Lincoln – Jordan Hooper scored more than 30 points for the second straight home game, pouring in 33 points in just 25 minutes to lead the Nebraska women’s basketball team to an 80-67 win over Oral Roberts on Thursday night at the Devaney Center.
The Huskers improved to 9-3 overall while Oral Roberts slipped to 3-6.
Hooper, who has averaged 32.7 points per game in her last three home games, hit 13-of-23 shots from the field, including 5-of-10 three-pointers. The 6-2 junior forward from Alliance, Neb., also hit both of her free throw attempts, while grabbing a game-high nine rebounds.
Senior point guard also produced a strong all-around game with 15 points and eight assists, while hitting 5-of-7 shots from the field including her lone three-point attempt, while also making all four of her free throws. Moore’s eight assists moved her into second place on NU’s career list with 568, ahead of both Nicole Kubik (563) and Jina Johansen (567).
Nebraska got contributions across the board, as nine Huskers found the scoring column, including seven players who hit at least one three-pointer. As a team, Nebraska hit 11-of-23 three-pointers on the night, while knocking down 26-of-57 shots overall from the field. NU was also a glossy 17-of-18 at the free throw line, including 16 straight to open the game.
Sophomore forward Emily Cady produced eight points, four rebounds, five assists and three steals, while sophomore guard Tear’a Laudermill pitched in seven points, three assists and two steals while supplying outstanding defense in the first half.
Laudermill forced six of ORU’s 12 first-half turnovers, helping the Huskers hold the normally high-flying Golden Eagles to just 20 first-half points. With strong defense from Laudermill, Hailie Sample and the rest of the Huskers, and the hot shooting of Hooper and Moore, Nebraska’s lead grew to 30 points at 52-22 early in the second half.
NU maintained a 29-point lead at 65-36 after Hooper got her final two points at the free throw line with 11:20 left in the game.
ORU got hot late in the second half against Husker reserves, going 19-for-39 in the second half while NU committed 13 second-half turnovers. Kevi Luper led ORU with 22 points, while Bernadett Balla added 17 points and six rebounds off the bench. Jaci Bigham and Christian Key each pitched in nine points in the loss.
Hooper scored 22 points on 9-of-14 shooting in the first half, including 4-of-6 shooting from three-point range. It was Hooper’s fifth 20-point scoring effort of the season, including her fourth in the last five games.
Moore added 12 points and five assists on 4-of-6 shooting from the field in the first half. Moore also hit all four of her free throw attempts, leading NU’s 14-for-14 performance at the line in the half.
Moore’s 16-foot jumper with two seconds left in the first half sent NU to the locker room with its biggest lead of the half at 44-20. NU went 13-of-28 from the floor, including 4-of-8 from three-point range. The Huskers also outrebounded ORU 18-13 in the half, while winning the turnover battle, 12-6.
Luper led ORU with 10 points on 5-of-9 shooting, while Bernadett Balla added four first-half points off the bench. The Golden Eagles went just 9-of-24 from the field, including 0-for-3 from beyond the arc in the half. ORU was just 2-of-4 at the free throw line in the half.
The Huskers will take eight days off from competition before continuing their four-game home stand on Saturday, Dec. 29, when they take on Grambling State. Tip-off between the Huskers and Lady Tigers is set for 7:05 p.m. Tickets are available now at Huskers.com. The game will be the second of men’s/women’s double-header at the Devaney Center on Dec. 29, as the NU men face Nicholls State at 2:05 p.m. A men’s ticket will gain fans free general admission seating into the women’s game.
