The Nebraska Cornhuskers put five players in double figures and shot 61% from the floor on Tuesday afternoon, cruising past the Maine Black Bears 108-50 in a non-conference women’s basketball season opener for both teams at Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln, Nebraska.
Nebraska led 11-6 about four minutes in, but then used a 20-2 run that extended into the second quarter to start pulling away from the visiting Black Bears as Maine never led in the game. The Cornhuskers out of the Big 10 Conference, led by as many as 27 in the first half and 52-26 at halftime. The hosts used a 56-24 second half for the final margin of victory.
The youthful Black Bears, who have five sophomores and five freshman on the roster, were led by Anne Simon who had 14 points, three rebounds, and three assists. Maeve Carroll finished with 11 points, eight rebounds, and five assists. Alba Orois added eight points and six assists. Simon, Carroll, and Orois are the only ones that saw game action that played significant minutes last season. Freshman Bailey Wilborn also chipped in six points as Maine shot 39% from the floor, but only 21% (5-23) from the three-point arc and lost the turnover battle 16-6. Isabelle Bourne had 17 points and five rebounds for Nebraska. Bella Cravens added 13 points and eight rebounds, while Ashley Scoggin (12), Annika Stewart (12), and Sam Haiby (10) also got into double figures. The Cornhuskers also shot 8-15 (53%) from long range. Maine returns to Memorial Gymnasium (the Pit) on Saturday for a non-conference home opener with Providence College at 1 p.m.
