2006-07 Schedule/Results (22-8, 10-6) Date Opponent Time/Result Nov. 10-13 Veterans Day Classic (Tempe, Ariz.) Nov. 10 at #13 Arizona State L, 60-87 Nov. 12 vs. Florida Atlantic W, 93-53 Nov. 13 vs. #18 New Mexico W, 66-59 Nov. 17 CS Fullerton (HuskersNside) (Read to Succeed) W, 76-62 Nov. 24 at UC Irvine W, 80-66 Nov. 26 at USC W, 72-65 Nov. 28 Texas-Pan American (HuskersNside) W, 77-37 Dec. 5 Minnesota (HuskersNside) L, 65-74 Dec. 9 Michigan (HuskersNside) (Toys for Tots) W, 87-47 Dec. 16 Northwestern (HuskersNside) W, 73-58 Dec. 19 at Creighton (Civic Auditorium) W, 60-57 Dec. 21 Nicholls State (HuskersNside) W, 80-42 Dec. 28-29 State Farm Classic (Gainesville, Fla.) Dec. 28 vs. NC State W, 94-74 Dec. 29 at Florida (Fox College Sports) W, 81-73 Jan. 3 at Texas ^ W, 79-75 Jan. 6 #8 Oklahoma (HuskersNside) ^ L, 69-77 Jan. 13 at Kansas (HuskersNside) ^ W, 63-54 Jan. 17 #25 Kansas State (HuskersNside) ^ W, 70-63 Jan. 20 at Missouri (FSN Midwest) ^ W, 76-66 Jan. 24 at #21 Texas A&M (Huskers.com) ^ L, 65-66 Jan. 27 Kansas (Huskers.com) ^ W, 78-58 Jan. 31 Iowa State (HuskersNside) ^ W, 62-49 Feb. 3 #13 Baylor (FSN) ^ (Red Cross/$ Days) W, 76-67 Feb. 7 at Kansas State (FSN Midwest/Huskers.com) ^ W, 62-55 Feb. 10 at Colorado (FSN) ^ W, 54-44 Feb. 14 Texas Tech (HuskersNside) ^ L, 69-70 Feb. 17 Missouri (HuskersNside)^ L, 53-65 Feb. 20 at Iowa State^ (FSN Midwest/Huskers.com) L, 53-64 Feb. 24 at Oklahoma State (HuskersNside)^ L, 60-63 Feb. 27 Colorado (Huskers.com) ^ (Senior Night) W, 90-70 March 6-10 Phillips 66 Big 12 Championship (COX Convention Center - Oklahoma City, Okla.) March 7 #5 Iowa State or #12 Kansas State (FSN) 2:30 p.m. March 8 Big 12 Semifinal Game 1 (FSN) 6 p.m. March 10 Big 12 Championship Game (FSN) 6 p.m. All times listed are Central. ^- Denotes Big 12 Conference game. All Nebraska games can be heard live on the Husker Sports Network and Huskers.com. Home games in bold at the Devaney Center. 2006-07 WOMEN S BASKETBALL SID Contact: Jeff Griesch Office Phone: (402) 472-7775 Cell Phone: (402) 540-0279 Fax Number: (402) 472-2005 E-Mail: jgriesch@huskers.com This Week in Husker Women s Basketball #4 Nebraska Cornhuskers (22-8, 10-6) vs. #5 Iowa State Cyclones (22-7, 10-6) or #12 Kansas State (16-13, 4-12) Phillips 66 Big 12 Championship (March 6-10) COX Convention Center (15,000) Oklahoma City, Okla. March 7 2:30 p.m. (Quarterfinal Game #2) Television: FSN (Channel 37 in Lincoln, Channel 47 in Omaha) Radio: Husker Sports Network (98.1-FM KFGE in Lincoln/1110-AM KFAB in Omaha/880-AM KRVN in Lexington/Huskers.com) Huskers Begin Postseason Run as No. 4 Seed at Big 12 Tourney The Nebraska women s basketball team (22-8, 10-6) will open play at the 2007 Phillips 66 Big 12 Conference Championship at the COX Convention Center in Oklahoma City, Okla., on Wednesday, March 7, at 2:30 p.m. Nebraska will try to continue one of its most successful seasons in school history in Oklahoma City. The Huskers need one more win to match the school-record for victories at 23, set on four previous occasions. NU put together its best Big 12 Conference regular season since going 10-6 in 1999-2000, the same season that Nebraska made its last trip to the NCAA Tournament. NU has been outstanding away from its homecourt this year, posting a 12-4 road mark, including a 3-0 record on neutral courts with wins over 2006 NCAA Tournament qualifiers NC State, New Mexico and Florida Atlantic. The Huskers earned a first-round bye as the No. 4 seed in the tournament on the strength of a 10-6 record that included an 8-2 mark against Big 12 North Division foes. NU, which split a pair of games with Iowa State during the year, edged the 10-6 Cyclones in the No. 4 spot because of ISU s 7-3 mark against North opponents. Nebraska and Iowa State may get a chance to face each other again on the court in the quarterfinals, as the 22-7 Cyclones take on 12th-seeded Kansas State (16-13, 4-12) in the first round on Tuesday at 2:30 p.m. ISU swept the Wildcats during the regular season, but both games were decided by five points or less, including a three-point, come-from-behind Cyclone win in Manhattan, Kan., on Feb. 25. KSU has dropped nine of its last 10 games, but seven of those contests have been decided by single digits. Nebraska s quarterfinal matchup with either Iowa State or Kansas State will be televised live nationally by Fox Sports Net (Channel 37 in Lincoln, Channel 47 in Omaha) with Kevin Eschenfelder and Debbie Antonelli calling the action. All of Nebraska s games at the tournament will be carried live nationally by FSN. Matt Coatney and Jeff Griesch will call all the action in Nebraska s live radio broadcast on 98.1-FM KFGE in Lincoln, 1110-AM KFAB in Omaha and 880-AM KRVN in Lexington, along with select Husker Sports Network stations and on Huskers.com. All-session tickets to the Phillips 66 Big 12 Championship are sold out. Individual session tickets are on sale at the Ford Center Box Office, at Ticketmaster outlets, on ticketmaster.com and/or by calling (405) 235-8288. 2006-07 Nebraska Cornhuskers No. Name Pos. Ht. Cl. Hometown (High School/Other School) Worth Noting 2 Ashley Ford G 5-7 Sr. Lincoln, Neb. (Northeast/Cloud County CC) Career-highs 13 points, 7 assists vs. CU (Feb. 27) 4 Jelena Spiric F 6-0 Sr. Belgrade, Serbia (The V Belgrade/Colby CC) 2005 Big 12 Newcomer of the Year; Veterans Day Classic All-Tournament 11 Nicole Neals G 5-6 Fr. Chandler, Ariz. (St. Mary s) Leads freshmen with eight three-pointers 12 TK LaFleur G 5-8 So. Houston, Texas (Warren Township, Ill.) Averaging 5.7 ppg, 2.7 rpg, 1.2 apg off bench 13 Kala Kuhlmann G 5-8 Fr. Charter Oak, Iowa (Charter Oak-Ute) Iowa Female Athlete of the Year; 2,337 points 21 Kiera Hardy G 5-6 Sr. Kansas City, Mo. (O Hara) Naismith Candidate; Three-Time 1st-Team All-Big 12; 1,891 pts. 22 Yvonne Turner G 5-8 Fr. Omaha, Neb. (Bellevue East) WBCA High School All-American; career-high 8 points vs. Tech 23 Kelsey Griffin F 6-2 So. Eagle River, Alaska (Chugiak) First-Team All-Big 12 (Jan. 8, Feb. 5); 10 double-doubles 40 Cory Montgomery F 6-2 Fr. Cannon Falls, Minn. (Cannon Falls) 5.3 ppg, 2.1 rpg, Five-Time High School Team MVP 42 Nikki Bober C 6-4 Fr. Murdock, Neb. (Elmwood-Murdock) 10 points on 4-of-5 shooting in college debut vs. Fla. Atlantic 45 Chelsea Aubry F 6-2 Sr. Kitchener, Ontario (Grand River Collegiate Institute) Canadian National Team; Captain; Career-high 26 points at Missouri 52 Danielle Page F 6-2 Jr. Monument, Colo. (Lewis-Palmer) School-Record 9 Blocks vs. #13 Baylor; No. 3 on NU s All-Time Block List Head Coach: Connie Yori, Fifth Year (Creighton, 1986), 280-207 (17th season overall) 85-67 (Fifth season at Nebraska) Assistant Coaches: LaKale Malone, Fourth Year (Indiana, 1999); Sunny Smallwood, Second Year (Boise State, 1983); Tory Verdi, Second Year (Keene State, 1996) Director of Operations: Angela Timmons, Fifth Year (Creighton, 2001); Administrative Assistant/Video Coordinator: Steph Clark, Third Year (Creighton, 1993)
