
Eliza Maupin and Logan Nissley each added 10 points off the bench for the Huskers, while starters Jessica Petrie and Callin Hake each contributed eight points. Amiah Hargrove also pitched in seven points off the bench, but Nebraska was held under 80 points for the first time this season.
USC’s defense held Nebraska to 40.4 percent (21-52) shooting, including just 5-of-17 threes (.294), but the Huskers did connect on 19-of-21 free throws (.905).
The Trojans answered with 50 percent (29-59) shooting, including 6-of-20 threes (.300), while hitting just 10-of-17 free throws (.588).
Jazzy Davidson and Kennedy Smith each scored 17 points to lead USC, while Kara Dunn contributed 14 points. Londynn Jones also provided a huge lift for the Trojans in a decisive third quarter, scoring all 13 of her points including nine straight on three consecutive three-pointers.
Jones’ third-quarter outburst was part of a 13-2 surge to open the period that turned a 38-36 Husker halftime lead into a 49-40 USC advantage just 3:12 into the second half.
The Trojans pushed their margin to 16 points at 65-49 with just under a minute left in the period, before Nebraska rallied.
USC took a 65-52 lead to the fourth quarter, but Nebraska surged with a 9-2 spurt capped by a Maupin layup with 5:28 left to cut the margin to 67-61.
The Huskers got back-to-back buckets from Maupin and Prince minutes later to pull within 69-65, but NU could only get a free throw from Nissley the rest of the way.
USC won the battle of the boards decisively with a 38-25 edge, including 16 offensive rebounds that the Trojans turned into 19 points. Smith led USC with nine rebounds, while Davidson added eight points and five blocked shots. The Trojans also turned 16 Husker turnovers into 27 points.
Nebraska forced 19 turnovers by the Trojans, but got just 18 points off those USC miscues.
In an entertaining first half, Nebraska used a 9-0 run midway through the first quarter to take a 20-12 lead to the second period.
USC answered with a 10-2 surge to open the second quarter and tie the score at 22. The game was tied at 24, 26, 28 and 30 before Nissley hit her second three-pointer of the half to give the Big Red a 33-30 lead.
Nebraska rebuilt its edge to 38-34 on a Prince three-point play with 16 seconds left in the half before Davidson caught a Dunn airball and scored at the buzzer to send the Trojans to halftime trailing, 38-36.
Prince led the Huskers with nine points and three assists in the half, while Nissley and Hake each contributed six points. Hargrove pitched in five points, while Petrie and Maupin each added four points.
Dunn led USC with 11 first-half points, including the first seven points for the Trojans to open the game. Davidson added eight points, five rebounds, four blocks and three assists in the half, while Smith contributed eight points and five boards.
Nebraska hit 40.7 percent (11-27) from the field, including 3-of-8 (.375) from three-point range. The Huskers were also a perfect 13-for-13 at the free throw line. USC hit 16-of-34 shots (.471), but just 1-of-10 threes, while going just 3-for-9 at the free throw line.
The Trojans won the first-half battle of the boards, 22-15, but the Huskers held a 7-6 edge in turnovers.
Nebraska continues Big Ten Conference action on New Year’s Day by traveling to No. 14 Iowa for another top-20 battle. Tip-off between the No. 20 Huskers and Hawkeyes in Iowa City is set for 1 p.m. (CT) with live television coverage by the Big Ten Network. The game can be heard on Huskers.com, the Huskers App and across the Huskers Radio Network.
