Jayhawks Drop Heartbreaker to Nebraska in Overtime, 75-61
Jan. 16, 2011
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LINCOLN, Neb. – The Kansas bench exploded late in the second half, as the Jayhawks used a second-half run to come from behind by as much as 12 points and play into overtime against Nebraska, Sunday at Lincoln’s Bob Devany Center. But the Huskers turned in a stellar overtime performance, and the Jayhawks dropped their first overtime contest of the season, 75-61.
Carolyn Davis paced the Jayhawks (14-3, 1-2 Big 12) with her fifth double-double of the season, turning in a 26-point, 10-rebound performance. Davis’ 26 points was just three shy of her season-best and a mere five away from tying her career-best.
Monica Engelman scored 14 points and tied her career-high with nine boards. Aishah Sutherland also finished with nine boards to go along with her nine points. Sutherland and Engelmanhit two of the most important baskets for KU, with Sutherland taking a late lead for KU, and Engelman nailing a game-tying three that sent the contest into overtime.
For Nebraska (11-6, 1-2 Big 12), four players scored in double-digit to balance out the Cornhuskers’ offense. Lindsey Moore and Kaitlyn Burke lead the way with 23 and 20 points each, respectively. Catheryn Redmon, a former teammate of KU guard Keena Mays, pulled down a game-high 17 boards – the most by a Kansas opponent this season.
A thrilling second half saw Kansas stage a rally that stunned a Devany Center crowd of 5,693. Facing the largest deficit of the season, the Jayhawks contributed from all parts of the court to come back after being down by 12 points and tie the game at 44 with just under five minutes left. Sutherland then took a lead for Kansas with a key jumper from the top of the key. The Cornhuskers then took back a lead but Engelman hit a game-tying three to send the game into overtime, tied at 56-56.
After Davis opened up the second half with six straight points, `Huskers responded with eight of their own over the next seven possessions to increase their lead to 12 once again.
Down 40-28 after a timeout, Engelman sparked the comeback bid when she swished a three at 11:55. Davis took one to the hole for a layup in KU’s next possession and Mays followed up with a jumper from the elbow, bringing the Jayhawks back to within five points at 40-35.
The two teams traded shots back-and-forth in the ensuing possessions, with the Jayhawks managing to cut the lead all the way down to two after Krysten Boogaard hit two free throws with 6:21 left to play.
Now down just 44-42, Lindsey Moore netted a shot for the Huskers. Davis was then fouled and hit both free throws to again bring KU to within striking distance. The KU bench jumped to their feet when a double-teamed Goodrich made a layup to tie with around five minutes left.
Nebraska got two shots off during the next possession but failed to grab the lead. Sutherland than swished a wide-open jumper to give the Jayhawks’ their first lead of the game with just 4:32 left.
The `Huskers immediately took it back with a triple by Moore and a layup to make the score 51-48. Sutherland then took two points off that lead with another jumper and the Jayhawks found themselves down by just a single point.
Overtime began with a Burke layup. She missed the free throw, failing to convert the three-point play, but Redmon made one from the stripe soon after, giving the `Hukers a 59-56 advantage in the first two minutes. Katya Leick swished a three from the corner to leave KU with six points to make up.
Nebraska continued to roll in ovetime, going nearly perfect from the field. Engelman hit a long three with only a minute left, but the trey was not enough, as Kansas ultimately fell.
KU returns home Wednesday, Jan. 19, to host the top-ranked team in the country, Baylor. The Bears and Player of the Year candidate Brittney Griner will tipoff against the Jayhawks at 7 p.m.