Nebraska Women s Basketball Game Notes Page 2 Phillips 66 Big 12 Championship March 6-10, 2007 Huskers.com Wednesday s Starting Lineups Nebraska Cornhuskers (22-8, 10-6) No. Player Ht. Yr. Pos. PPG RPG 4 Jelena Spiric 6-0 Sr. F 6.3 4.5 23 Kelsey Griffin 6-2 So. F 15.1 8.4 45 Chelsea Aubry 6-2 Sr. F 8.6 4.5 2 Ashley Ford 5-7 Sr. G 3.0 1.5 21 Kiera Hardy 5-6 Sr. G 15.8 3.0 Head Coach: Connie Yori (Creighton, 1986) Fifth Season at NU (85-67); 17th Season Overall (280-207) Iowa State Cyclones (22-7, 10-6) No. Player Ht. Yr. Pos. PPG RPG 5 Nicky Wieben 6-4 So. F 12.0 5.8 41 Toccara Ross 5-11 Jr. F 11.2 7.8 4 Alison Lacey 6-0 Fr. G 7.8 3.3 14 Lydsey Medders 5-9 Sr. G 12.4 3.9 31 Megan Ronhovde 6-1 Sr. G/F 8.2 4.6 Head Coach: Bill Fennelly (William Penn, 1979) 12th Season at ISU (255-117); 19th Season Overall (421-170) Kansas State Wildcats (16-13, 4-12) No. Player Ht. Yr. Pos. PPG RPG 4 Ashley Sweat 6-2 Fr. F 10.5 5.0 30 Shana Wheeler 6-2 Jr. F 7.1 4.9 5 Shalee Lehning 5-9 So. G 7.9 6.7 13 Kimberly Dietz 5-9 Jr. G 13.1 3.2 14 Claire Coggins 5-11 Sr. G/F 13.0 3.6 Head Coach: Deb Patterson (Rockford, 1979) 11th Season at KSU (215-126); 11th Season Overall (215-126) Inside the Numbers Nebraska Opponents Scoring Average 71.4 62.0 Scoring Margin +9.4 - Field Goal Percentage 44.7% 38.7% 3FG Percentage 33.2% 34.6% Free Throw Percentage 71.0% 65.9% Rebound Margin +2.8 - Assists Per Game 13.4 11.9 Turnovers Per Game 16.5 17.0 Blocks Per Game 3.0 3.4 Steals Per Game 7.1 7.5 Nebraska at the Big 12 Tourney vs. Iowa State (0-3) Date Score Site March 9, 2004 ISU, 63-52 Dallas, Texas March 5, 2002 ISU, 74-55 Kansas City, Mo. March 9, 2000 ISU, 85-48 Kansas City, Mo. vs. Kansas State (0-1) Date Score Site March 9, 2005 KSU, 71-45 Kansas City, Mo. Hardy, Griffin Earn First-Team All-Big 12 Honors Kiera Hardy and Kelsey Griffin became the first Nebraska teammates in school history to share spots on the first-team All-Big 12 Conference squad, while Chelsea Aubry added honorable-mention accolades when the league coaches announced their yearly honors on Friday, March 2. Hardy became just the third Husker in history to earn three consecutive first-team all-conference honors, joining 1993 Wade Trophy winner Karen Jennings and 1988 Big Eight Player of the Year Maurtice Ivy. Griffin became just the fourth sophomore in school history to earn first-team all-conference honors, joining Hardy, Jennings and Ivy. Nebraska s career three-point leader, Hardy ranks fourth all-time in scoring for the Huskers with 1,891 points entering the Phillips 66 Big 12 Championship. She needs 85 more points to catch Amy Stephens (1986-89) in the No. 3 spot with 1,976. Hardy s 262 career three-pointers rank seventh in Big 12 history, trailing active Big 12 leader Erin Higgins from Oklahoma by just one. Former Kansas State shooter Kristin Rethman sits in fifth place with 266. As a senior, the 5-6 guard from Kansas City, Mo., has led the Huskers with 15.8 points per game to rank sixth in the Big 12 in scoring. She also ranks second in the league with 2.20 three-pointers made per contest and seventh in the league in three-point shooting at 36.9 percent. She also ranks 14th in the conference with 2.63 assists per game. Griffin, a 6-2 forward from Eagle River, Alaska, provided the Huskers with one of the most dominant presences in the Big 12 by ranking seventh in the league in scoring at 15.1 points per game and sixth in the Big 12 in rebounding with 8.4 boards per contest. Her 54.9 field goal percentage also ranks fifth in the conference. She has produced 10 double-doubles on the season. With 252 rebounds on the season, Griffin needs just five more to crack Nebraska s single-season top-10 list in total rebounds. Her total already ranks as the fourth-highest total by a sophomore in school history. Aubry, a 6-2 senior forward from Kitchener, Ontario, closed the regular season ranked second in the Big 12 with her 43.7 three-point field goal percentage. A three-year captain at Nebraska, Aubry has averaged 8.6 points and 4.5 rebounds per game in 2006-07. Four Huskers Capture Academic All-Big 12 Awards Four Nebraska women s basketball players earned spots on the 2007 academic All-Big 12 teams announced by the conference office in Irving, Texas, on Feb. 28. NU s four honorees marked its most since the 2002-03 campaign. Senior forward Jelena Spiric, junior forward Danielle Page and sophomore forward Kelsey Griffin all captured first-team academic All-Big 12 honors by posting cumulative grade-point averages above 3.2. Senior forward Chelsea Aubry added second-team honors with a GPA between 3.0 and 3.19. Spiric, who has started all 30 games for the Huskers this season, earned her bachelor s degree as a biochemistry major from the University of Nebraska in May. The native of Belgrade, Serbia, finished her undergraduate career with a 3.522 cumulative GPA. Page, one of Nebraska s top players off the bench, earned first-team academic All-Big 12 honors for the first time in her career after capturing second-team honors in 2006. The native of Monument, Colo., is majoring in communication studies at Nebraska and ranks as one of the top shot-blockers in school history. Griffin, who has started every game during her NU career, also claimed first-team academic All-Big 12 honors for the first time. The 6-2 forward from Eagle River, Alaska, carries a 3.5 GPA as an undeclared major while ranking among the top 10 players in the Big 12 in scoring and rebounding with 15.1 points and 8.4 boards per game. Aubry, a three-year captain for the Huskers, earned second-team All-Big 12 honors for the second time in her career. The native of Kitchener, Ontario, is an international business major and has started 76 consecutive games for the Huskers. She also ranks among the Big 12 leaders in three-point percentage. Scouting the Phillips 66 Big 12 Championship Texas A&M earned the No. 1 seed in the 2007 Phillips 66 Big 12 Championship by tying 2006 regular-season champ Oklahoma with a 13-3 league record, while sweeping the Sooners in a pair of meetings this season. Baylor earned the No. 