For the second time in a row, the Cornhuskers will walk out onto their own court remembering how good a home win feels.
Nebraska has won its last two Big 12 Conference games at the Bob Devaney Sports Center. If NU pulls off a win against No. 20 Kansas State tonight, it will be the first time the Huskers had a three-game winning streak in Lincoln since the 2007-2008 season.
Last year, Nebraska defeated Missouri, Colorado and Iowa State in its last three games at home. K-State is 21-4 overall and 8-4 in the Big 12.
NU junior Yvonne Turner said with only four games left in the regular season, her team needs to keep producing.
“We need to use our strengths to our abilities,” Turner said. “That is the only thing we can do the rest of the season.”
The Huskers are currently eleventh in Big 12 standings but are focusing all their attention on finishing strong and having a good showing in the conference tournament.
The idea of finishing also applies to their offensive game.
NU sophomore Dominique Kelley pointed to the meeting between Nebraska and KSU last month. The Big Red led the Wildcats by two points at intermission but allowed Kansas State to score 30 second half points to Nebraska’s 17.
The end result was a 50-41 KSU victory.
“I think we had a hard time putting the ball in the hoop,” she said. “We’ve been working in that area to finish better.”
Offense has been an issue for NU all season. The Huskers are tenth in the league in both scoring offense and field goal percentage. They’re also eleventh in the conference in scoring margin.
Turner said one of the reasons the team has stayed so positive with a 3-9 conference mark is the demeanor of NU coach Connie Yori.
“Her attitude is the same,” Turner said. “She comes to practice all the time with a positive attitude. We lose games, but she doesn’t hold it against us. She brings the energy for our practices.”
Nebraska’s four remaining games are home against KSU and Colorado and at Kansas and Oklahoma State. After tonight’s match-up with the Wildcats, the three remaining games are against teams currently ranked in the bottom half of the league.
If NU can win a few more contests, it should give the Huskers a charge heading into next season when they will have six seniors in the lineup.
Kelley said she knows this is Nebraska’s chance to put a few more Ws in the win column. The Lincoln native said when the Huskers practice hard, it usually carries over to the hardwood.
Turner is already upbeat for the remaining games and feels Nebraska has found its stride after losing key players Kelsey Griffin and Nikki Bober to injury.
“We beat those teams (Missouri and Kansas),” Turner said. “We’re just that close to top 25 teams without our star player (Griffin) from last year.”
jeffstraub@dailynebraskan.com
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