Courtesy of Husker Athletics
Niceville, Fla. – Britt Prince scored 30 points for the second time in the last three games to capture tournament MVP honors while leading Nebraska to the Emerald Coast Classic Beach Bracket Championship with a 91-82 women’s basketball win over Virginia at Raider Arena on Tuesday night.
The Huskers improved to 7-0 by scoring 91 points against the nation’s No. 1 scoring defense, as the Cavaliers entered the game allowing just 45.5 points per game. Virginia slipped to 5-2.
Sophomore Amiah Hargrove joined Prince on the all-tournament team with 17 points and a game-high eight rebounds against the nation’s No. 1 team in rebound margin entering the contest. With the 6-2 forward leading the way, Nebraska outworked the Hoos on the glass, 37-29, and turned 16 offensive rebounds into 20 second-chance points.
Callin Hake, Jessica Petrie and Hailey Weaver all pitched in 11 points in the victory to complete five Huskers in double figures. Eliza Maupin also played big minutes with six points, four rebounds and two steals, while Petra Bozan and Kennedi Williams both made key plays late to help the Huskers hold on for the win.
Nebraska built a 19-point lead at 69-50 at the end of three quarters and then withstood a furious rally led by Virginia All-America point guard Kymora Johnson. The first-team All-ACC guard scored 15 in the fourth quarter and 22 in the second half to help Virginia close within four points with 2:40 left.
Johnson added six assists, six rebounds and three steals but committed eight turnovers in the loss.
Prince was the best player in the gym both days in Niceville, hitting 12-of-17 shots on Tuesday, including 2-of-3 three-point tries. Her three-pointer with 1:22 left provided the dagger in the victory. She added six assists, three rebounds and a steal in a winning effort.
Prince averaged 24 points and 6.5 assists while hitting 20-of-31 shots in the tournament.
Nebraska hit 50.8 percent (30-59) of its shots for the game, including 8-of-19 three-pointers (.421), while hitting 23-of-31 free throws (.742). Virginia finished at 50 percent (25-50) on the night, including 10-of-21 threes, including 5-of-7 in the fourth quarter. The Cavs were 22-of-33 at the foul line.
In an entertaining first half, Nebraska fell behind 12-7 in the first five minutes before responding with a 9-0 run to take a 16-12 lead. Hake, Maupin, Hargrove and Williams each hit field goals during the run to help the Big Red take an 18-16 edge at the end of the first quarter.
The Huskers kept the lead the rest of the half building an 11-point margin late in the second quarter on a Prince jumper with 55 seconds left, before settling for a 42-33 halftime advantage.
Prince dominated the half with 18 points in the opening 20 minutes, while adding two rebounds. She hit 8-of-10 shots in the half, including her lone three-point attempt. She outscored Virginia All-American and first-team All-ACC point guard Kymora Johnson 18-2 in the half, with Johnson getting just two free throws late in the half.
Hargrove added eight big points and four rebounds off the bench in the half, while Petrie contributed seven first-half points.
As a team, Nebraska hit 50 percent (16-32) of its shots from the floor, including 3-of-9 threes, while sinking 7-of-10 free throws. The Huskers also claimed a plus-four edge on the glass against the nation’s No. 1 rebounding team.
NU held Virginia to 44.4 percent (12-27) shooting, including 4-of-9 threes. The Cavaliers hit 5-of-10 free throws. The Huskers also won the first-half turnover battle, 8-6. Paris Clark led UVA with eight points and five assists in the half, while Romy Levy contributed seven points and four assists. The Cavs also got five points apiece off the bench from Raiane Dias Dos Santos and Adeang Ring.
Weaver ignited Nebraska’s separation early in the third quarter, hitting a season-high three three-pointers in a 2:45 span to open the period and give the Big Red a 53-36 lead.
The Huskers return home to take on Bradley on Wednesday, Dec. 3. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. (CT) with tickets available now at Huskers.com.