3 seed with an 11-5 league record, while Nebraska claimed the No. 4 spot with a 10-6 mark and a North Division tiebreaker over fifth-seeded Iowa State (10-6). Sixth-seeded Oklahoma State finished the season with an 8-8 league mark after posting an 0-16 Big 12 record in 2006. The Huskers went 2-4 against the other top-six seeds in this year s tournament, with a 76-67 win over Baylor (Feb. 3) in Lincoln and a 62-49 win over Iowa State at the Devaney Center (Jan. 31). NU suffered a one-point March 5 - Monday March 6 - Tuesday March 7 - Wednesday March 8 - Thursday March 9 - Friday March 10 - Saturday March 11 - Sunday Practice 11:30-2 p.m. Devaney Center Team Travel Depart Lincoln for OKC Charter Flight 3 p.m. Practice Offsite - TBA Shoot-around COX Center - 7:30 a.m. GAME DAY #4 Nebraska vs. ISU or KSU 2:30 p.m. National TV: FSN Live Radio: Husker Sports Network (Huskers.com) Shoot-around COX Center - 11 a.m. GAME DAY Semifinal Game #1 6 p.m. National TV: FSN Live Radio: Husker Sports Network (Huskers.com) Practice COX Center - 1-3 p.m. Media Availability 3:05-3:35 p.m. (opponent 2:30-3 p.m.) Shoot-around COX Center - 10 a.m. GAME DAY Championship Game 6 p.m. National TV: FSN Live Radio: Husker Sports Network (Huskers.com) Practice TBA
Nebraska Women s Basketball Game Notes Page 3 Phillips 66 Big 12 Championship March 6-10, 2007 Huskers.com loss at Texas A&M (Jan. 24) and a three-point setback at Oklahoma State (Feb. 24), when the Huskers had a Kiera Hardy shot to win or tie the game as time expired in both contests. The Huskers suffered an eight-point loss to the Sooners in their conference home opener (Jan. 6), and lost at Iowa State on Senior Night (Feb. 20). Texas claimed the No. 7 seed with a 6-10 record, including a 79-75 loss to Nebraska in Austin in the Big 12 opener. It was NU s first-ever victory at Texas. The Huskers added their second straight regular-season sweep of eighth-seeded Colorado, including a 90-70 win on Senior Night in Lincoln in the Huskers regular-season finale. Texas Tech, which notched its only win in the last eight games with a one-point win in Lincoln where the Huskers had multiple chances on the same possession in the last eight seconds to win, earned the No. 9 seed, while Missouri took the No. 10 spot. The Huskers split the season series with the Tigers. Kansas, which NU swept for the second straight year, earned the No. 11 seed with a win at Missouri on March 1, while Kansas State settled for the No. 12 spot. The Huskers swept the Wildcats for the first time since 2001. Nebraska in Phillips 66 Big 12 Championship History Nebraska enters the Phillips 66 Big 12 Championship with a first-round bye for the first time since 1997-98, when the Huskers finished third in regular-season league action with an 11-5 mark. The Huskers will play in the Big 12 quarterfinals for the third consecutive year. Last season, No. 6 Nebraska advanced to the second round with a 67-59 win over No. 11 Colorado in the opening round at Reunion Arena in Dallas, before falling to third-seeded Texas A&M, 73-64. In 2005, the sixth-seeded Huskers rolled to a 60-45 win over No. 11 Oklahoma State in the opening round, before being knocked off by No. 3 Kansas State, 71-45, in the quarterfinals. The Huskers went winless at the Big 12 Tournament from 2001 through 2003, after making their last appearance in the Big 12 semifinals in 2000. NU used back-to-back wins over Baylor and Kansas to advance to a semifinal showdown with Iowa State that the Cyclones won, 85-48, in Kansas City. Nebraska also posted first- and second-round victories in 1999, before falling in the semifinals to Texas Tech, 77-59. In the Huskers only other appearance at the Big 12 Championship as a top-four seed, NU lost to Oklahoma State, 83-69, in the quarterfinals. Overall, Nebraska owns a 6-9 record at the Big 12 Tournament. Huskers Post 10th 20-Win Campaign, First Under Yori Nebraska secured its 10th 20-win season in school history with its 62-55 victory at Kansas State on Feb. 7, before posting win No. 21 at Colorado on Feb. 10. NU also got its 22nd win against Colorado on Feb. 27. The 2006-07 Huskers became just the sixth team in Nebraska history to reach the 22-victory mark in a season, with the earliest coming from the 1978-79 squad against South Dakota in a 78-56 win on Feb. 26, 1979. The 1997-98 team added its 22nd win of the year against Iowa State (68-60) on Feb. 28, 1998, the only other time in school history a team has won 22 games before March. NU s 20-win campaign is its first since 1998-99, when the Huskers finished with a 21-12 record and advanced to the NCAA Tournament in Los Angeles. It is Nebraska s first 20-win campaign under fifth-year coach Connie Yori, who led the Huskers to 19 wins in 2005-06 and a pair of 18-win seasons in 2003-04 and 2004-05. Huskers Produce Solid Road Record With a 12-4 record away from the Devaney Center, Nebraska s.750 road winning percentage is on track to shatter the school mark, which came with a 15-8 road record (.652) in 1975-76. Nebraska had not won 10 road games since earning 11 victories in 1992-93. The 1975-76 Huskers won a school-record 15 games (15-8), while the 1976-77 squad added 14 wins (14-14). Last season, NU posted an 8-9 Husker Pronunciation Guide Chelsea Aubry......................... O-bree Kiera Hardy....................... kee-air-uh Kala Kuhlmann.............. KAY-luh KOOL-man LaKale Malone....................... Luh-KAIL Jelena Spiric.............YELL-en-uh SPEER-itch Husker Homes The 12 members of the 2006-07 Husker women's basketball team come to Nebraska from three countries, including eight states across America. Alaska (1) Kelsey Griffin Arizona (1) Nicole Neals Colorado (1) Danielle Page Iowa (1) Kala Kuhlmann Minnesota (1) Nebraska (3) Missouri (1) Texas (1) Canada (1) Serbia (1) Cory Montgomery Nikki Bober Ashley Ford Yvonne Turner Kiera Hardy TK LaFleur Chelsea Aubry (Ontario) Jelena Spiric (Belgrade) Huskers By Class Senior (4) Chelsea Aubry Ashley Ford Kiera Hardy Jelena Spiric Junior (1) Danielle Page Sophomores (2) Kelsey Griffin TK LaFleur Freshmen (5) Nikki Bober Kala Kuhlmann Cory Montgomery Nicole Neals Yvonne Turner Huskers By Major Accounting Cory Montgomery Nebraska s 2006-07 Roster in Depth Players 2006-07 Statistics No. Player Ht. Cl. Pos. G-GS PPG RPG APG SPG BPG 2 Ashley Ford 5-7 Sr. G 30-30 3.0 1.5 2.4 0.9 0.0 4 Jelena Spiric 6-0 Sr. F 30-30 6.3 4.5 2.3 1.0 0.1 11 Nicole Neals 5-6 Fr. G 24-0 2.0 1.0 0.8 0.4 0.0 12 TK LaFleur 5-8 So. G 30-0 5.7 2.7 1.2 0.8 0.1 13 Kala Kuhlmann 5-8 Fr. G 26-0 0.8 0.4 0.3 0.0 0.1 21 Kiera Hardy 5-6 Sr. G 30-30 15.8 3.0 2.6 1.1 0.0 22 Yvonne Turner 5-8 Fr. G 26-0 2.3 1.7 0.7 0.7 0.1 23 Kelsey Griffin 6-2 So. F 30-30 15.1 8.4 1.1 1.1 0.6 40 Cory Montgomery 6-2 Fr. F 30-0 5.3 2.1 0.5 0.2 0.1 42 Nikki Bober 6-4 Fr. C 9-0 2.7 0.8 0.0 0.3 0.2 45 Chelsea Aubry 6-2 Sr. F 30-30 8.6 4.5 1.0 0.4 0.2 52 Danielle Page 6-2 Jr. F 30-0 6.6 5.3 0.8 0.5 1.8 Biochemistry (Graduate) Business Administration Communications Education Family and Consumer Science General Studies International Business Exercise, Nutrition, Health Promotion Jelena Spiric Nicole Neals Danielle Page Yvonne Turner Kiera Hardy Nikki Bober Kelsey Griffin Kala Kuhlmann Chelsea Aubry Ashley Ford TK LaFleur
