NU's Moore humbled after surpassing 1,000 career points

Nebraska led Purdue by one point with 50 seconds remaining in the third overtime.

Lindsey Moore looked at the shot clock in time to see two seconds counting down. The junior pulled up from 32 feet and swished a three as the shot clock expired. Not only did that shot give NU a two-possession lead with 47 seconds left but it gave Moore 1,001 points in her career.

"During the game I didn't realize how close I was to getting 1,000 points," Moore said. "After, when people were congratulating and I realized what happened, it was pretty cool to get 1,000 points in that way."

Moore finished the game with 26 points to total 1,003 on her career.

The scoring comes in a variety ways from Moore, the 27th player in Husker history to surpass the 1,000-point plateau.

The junior can shoot. She is eighth in Husker history with more 100 three-pointers on her career. Moore can do more than shoot, though, as she often spins and weaves in the lane for acrobatic layups.

This season, Moore is averaging a career-high 16.5 points per game, ranking sixth among Big Ten players.

"You have to stay on her at all times because she is a great shooter," senior Kaitlyn Burke said. "If you guard her too hard, though, she will dribble around you and either score or make the pass."

It is usually not about the points for Moore, like Burke said. In fact, Moore compares herself to more pass-oriented NBA players.

"Most people compare me to Steve Nash, but I think I'm more like Jason Kidd, mainly because he's my favorite player," Moore said.

Moore prefers to pass first and score when she must, much like the styles of Kidd and Nash, both known for their passing skills. The Covington, Wash., native proved she could pass from the minute she stepped on the floor for Nebraska.

The junior ranks fifth on the all-time assist list at Nebraska with 438 assists in 82 games, which totals to an average of 5.3 assists per game in her career.

Moore, after two years of impressing Big 12 foes, now shows off her passing skills in the Big Ten conference. She ranks second in the conference with an average of 5.6 assists per game.

Nebraska coach Connie Yori said she sees Moore as one of the best point guards in the country.

"Lindsey is a classic floor leader," Yori said. "She is an excellent passer and decision-maker as a point guard, and she can score in a variety of ways. I love her competitiveness on the court."

Moore continues to use that competitiveness in every game she starts, which is 87 straight. The junior is now the emotional leader of Nebraska because of that experience on the court, Yori said.

Since starting her first game freshman year, Moore demands the best out of her teammates. That year, her team went undefeated in the regular season and held a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament.

Moore received All-Big 12 freshman honors her first year while averaging six points and 4.5 assists. It was the leadership skills she learned from the seniors on that squad, though, that Moore took away most from that season.     

"My senior teammates that year are the main reason why I have such good leadership skills now," Moore said. "All of those seniors helped me out with things on the court when they could have just let me struggle and they all gave me great points.

"I now use those points this season with our young team."

The role Moore plays changes regularly every game, she said. Whether the captain scores 20 points, records 11 assists or grabs 10 rebounds, she does what her team needs her to do at the time, Moore said.

Just being put in the same category as some of the Husker greats after scoring her 1,000-point humbles Moore, she said.

"It's a really high compliment just to be mentioned with some of the great players here because there have been a lot of them," Moore said. "It is truly an honor."

andrewward@dailynebraskan.com