Second-half surge carries U past Huskers in Big Ten opener

Gophers coach Marlene Stollings always will remember her Big Ten Conference opener.

Her team overcame a 17-point deficit in the final 11 minutes, upsetting No. 12 Nebraska 72-69 Monday night at Williams Arena. It was a matchup between a Top 25 program and another trying to reach that status despite losing its top player, Rachel Banham, to a season-ending knee injury.

"We'll put it at the top of the list for now," Stollings said of where the victory ranks in her four-year head coaching career. "We hope to keep building on it."

It had all the makings of an improbable comeback. The Cornhuskers were dominant in building a 57-40 lead with 10 minutes, 14 seconds left. They were controlling the boards and beating the Gophers (12-1) to every loose ball.

"What a tremendous fight by our young ladies tonight," Stollings said. "We felt we were still in the game and could win it."

The Gophers went on a 28-10 run, capped by junior guard Shayne Mullaney's driving layup with 33 seconds remaining to give them their first lead of the night at 68-67. The one usually in charge of directing the offense was counted on to provide more scoring punch against Nebraska (10-2).

"I'm trying to have more of an offensive mindset," Mullaney said after she finished with a season-best 18 points. "I have to become more of an offensive threat."

Following a Nebraska missed three-pointer, Gophers senior Shae Kelley added two free throws with 17 seconds remaining. The team's leading scorer (outside of Banham) entering the night finished with seven points, nine below her season average. She missed her first 10 shots, and her only basket came with 1:14 remaining.

The Huskers made it 70-69 on Allie Havers' putback with 8.4 seconds remaining. It was only their fourth basket in the final nine minutes.

"We couldn't put the ball in the basket," Nebraska coach Connie Yori said. The Cornhuskers went 13-for-42 from the field in the second half. "We were still getting good looks."

Gophers center Amanda Zahui B. offset Havers' basket with two free throws with 6.1 seconds left. Zahui B. blocked Nebraska's last-second jumper — a two-pointer with the Huskers down three — and finished with 20 points and 15 rebounds, despite being double- and triple-teamed all night.

"We played our hearts out," she said. "You never give up."

Nebraska senior forward Emily Cady led all scorers with 21 points on 10-for-14 shooting. All-Big Ten guard Rachel Theriot scored 18 points but shot only 9-for-27 from the field.

"I have to give credit to Minnesota," Yori said. "They did a really good job in the second half."

That wasn't the case in the opening half. Theriot — one of the 25 players on the watch list for the Wade Trophy, presented to the nation's best Division I player — and the Huskers offense executed at will. She had 10 points and four assists on Nebraska's first 22 points.

When Theriot wasn't scoring, she was usually finding a wide-open Cady for a layup or short jumper just inside the free-throw line. Cady had 12 points in the first half, when Nebraska built a 39-26 lead.

The undersized Huskers outscored the Gophers 22-8 in the paint in the first half. They also held a 32-20 rebounding advantage, which included nine on the offensive glass.

"Nebraska is an extremely talented team," Stollings said. "We knew they were bringing a lot of talent into our house."

Mullaney was responsible with keeping the Gophers that close. She had 12 points and two assists at the intermission.

"This game is one of those you'll never forget," she said.