Nebraska Women s Basketball Game Notes Page 4 Phillips 66 Big 12 Championship March 6-10, 2007 Huskers.com Nebraska Quick Facts Institution...University of Nebraska Location...Lincoln, Neb. Population... 235,594 Founded... 1869 Nickname... Cornhuskers, Huskers Colors...Scarlet and Cream Home Arena...Bob Devaney Sports Center Capacity... 13,595 Conference...Big 12 Athletic Director... Steve Pederson 2006-07 Overall Record...22-8 Home Record...10-4 Away Record...9-4 Neutral Record...3-0 2005-06 Overall Record...19-13 Home Record...11-4 Away Record...6-7 Neutral Record...2-2 Head Coach...Connie Yori Alma Mater/Year...Creighton/1986 Record at Nebraska...Fifth season (85-67) Career Record...280-207 (17th season) NCAA Div. I Record...255-182 (15th season) Home Record...52-27 Big 12 Conference Record...34-46 Big 12 Home Record...19-20 Assistant Coaches... LaKale Malone...Sunny Smallwood, Tory Verdi Director of Operations... Angela Timmons Administrative Assistant...Steph Clark Graduate Assistant Manager...Tia Davis Strength Coach...Rusty Ruffcorn Athletic Trainer... Dawn Wedeking Basketball Office Phone... (402) 472-6462 Basketball Office Fax... (402) 472-0849 Women s Basketball Contact...Jeff Griesch Media Relations Office Phone... (402) 472-2263 Griesch s Direct Line... (402) 472-7775 Griesch s Cell Phone... (402) 540-0279 Griesch s Home Phone... (402) 328-8992 Griesch s E-mail... jgriesch@huskers.com Media Relations Fax... (402) 472-2005 Best Time to Contact Yori...Through Griesch Starters Returning/Lost...4/2 Letterwinners Returning/Lost...7/6 Newcomers... 5 Nebraska Women s Basketball Radio and Television Shows The Nebraska Women s Basketball Show with Coach Connie Yori and host Jeff Griesch, will air first on WOWT, Channel 6 in Omaha on Sunday nights and on Monday evenings on KOLN/KGIN (My TV) in Lincoln. For a complete listing of airtimes, please visit Huskers.com and click on Coaches Show on the women s basketball home page. Coach Yori s radio show with host Matt Coatney can be heard live on the Husker Sports Network each Thursday from 7 to 8 p.m. record away from the Devaney Center, including four wins in the last seven road games. NU has won 16 of its last 22 games away from home. Nebraska finished 5-3 in Big 12 road games this season, including its first-ever win at Texas to open league play on Jan. 3. The Huskers won at Kansas (Jan. 13), at Missouri (Jan. 20) and earned their first road win at Kansas Go Big Road (NU s 10 or More Road Wins) Season Record 1. 1975-76 15-8 2. 1976-77 14-14 3. 2006-07 12-4 4. 1991-92 12-8 1979-80 12-14 1992-93 11-7 State (Feb. 7) since 2001. NU notched just its fourth-ever road win at Colorado (Feb. 10). The Big 12 North is 14-34 in league road games, with the Huskers owning nearly half the victories. Nebraska s school-record road winning streak ended at 10 games with a 66-65 loss at No. 21 Texas A&M on Jan. 24. The Huskers had a five-footer to win bounce off the rim as time expired, as the Aggies have remained unbeaten at home this season. NU s most recent road loss came at Oklahoma State, where the Huskers had a three-pointer at the buzzer to tie the game fall off the mark. Nebraska s previous longest winning streak away from home (away and neutral) came with seven straight road wins in 1976-77 and 1996-97. The Huskers 10-1 road start this season also gave NU its best road start in school history, surpassing the 1991-92 team that began the season with a 9-1 road record. Seniors Enjoy Storybook Finish in Win Over Colorado Kiera Hardy led four Husker seniors in double figures with 22 points as Nebraska erupted for a Big 12 seasonhigh 90 points in a 20-point victory over Colorado on Senior Night at the Bob Devaney Sports Center on Feb. 27. Playing in front of 5,763 fans, the Husker seniors helped NU to a 90-70 win while snapping their four-game losing streak to finish conference action with a 10-6 record to secure a first-round bye and the No. 4 seed at the Phillips 66 Big 12 Championship at the COX Convention Center in Oklahoma City. In addition to the 22 points and four three-pointers from Hardy, Nebraska received a career-high 13 points on a perfect shooting night from senior point guard and Lincoln native Ashley Ford. The 5-7 graduate of Lincoln Northeast High School connected on a career-high three three-pointers and dished out a career-high seven assists with just one turnover and two steals to help the Huskers. Three-year senior captain Chelsea Aubry added 12 points and a pair of three-pointers. Jelena Spiric, who was playing in front of her parents for the first time on U.S. soil, rounded out strong efforts by NU s senior quartet with 10 points. Sophomore starter Kelsey Griffin added 11 points to put all five starters in double figures for the first time this season. The offensive eruption included a season-high 54 points in the second half, while shooting 65.4 percent in the second period. For the game, Nebraska shot 50 percent from the field (28-56), while tying the school record with 10 three-pointers, including 7-of-10 shooting from long range in the second half. This was a special night for our seniors, Nebraska Coach Connie Yori said. What a great way for them to end their careers at home. The last four games they have overcome adversity, adversity and more adversity. Tonight, they made this game happen and it is a great way to gain confidence heading into the conference tournament. The Huskers led by as many as 26 points in the second half after leading 36-31 at the half. NU led by 14 midway through the first half but a 10-2 run by Colorado in the last two minutes of the first half kept the Buffs within striking distance. Nebraska put the game out of reach early in the second half, opening the second stanza by outscoring CU, 13-5, in the first four minutes to regain