LINCOLN, Nebr (AP) – Hundreds of fans waited in the back seat to press while Amy Williams completed her postgame radio interview.
As the Nebraska coach began to walk across the court toward the locker room, a round of cheers broke out. Beaming, he stopped and turned, raised both hands up and waved enthusiastically.
She soaked in awards for the Cornhuskers ’second victory of the season over a top-10 opponent, this time a 72-55 blowout from fifth-ranked Indiana Monday night.
“It’s a reward, because this team has worked hard to be able to overcome the hump against one of the teams that is truly respected as one of the best in the country – and want to be able to prove that we are involved in that conversation.” Williams said.
Jazz Shelley and Sam Haiby scored 14 points each to lead five Nebraska players in doubles, with the Cornhuskers escorting a close game in the fourth quarter.
The Huskers (19-6, 8-6 Big Ten) capitalized as Indiana missed 18 straight shots, continuing a 17-0 run that grew their lead to 21 points in the final three minutes.
Nebraska knocked out its highest-ranked opponent since beating a No. 5 LSU on Dec. 20, 2009, and continues to improve its postseason profile. The Huskers went into game No. 20 in the NET rankings.
“I think this is something right now that people need to pay attention to,” Williams said. “Obviously, the pair that won the top 10 teams in the country is something that I think will help anyone. We feel we can compete with the best teams in the country and we want to continue to do that.
The conference-leading Hoosiers (18-4, 10-2) had won 13 of their last 14 before defeating an unranked opponent for the first time since defeating Michigan State in the Big Ten Tournament last year.
“We’re going to be the best for everyone. We’re just,” Indiana coach Teri Moren said. “Nebraska is a hard place to play even if you don’t have a number with your name. Even on Monday night there’s great energy in the buildings on their side, and it. Just not our night.”
The Huskers trailed just five minutes and scored the most points of any team this season against Indiana.
“We’ve won a lot of games against good teams where we don’t hit shots, and we can usually rely on our defense,” Indiana’s Grace Burger said. “Our defense is worse than our offense. For a team that is proud of the defense, it’s disappointing.
Reserve Allison Wiender got eight of her 11 points in the first half and Alexis Markowski and Isabelle Bourne have 10 each for the Huskers. Markowski matched his career top with 15 rebounds.
Berger led the Hoosiers with 20 points and Aleksa Gulbe and Nicole Cardano-Hillary each had 10 points. Indiana shot just 32% from the field and was 2 of 23 on 3-pointers.
The Huskers were up two digits early in the second half, and Ashley Scoggins made it 42-30 with back-to-back 3s. But they couldn’t put away the Hoosiers until the coldest of their cold shooting set in after Cardano-Hillary’s 3 pulled her team at 50-44.
As the Hoosiers clanked or air-balled 18 straight shots, Nebraska extended its lead with Haiby leading the way with snaking layups and in-close jumpers. Haiby got his 10 points in the fourth quarter.
Bella Cravens ’putback returns the double-digit pillow. Shelley extended to 19 points when she made both free throws after a technical offense called on Moren, and Haiby made 69-48 with another jumper.
“Tonight, collectively, they have complete control over a lot of the game,” Moren said. “We’re playing from behind. You can enjoy that. The more they score and the good things that happen, the louder the crowd. They’re better than us tonight.”
Indiana: It went down as one of the most suffering nights of the season. 31.9% of their shooting was their worst of the season, they were only 7 of 13 from the line and had only four assists.
Nebraska: The Huskers beat their second top -10 opponent – they won over a No. 8 Michigan last month – and improved to 14-1 at home. They also won for the first time in eight games against Indiana.
Maurtice Ivy, who scored the first 2,000-point in Nebraska program history, received a standing ovation while being honored in midcourt between the first and second quarters. Ivy was a 1988 Big Eight player and a three-time all-conference first team selection. Jersey No. 30 was retired in 2011.
Indiana: host Northwestern on Thursday.
Nebraska: Visit to Penn State on Thursday.
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