LINCOLN, Neb. — The secret is out: Nebraska can play with the best in the country.
The 20th-ranked Cornhuskers established themselves as a legitimate player on the national scene Sunday, rolling to a 77-63 victory of No. 5 LSU behind Kelsey Griffin’s 30 points and 14 rebounds.
“Some people have been questioning our strength of schedule, so to prove we can play with some of the best teams, it’s a great win,” Griffin said. “I’m kind of hoping it put us on the map.”
The Huskers finished 15-16 a year ago and were picked sixth in the Big 12 in the preseason. They quietly rolled off 10 consecutive victories before LSU came into the Devaney Sports Center without a loss on the season.
Nebraska (11-0), out to its best start in school history and on its longest winning streak ever, dominated the battle of the unbeatens. The Huskers got out to a 21-4 lead, and after LSU (9-1) pulled within five points early in the second half, they went on a 12-2 run and led by 10 or more the rest of the game.
“Nebraska’s for real,” LSU Coach Van Chancellor said. “The Big 12 better look out.”
LSU is the highest-ranked opponent Nebraska has beaten since a triple-overtime victory over a second-ranked Baylor team in the 2004-2005 season.
Cory Montgomery added 16 points and Dominique Kelley 13 for Nebraska.
“I expected us to come here and be highly competitive,” Nebraska Coach Connie Yori said. “One of the things we talked a lot about is having to expect to win this game. We can’t be satisfied with playing close or playing a good game.”
Allison Hightower had 15 points and Katherine Graham 12 for LSU.
NO. 9 NORTH CAROLINA 93, SOUTH CAROLINA 85
MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. - Cetera De-Graffenreid had a career-high 26 points to help North Carolina hold on for the victory.
Kelsey Bone, South Carolina’s 6-5 freshman, had 27 points and 10 rebounds.
The Tar Heels (9-1) were up 42-24 in the first half and looked on the way to another blowout victory in the CarolinasChallenge. Instead, the Gamecocks (6-4) stormed back to take a 69-66 lead with nine minutes to go.
But DeGraffenreid scored 18 points in the second half and North Carolina took control for its 10th consecutive victory along the Grand Strand.
Italee Lucas had 23 points for the Tar Heels.
NO. 11 GEORGIA 69, NO. 19 VIRGINIA 53
ATHENS, Ga. - Jasmine James had 17 points and 10 rebounds to power Georgia.
Monica Wright scored 21 for Virginia (7-3), becoming the third player in school history with 2,000 points.
Porsha Phillips had 14 points and Angel Robinson added 11 points and 10 rebounds for Georgia (10-0).
The Bulldogs started the second half with a 12-3 run that put them up 48-25 three minutes in.
NO. 12 XAVIER 81, MISSISSIPPI STATE 60
CINCINNATI - Amber Harris had 18 points to lead Xavier to a much-needed victory.
The Musketeers (8-2) were coming off back-to-back losses to Michigan State and Michigan. Xavier used a late first-half run to take control against Mississippi State.
April Phillips added 16 points and Ta’Shia Phillips had 14 points and 13 rebounds.
Mary Kathryn Govero had 15 points for Mississippi State (8-4). Tysheka Grimes and Alexis Rack added 13 apiece.
Xavier went on an 18-5 run at the end of the first half for a 41-31 lead.
NO. 18 VANDERBILT 84, TENNESSEE STATE 47
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Meredith Marsh scored 24 points to lead Vanderbilt to the easy victory.
The Commodores (10-1) used a season-high 52 points in the first half to pull away from the Tigers (3-7). Marsh scored 16 in the first half.
Oby Okafor had 14 points and 10 rebounds for Tennessee State, which fell to 2-14 against the Commodores.
Sports, Pages 22 on 12/21/2009