a 13-point lead. NU took a 20-point lead for the first time on a Spiric three-pointer with 11 minutes left. That lead ballooned to 26 after Aubry s second three-pointer of the night and a steal and layup on the ensuing inbounds by freshman guard Yvonne Turner. Hardy Named to Preseason Naismith Trophy List Nebraska senior Kiera Hardy is one of 50 candidates for the 2007 Naismith Trophy. A two-time first-team All-Big 12 selection, Hardy is Nebraska s career three-point leader and ranks seventh in Big 12 history with 262 three-pointers. The 5-6 guard out of O Hara High School in Kansas City, Mo., also ranks fourth in NU history with 1,891 career points. Hardy has helped NU to three consecutive postseason tournament appearances and their first 20-win season since 1998-99 this year. The Huskers had suffered through three consecutive losing seasons before her arrival. In 2006-07, Hardy is averaging 15.8 points per game and leads the Huskers with 66 three-pointers. She has started a team-leading 93 games in her career, including 90 straight starts dating back to Nov. 26, 2004. The last game Hardy did not start for NU came at Washington State on Nov. 22, 2004. Hardy has produced 20 or more points 35 times in her 121-game Husker career. Hardy, who is also a nominee for the Frances Pomeroy Naismith Award honoring the nation s top senior player 5-8 or under, is one of five players from the Big 12 Conference on the preseason Naismith Trophy list, joining Oklahoma s Courtney Paris, Texas A&M s Morenike Atunrase, Iowa State s Lyndsey Medders, and Tiffany Jackson from Texas. The list of the top 50 players was compiled by the Atlanta Tipoff Club s Board of Selectors, comprised of leading basketball journalists, coaches and administrators from around the country. The board based its preseason criteria on player performances from last season and expectations for 2006-07. In February, the Board of Selectors will narrow its preseason list to the top 30 players in the nation. Those players, and others who distinguish themselves throughout the season, will be eligible for the final ballot in March.
Nebraska Women s Basketball Game Notes Page 5 Phillips 66 Big 12 Championship March 6-10, 2007 Huskers.com Hardy Among 30 Candidates for Lowe s Senior CLASS Award Although Kiera Hardy did not make the list of 10 finalists for the Lowe s Senior CLASS Award announced on Feb. 21, Nebraska senior Kiera Hardy was one of just 30 candidates for the award honoring the nation s top senior basketball player on and off the court. The candidates for the Senior CLASS (Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying in School) Award were announced on Tuesday, Jan. 16. Hardy, a 5-6 senior guard from Kansas City, Mo., was one of just three Big 12 Conference seniors, joining Iowa State s Lyndsey Medders and Tiffany Jackson from Texas, who made the list of candidates. None advanced to the final ballot. The award, which was conceived by legendary sportscaster Dick Enberg, was launched in 2001-02 to honor the attributes of college basketball seniors who remain committed to their university. Finalists will be selected on personal qualities that define a complete student-athlete, including classroom, character and community, as well as the candidate s performance on the court. A national media committee will choose the 10 finalists for the award in February. A nationwide vote of coaches, media members and fans will take place during the NCAA Tournament in March. The winners will be announced during the NCAA Women s Final Four in Cleveland. LSU s Seimone Augustus won the award in 2006. Kansas State s Kendra Wecker (2005), Alana Beard (Duke, 2004), LaToya Thomas (Mississippi State, 2003) and Sue Bird (Connecticut, 2002) are also previous winners. Griffin Causing Double Trouble for Opponents First-team All-Big 12 forward Kelsey Griffin has continued to expand her game as a sophomore. The 6-2 native of Eagle River, Alaska, has produced 10 double-doubles in NU s first 30 contests, more than tripling her total of three from her freshman campaign when she started all 32 games for the Huskers. Griffin, who captured her first Big 12 Player-of-the-Week award on Jan. 8, posted her 10th double-double of the season with game highs of 23 points and 13 rebounds in NU s win over No. 13 Baylor on Feb. 3 to earn her second Big 12 honor of the season. She notched her ninth double-double with a season-high 24 points and 10 rebounds in NU s win over Kansas on Jan. 27. She added a double with 16 points and 10 rebounds at No. 21 Texas A&M on Jan. 24. Her 10 double-doubles are tied for fifth in the Big 12 this season. Four of her double-doubles have come in Big 12 play, and seven have come on the road this season. She posted a double-double with 18 points and 13 rebounds in NU s first meeting at Kansas on Jan. 13. Griffin opened league play with 21 points and seven rebounds against All-American Tiffany Jackson in NU s win at Texas on Jan. 3, and added 22 points and eight rebounds against All-American Courtney Paris and No. 8 Oklahoma on Jan. 6. She added 15 points and seven boards on 5-of-5 shooting from the field in NU s win over No. 25 Kansas State on Jan. 17. She notched double-doubles with 15 points and 13 rebounds at Florida (Dec. 29) and 18 points and 10 boards against NC State (Dec. 28) to earn a spot on the all-tournament team while leading the Huskers to the State Farm Classic title in Gainesville, Fla. She scored 20 points and grabbed five rebounds in just 20 minutes in the Huskers 38-point win over Nicholls State (Dec. 21), after adding her fourth double-double with 13 points and 11 rebounds against Creighton on Dec. 19, when she played a season-high 31 minutes. She posted three straight double-doubles with 17 points and 12 rebounds against Cal State Fullerton (Nov. 17), 13 points and 12 rebounds at UC Irvine (Nov. 24) and a season-high 22 points and 10 boards at USC (Nov. 26). Last season, Griffin produced her first double-double with a career-high 31 points and 14 rebounds in a win over Texas A&M-Corpus Christi on Nov. 27, 2005. She also tied the school record with 18 free throw attempts against the Islanders. She added her second career double-double with 16 points and 12 rebounds against Missouri on Jan. 11, 2006, before erupting for 28 points, 12 boards and a career-best three blocks at Kansas State on Feb. 4, 2006. Nebraska Ranks High in Big 12 The Huskers rank second in the Big 12 with their 44.7 field goal percentage, which has helped NU rank fourth in the league in scoring offense (71.4 ppg). Nebraska ranks third in the conference with its 71.0 free throw percentage, while also ranking fourth in the league with 5.37 made three-pointers per game. NU is sixth in the Big 12 in rebounding margin (+2.8 rpg). In league games only, Nebraska ranked second in the Big 12 with its 43.2 field goal percentage, scoring margin (+4.6) and rebound margin (+1.8), while ranking third in the conference in scoring offense (67.4 ppg). The Huskers are also third in the league in free throw percentage (74.9 percent). NU is allowing Big 12 foes just 35.9 Griffin Doubles (13-Career, 10-2006-07) 2006-07 Pts.-Reb. Opponent 23-13 Baylor 24-10 Kansas 16-10 at Texas A&M 18-13 at Kansas 15-13 at Florida 18-10 vs. NC State 13-11 at Creighton 22-10 at USC 13-12 at UC Irvine 17-12 CS Fullerton 2005-06 Pts.-Reb. Opponent 28-12 at K-State 16-12 Missouri 31-14 vs. TAMUCC Husker Strengths Category Rank FG Pct. (44.7) 2nd Scoring (71.4 ppg) 4th FT Pct. (71.0) 3rd Scoring Margin (+9.4) 5th 3FG Made (5.4) 5th RB Margin (+2.8) 6th total rebounds per game, the second-best total in the league. Nebraska also ranks fourth in the league in field goal percentage defense at 39.3 percent. Head Coach Connie Yori (Creighton, 1986) (85-67, 5th Season at NU) (280-207, 17th Season) NCAA Division III Season School Won Lost Pct. 1990-91 Loras College 10 15.400 1991-92 Loras College 15 10.600 Totals 2 seasons 25 25.500 NCAA Division I 1992-93 Creighton 20 8.714 1993-94 Creighton 24 7.774 1994-95 Creighton 18 9.667 1995-96 Creighton 15 13.536 1996-97 Creighton 8 19.296 1997-98 Creighton 16 12.571 1998-99 Creighton 16 14.533 1999-00 Creighton 12 15.444 2000-01 Creighton 17 11.607 2001-02 Creighton 24 7.774 2002-03 Nebraska 8 20.286 2003-04 Nebraska 18 12.600 2004-05 Nebraska 18 14.563 2005-06 Nebraska 19 13.594 2006-07 Nebraska 22 8.733 Div. I Totals 15th season 255 182.584 Overall 17th season 280 207.575 Yori in the Postseason Year (Tournament) Results 2006 (WNIT) L, at Kansas State, 63-77 W, at Wyoming, 72-67 W, Drake, 62-59 2005 (WNIT) L, Iowa, 67-71 W, Marquette, 66-57 2004 (WNIT) L, Oregon State, 67-75 W, Drake, 73-60 2002 (NCAA) L, Fla. International, 58-73 1999 (WNIT) L, at Kansas State, 60-71 1994 (NCAA) W, Bowling Green, 84-73 L, Texas Tech, 65-75 Preseason Big 12 Conference Team First-Place Votes Points 1. Oklahoma 11 121 2. Texas A&M 1 107 3. Texas 101 4. Baylor 94 5. Iowa State 68 6. Nebraska 66 7. Kansas State 57 Texas Tech 57 9. Missouri 43 10. Kansas 36 11. Colorado 26 12. Oklahoma State 16 Preseason All-Big 12 Team Player of the Year: Courtney Paris, Oklahoma, 6-4, So., C Newcomer of the Year: Bernice Mosby, Baylor, 6-0, Sr., G Freshman of the Year: Brittainey Raven, Texas, 6-0, Fr., G First Team Lyndsey Medders 5-9 Sr. G Iowa State Kiera Hardy 5-6 Sr. G Nebraska Courtney Paris 6-4 So. C Oklahoma Tiffany Jackson 6-3 Sr. F Texas Morenike Atunrase 5-10 Jr. G/F Texas A&M
Nebraska Women s Basketball Game Notes Page 6 Phillips 66 Big 12 Championship March 6-10, 2007 Huskers.com Nebraska Individual Career Highs Scoring Player (Game, Date) Points Kiera Hardy (vs. Baylor, 1/12/05) 37 Kelsey Griffin (vs. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, 11/27/05) 31 Chelsea Aubry (at Missouri, 1/20/07) 26 Jelena Spiric (vs. Baylor, 1/12/05) 19 Cory Montgomery (vs. Texas-Pan American, 11/28/06) 18 Danielle Page (vs. Kansas, 1/27/07) 17 TK LaFleur (vs. Fla. Atlantic, 11/12/06; Texas St., 12/20/05) 16 Ashley Ford (vs. Colorado, 2/27/07) 13 Nikki Bober (vs. Florida Atlantic, 11/12/06) 10 Nicole Neals (vs. Minnesota, 12/5/06) 9 Yvonne Turner (vs. Texas Tech, 2/14/07) 8 Kala Kuhlmann (vs. Three Times, at Creighton, 12/19/06) 4 Rebounding Player (Game, Date) Rebounds Kelsey Griffin (vs. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, 11/27/05) 14 Chelsea Aubry (at Kansas State, 2/7/07) 12 Danielle Page (vs. Baylor, 2/3/07; vs. Kansas, 1/29/05) 11 Jelena Spiric (vs. CS Fullerton, 11/17/06) 10 Kiera Hardy (vs. Kansas, 2/7/04) 9 Cory Montgomery (vs. Nicholls State, 12/21/06) 8 Ashley Ford (at Kansas, 1/13/07) 6 TK LaFleur (vs. Fla. Atlantic, 11/12/06; vs. Okla. St., 2/21/06) 6 Nicole Neals (vs. Michigan, 12/9/06) 6 Yvonne Turner (vs. UTPA, 11/28/06; vs. FAU, 11/12/06) 5 Nikki Bober (vs. Michigan, 12/9/06) 3 Kala Kuhlmann (vs. Nicholls State, 12/21/06) 2 Assists Player (Game, Date) Assists Kiera Hardy (vs. Colorado, 1/28/06) 9 Ashley Ford (vs. Colorado, 2/27/07) 7 Jelena Spiric (at Missouri, 1/20/07; vs. Memphis, 12/30/04) 6 Yvonne Turner (vs. Florida Atlantic, 11/12/06) 6 Nicole Neals (vs. Nicholls State, 12/21/06) 5 Chelsea Aubry (vs. Mich., 12/9/06; at Northwestern, 12/10/05) 4 Kelsey Griffin (vs. Northwestern, 12/16/06) 4 TK LaFleur (Three Times, vs. Nicholls State 12/21/06) 4 Danielle Page (at Oklahoma State, 2/1/05) 4 Kala Kuhlmann (vs. Texas-Pan American, 11/28/06) 3 Cory Montgomery (Four Times, vs. Northwestern, 11/28/06) 2 Steals Player (Game, Date) Steals Kiera Hardy (at Missouri, 1/14/04) 6 Jelena Spiric (vs. OU, 1/6/07; vs. KSU, 2/23/05) 5 Chelsea Aubry (vs. Grambling State, 12/29/05) 4 Kelsey Griffin (vs. Iowa State, 2/1/06) 4 TK LaFleur (at Kansas, 1/13/07) 4 Ashley Ford (vs. Northwestern, 12/16/06) 3 Danielle Page (Six Times, vs. UTPA, 11/28/06) 3 Yvonne Turner (vs. Texas Tech, 2/14/07; vs. UTPA, 11/28/06) 3 Nikki Bober (vs. Texas-Pan American, 11/28/06) 2 Cory Montgomery (vs. Florida Atlantic, 11/12/06) 2 Nicole Neals (vs. UTPA, 11/28/06; vs. FAU, 11/12/06) 2 Blocked Shots Player (Game, Date) Blocks Danielle Page (vs. Baylor, 2/3/07) 9 Kelsey Griffin (at Kansas State, 2/4/06) 3 Chelsea Aubry (Three Times, at Colorado, 3/2/05) 2 Nikkie Bober (vs. Michigan, 12/9/06; vs. UTPA, 11/28/06) 1 Ashley Ford (at Kansas, 1/13/07) 1 Kiera Hardy (at Creighton, 12/18/04; vs. Princeton, 11/23/03) 1 Kala Kuhlmann (at KSU, 2/7/07; vs. OU, 1/6/07) 1 TK LaFleur (Seven Times, at Colorado, 2/10/07) 1 Cory Montgomery (Three Times, vs. NC State, 12/28/06) 1 Jelena Spiric (Five Times, vs. Minnesota, 12/5/06) 1 Yvonne Turner (vs. Mich., 12/9/06; vs. Fla. Atlantic, 11/12/06) 1 Minutes Played Player (Game, Date) Minutes Kiera Hardy (vs. Baylor, 1/12/05) 52 Jelena Spiric (vs. Baylor, 1/12/05) 44 Danielle Page (vs. Baylor, 1/12/05) 39 Ashley Ford (vs. Colorado, 2/27/07) 36 Chelsea Aubry (Three Times, vs. Iowa State 2/1/06) 35 Kelsey Griffin (at Kansas State, 2/4/06) 33 TK LaFleur (vs. Kansas State, 1/17/07) 29 Nicole Neals (vs. Minnesota, 12/5/06) 29 Yvonne Turner (vs. Texas Tech, 2/14/07) 26 Cory Montgomery (vs. UTPA, 11/28/06; vs. FAU, 11/12/06) 22 Kala Kuhlmann (vs. Texas-Pan American 11/28/06) 20 Nikki Bober (vs. Florida Atlantic, 11/12/06) 14 Griffin Among Leaders in Big 12 Statistics Kelsey Griffin ranks seventh in the Big 12 Conference in scoring with 15.1 points per game, while ranking sixth Kelsey Griffin in Big 12 Stats Category Rank FG Pct. (54.9) 5th Double-Doubles (10) T5th Scoring (15.1 ppg) 7th Rebounding (8.4 rpg) 6th Off. Reb. (3.00 rpg) 7th Def. Reb. (5.40 rpg) T6th in history to start every game in her first year. in rebounding at 8.4 boards per contest. Griffin s 54.9 field goal percentage ranks fifth in the Big 12. The 6-2 sophomore forward also ranks seventh in the conference with 3.00 offensive rebounds per game and tied for sixth in the league with 5.40 defensive boards per contest. She has led Nebraska in rebounding 20 times this season. Griffin leads Nebraska in rebounding, free throws made (115) and free throws attempted (162). She has earned spots on the Veterans Day Classic and State Farm Classic all-tournament teams and was the Big 12 Player of the Week on Jan. 8. Griffin has scored 876 points and grabbed 444 rebounds while starting 62 consecutive games. Last season Griffin became the first NU freshman since Meggan Yedsena in 1990-91 to start every game of her rookie campaign. Griffin was just the fourth Husker freshman Huskers Feature Solid Starting Five The Nebraska lineup has showcased the same starting five through each of the first 30 games, with seniors Kiera Hardy, Cheslea Aubry, Jelena Spiric and Ashley Ford joined by sophomore Kelsey Griffin. In 2003-04, Nebraska featured the same starting lineup in all 30 games, as one of just eight schools in the nation to start the same five players every game during the season. Page Swats Way Up Nebraska Blocked Shot Lists Junior Danielle Page has established herself as one of the Big 12 s best shot blockers in her three seasons in Lincoln and is attacking the Husker record book this season. Page smashed the NU single-game record with nine Page-inator (NU Career Blocks) Player Bks 1. Janet Smith 238 2. Charlie Rogers 126 3. Danielle Page 122 4. Maurtice Ivy 104 5. Kathy Hagerstrom 102 6. Katie Morse 101 7. Casey Leonhardt 88 8. Rissa Taylor 66 9. Pyra Aarden 63 Karen Jennings 63 blocks in Nebraska s 76-67 win over No. 13 Baylor on Feb. 3, breaking the previous mark of seven set by Katie Morse with seven against Texas A&M on Jan. 17, 2004. Over the last nine games, Page has notched 27 blocks (3.0 bpg). She owns 53 blocks on the year to become just the fourth player in Nebraska history to block 50 shots in a season, joining Janet Smith (four times), Katie Morse (54, 2003-04) and Casey Leonhardt (51, 2000-01). Page ranks sixth on NU s single-season block list and with one more block will jump into a tie for fourth. Janet Smith, NU s career leader with 238 blocks, owns the top three single-season block marks in school history with 56 in 1981-82, 59 in 1980-81 and 69 in 1979-80. Page enters the Big 12 Tournament with 122 career blocked shots and needs four more to catch Charlie Rogers (1997-2000) in second place on NU s all-time list with 126. Page also needs six more blocks to catch Smith for the most blocked shots ever by a Nebraska junior at 59. Last season, Page s 38 blocks ranked as the second-most in history by an NU sophomore, trailing only Smith s 69. Page s 31 blocks ranked fourth in history among NU freshmen. Page has joined Smith as the only Huskers in history to record 30 or more blocks in three consecutive seasons. Aubry Among Big 12 Leaders in Three-Point Percentage Forward Chelsea Aubry is enjoying the most prolific long-range shooting success of her career in 2006-07. The senior from Kitchener, Ontario. Aubry leads the Huskers and ranks second in the Big 12 with her 43.7 percent (31-71) shooting from three-point range this season. Kate Galligan owns NU s single-season record at 45.6 percent (52-114) in 1995-96. A career 32.6 percent shooter from three-point range entering the season, Aubry has surpassed her previous single-season best with 31 made three-pointers through 30 games this season. Last season, Aubry connected on 27-of-77 (35.1 percent) of her three-point attempts. She has hit 76 threepointers in her career to become the first forward to crack Nebraska s all-time top-10 list in that category. She ranks ninth on NU s all-time three-point list and needs three more to catch Margaret Richards in eighth place with 79. Aubry has scored in double figures 11 times this season, including a career-high 26-point outburst at Missouri on Jan. 20. Aubry is averaging 8.6 points and 4.5 rebounds per game on the year. Page Putting Up Big Numbers in Return from Knee Injury Junior Danielle Page has made a major impact off the bench for Nebraska this season. After pouring in a careerhigh 17 points on 8-of-11 shooting from the field against Kansas on Jan. 27, Page showed her defensive dominance by setting a school record with nine blocked shots, while tying a career high with 11 rebounds in Nebraska s 76-67 win over No. 13 Baylor on Feb. 3. Page s effort against the Lady Bears was one of the best individual defensive performances in school history. She tied the previous school record with seven blocks in just 13 first-half minutes, before adding a pair after halftime. She also grabbed nine defensive rebounds.
Nebraska Women s Basketball Game Notes Page 7 Phillips 66 Big 12 Championship March 6-10, 2007 Huskers.com She added another strong performance with 14 points, eight rebounds, two assists and a block against Texas Tech (Feb. 14), before adding seven points, seven rebounds and two blocks against Missouri (Feb. 17). She pumped in 12 points with six rebounds and three blocks at Iowa State (Feb. 20). She averaged 7.3 points, 5.9 rebounds and 2.4 blocks in Big 12 games this season. Her block average of 2.38 trailed only Courtney Paris 3.75 per game in league action. On the season, Page ranks fourth on the team in scoring with 6.6 points per game, while ranking second with 5.3 rebounds per contest. She has scored in double figures six times. The 6-2 forward from Monument, Colo., made a remarkably fast recovery from an ACL injury in mid-june and returned to a full practice schedule on Monday, Oct. 30. Page who underwent surgery on her right knee on June 29, spent an efficient four months rehabilitating her knee. She was given the green light for full participation before NU s final exhibition game against UNO (Nov. 4). She was not expected to be ready for a full return until the start of Big 12 play in January, but Page saw game action in NU s exhibition finale against Nebraska-Omaha. Page showed no ill-effects of her injury, producing 10 points, seven rebounds, one block, one steal and one assist in just 15 minutes off the bench. She has continued to produce for NU. She put together one of the best efforts of her career with 11 points, 10 rebounds and three assists in Nebraska s win over No. 25 Kansas State (Jan. 17). Page, who registered her second career double-double, scored nine points in the final 7:06 to help the Huskers seal the win over the Wildcats. She added six points, nine rebounds, three blocks and two steals in NU s win at Missouri (Jan. 20). She has also become one of NU s most sure-handed players, dishing out a career-high 25 assists with just 32 turnovers. Page had distributed just 17 total assists while turning the ball over 66 times in her first two years. Griffin Gets it Done at the Free Throw Line Kelsey Griffin leads the Huskers with 115 made free throws on the season and is approaching several marks in the Nebraska record book. The 6-2 forward, who is shooting 71 percent from the line, has set NU s sophomore single-season free throw record previously held by Nicole Kubik with 106 in 1997-98. Griffin, who established a freshman free throw record with 121 hits at the line in 2005-06, cracked the school s single-season top 10 list in the category for the second straight year by hitting five free throws in the regular-season finale against Colorado. Maurtice Ivy owns the Nebraska season free throw record with 153 makes in 1984-85. Griffin is also within reach of Nebraska s career top 10 this season in free throws made. Ann Halsne owns the No. 10 spot with 254 makes from 1988 to 1991. Griffin enters the Big 12 Tournament with 236 career free throws, needing 18 more to crack the NU career list. Hardy Provides Explosiveness, Consistency, Efficiency Kiera Hardy is averaging 15.8 points, 3.0 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.1 steals per game, while shooting 41.2 percent from the field and 36.9 percent (66-179) from three-point range. She is coming off a 22-point effort on Senior Night against Colorado, when connected on 4-of-8 three-pointers. She produced a 22-point, six-rebound effort in Nebraska s 70-63 win over No. 25 Kansas State (Jan. 17). She added 19 points and five rebounds in NU s win over No. 13 Baylor (Feb. 3). She has scored in double figures 26 times, including 18 straight games, and has scored 20 or more points six times this season. She hit a season-high six three-pointers at Oklahoma State on Feb. 24. Hardy earned Big 12 Player-of-the-Week honors on Nov. 27, after erupting for a season-high 32 points in a win at USC on Nov. 26. She earned State Farm Classic Tournament MVP honors after her 29-point effort at Florida on Dec. 29. She hit 10-of-21 shots from the field, including 4-of-12 three-pointers, while knocking down four straight free throws in the final 30 seconds to seal an 81-73 victory and NU s first road tournament title in a decade. She erupted for 27 points, including 22 in the second half, to lead the Huskers to their first-ever win at Texas on Jan. 3. Hardy hit 9-of-18 shots from the field and scored 10 of NU s final 14 points. Against USC, Hardy hit 14-of-23 shots from the field, including 4-of-10 threepointers. She added four rebounds, four assists and five steals in 31 minutes. The USC contest was the second in a three-game stretch where Hardy averaged 22.7 points, 3.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 2.0 steals in just 22.3 minutes per game during three NU wins over UC Irvine, USC and Texas-Pan American. Perhaps even more impressively, Hardy shot 64.1 percent (25-39) from the field, including a blistering 54.5 percent (12-22) from three-point range. She was also a perfect 6-for-6 at the free throw line during that stretch. Hardy s Key Games (14 Games with 27 or more points) Opponent Pts. Baylor (1/12/05) 37 at USC (11/26/06) 32 Northern Arizona (12/31/05) 32 vs. Hampton (11/27/04) 31 at Florida (12/29/06) 29 Texas (1/18/06) 29 at Kansas State (1/15/05) 29 at Creighton (12/18/04) 29 Texas A&M (3/8/06) 28 at Missouri (3/1/06) 28 at Oklahoma State (2/1/05) 28 Western Illinois (11/12/04) 28 at Texas (1/3/07) 27 Iowa State (2/12/05) 27 At UC Irvine, Hardy scored 23 points on 7-of-12 shooting, including a season-best 5-of-9 three-pointers. Against Texas-Pan American, Hardy scored 11 points in the first 5:45 of the game, to help NU to an 18-4 lead in a 40-point win. Hardy was a perfect 4-for-4 from the field, including a 3-for-3 performance from long range. She also hit both of her free throw attempts against UTPA to finish with 13 points in just 11 minutes. Associated Press Top 25 16th Regular-Season Poll (Feb. 26, 2007) 1-Duke (29-0) (49)...1,249 2-Tennessee (27-2) (1)...1,200 3-Connecticut (26-2)...1,142 4-North Carolina (27-3)...1,085 5-Ohio State (26-2)...1,020 6-Maryland (26-4)...993 7-Stanford (25-4)...919 8-George Washington (25-2)...852 9-Arizona State (26-3)...849 10-Georgia (24-5)...802 11-LSU (24-6)...740 12-Oklahoma (22-4)...697 13-Vanderbilt (24-5)...670 14-Texas A&M (22-5)...590 15-Purdue (25-5)...578 16-Baylor (24-5)...498 17-Middle Tennessee (26-3)...494 18-Rutgers (19-7)...367 19-Bowling Green (25-3)...222 20-Louisville (24-5)...218 21-Wisconsin-Green Bay (23-3)...206 22-Michigan State (22-7)...194 23-Marquette (23-5)...191 24-N.C. State (21-8)...183 25-California (22-7)...87 Other Nebraska opponents receiving votes 28-Iowa State (21-7)...26 32-Nebraska (21-8)...10 38-New Mexico (20-7)...1 Note: Nebraska 2006-07 opponents in bold. USA Today/ESPN Top 25 16th Regular-Season Poll (Feb. 27, 2007) 1-Duke (29-0) (31)...775 2-Tennessee (27-2)...742 3-Connecticut (26-2)...713 4-North Carolina (27-3)...677 5-Maryland (26-4)...632 6-Ohio State (26-2)...617 7-Arizona State (26-3)...564 8-Stanford (25-4)...543 9-George Washington (25-2)...535 10-LSU (24-6)...497 11-Oklahoma (22-4)...453 12-Georgia (24-5)...444 13-Vanderbilt (24-5)...414 14-Purdue (25-5)...345 15-Baylor (24-5)...332 16-Texas A&M (22-5)...321 17-Middle Tennessee (26-3)...303 18-Bowling Green (25-3)...215 19-Marquette (23-5)...180 20-Wisconsin-Green Bay (23-3)...151 21-Rutgers (19-7)...129 21-Louisville (24-5)...129 23-Michigan State (22-7)...115 24-California (22-7)...64 25-N.C. State (21-8)...59 Other Nebraska opponents receiving votes 28-Iowa State (21-7)...13 29-Nebraska (21-8)...10 36-New Mexico (20-7)...4 39-Oklahoma State (19-9)...1 Note: Nebraska 2006-07 opponents in bold.