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In the latest episode of Even Field, Josie Whelan and Ambre Moton recap Nebraska volleyball’s season and loss in the national championship.
UConn women’s basketball reminded everyone on Sunday that, even while dealing with a rash of injuries, it still can do UConn things.
Marquette came into Hartford with a 12-0 record, scored the game’s first 10 points and led 21-13 later in the first quarter. But over the next five minutes, the Huskies outscored the Golden Eagles 24-2, widened the margin to 33 in the third quarter and cruised to a 95-64 win over a team that was ranked 18th.
Now No. 21 Creighton gets its first chance against the No. 12 Huskies this season with Wednesday’s 6 p.m. game at Sokol Arena.
“We really do just have to play a complete game. We really can’t take possessions off, we can’t have lapses like we have in past games,” Creighton senior Emma Ronsiek said. “I really think we have the capability of doing that.”
Creighton is coming off Saturday’s 67-56 win over a physical St. John’s team that can make it difficult for an opponent to get in an offensive rhythm.
“I’m happy because it wasn’t a work of art, but it was (against) a team that was going to make us earn it, and I thought we did,” CU coach Jim Flanery said after that win.
But the Bluejays will face a different animal Wednesday. Flanery knows the Bluejays (10-2) need to be efficient to earn that elusive win over UConn (10-3), which has won all seven all-time series meetings.
UConn has been without standouts Azzi Fudd, who tore her ACL in November, and Caroline Decharme for most of the season. But the Huskies have plugged in talented freshmen \u2014 they’re expected to start two freshmen Wednesday \u2014 and against Marquette, junior Paige Bueckers had 25 points and five assists, while 6-foot-3 senior Aaliyah Edwards had her fifth double-double this season with 19 points and 12 rebounds.
“When they’re both really, really aggressive, it makes Connecticut a different basketball team,” said UConn coach Geno Auriemma after the Marquette win.
Edwards averages 17 points and 8.5 rebounds. Bueckers, the 2021 national player of the year before knee injuries derailed her the last two years, leads the Huskies in scoring at 19.2 points a game.
“She definitely brings a different kid of monster to the UConn team. She’s so talented, she makes everyone on the team better,” said Ronsiek, who had a monster December for the Jays as she averaged 22.2 points and six games during the month.
Flanery added that Bueckers brings a certain “wow factor” to games. He said it’s not the same as someone like Iowa’s Caitlin Clark, but Bueckers’ game is so efficient.
He also added UConn is a team that has improved a lot over the past month. UConn’s losses are to UCLA, NC State and Texas, three teams all in the top 10 with a combined record of 38-1.
Play in the paint will be a key for the Bluejays. Against Marquette, UConn had a 47-32 rebounding edge, a 27-6 advantage in second-chance points and scored 52 points in the paint. And Flanery knows how important the right frame of mind is when facing UConn.
“A lot of it is in execution and scheme, but much of it is between the ears when you play UConn. You have to go into the game believing you can win,” Flanery said. “And you have to have that for 40 minutes.”
Edwards had 23 points and 20 rebounds last season at Sokol when UConn was in control from the start in a 72-47 win. Flanery called that loss one of the most disappointing performances of the season, but the Jays nearly won at UConn last February when it outrebounded the Huskies and led in the final minute. UConn won that game 62-60 by hitting two free throws with 4.1 seconds left.
Creighton has three players averaging more than 14 points a game. Besides Ronsiek, Lauren Jensen is averaging 17 a game, while Morgan Maly is at 14.7.
Creighton’s Morgan Maly (30) shoots a 3-pointer in the Creighton vs. Nebraska women’s college basketball game at the Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln on Sunday, Nov. 19, 2023.
Creighton’s Emma Ronsiek (31) spins around Nebraska’s Maddie Krull (42) in the Creighton vs. Nebraska women’s college basketball game at the Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln on Sunday, Nov. 19, 2023.
Nebraska’s Alexis Markowski (40) goes up for a rebound in the Creighton vs. Nebraska women’s college basketball game at the Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln on Sunday, Nov. 19, 2023.
Creighton’s Emma Ronsiek (31) and Nebraska’s Jessica Petrie (12) stretch out for the ball in the Creighton vs. Nebraska women’s college basketball game at the Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln on Sunday, Nov. 19, 2023.
Nebraska’s Maddie Krull (42) controls the ball in the Creighton vs. Nebraska women’s college basketball game at the Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln on Sunday, Nov. 19, 2023.
Nebraska’s Darian White (0) beaks through Creighton’s Mallory Brake (14) and Creighton’s Lauren Jensen (15) in the Creighton vs. Nebraska women’s college basketball game at the Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln on Sunday, Nov. 19, 2023. Creighton won the game 79-74.
Creighton’s Lauren Jensen (15) shoots the ball in the Creighton vs. Nebraska women’s college basketball game at the Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln on Sunday, Nov. 19, 2023. Creighton won the game 79-74.
Creighton’s Molly Mogensen (21) controls the ball in the Creighton vs. Nebraska women’s college basketball game at the Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln on Sunday, Nov. 19, 2023. Creighton won the game 79-74.
Nebraska’s Maddie Krull (42) controls the ball in the Creighton vs. Nebraska women’s college basketball game at the Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln on Sunday, Nov. 19, 2023. Creighton won the game 79-74.
Creighton’s Mallory Brake (14) and Emma Ronsiek (31) sandwich Nebraska’s Kendall Coley (32) in the Creighton vs. Nebraska women’s college basketball game at the Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln on Sunday, Nov. 19, 2023. Creighton won the game 79-74.
Husker fans cheer ahead of the Creighton vs. Nebraska women’s college basketball game at the Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln on Sunday, Nov. 19, 2023. Creighton won the game 79-74.
Nebraska’s Alexis Markowski (40) plays defense against Creighton’s Mallory Brake (14) in the Creighton vs. Nebraska women’s college basketball game at the Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln on Sunday, Nov. 19, 2023. Creighton won the game 79-74.
A Husker fan reacts to a call in the Creighton vs. Nebraska women’s college basketball game at the Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln on Sunday, Nov. 19, 2023. Creighton won the game 79-74.
The Creighton vs. Nebraska women’s college basketball game at the Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln on Sunday, Nov. 19, 2023. Creighton won the game 79-74.
Creighton’s Morgan Maly (30) looks to pass the ball in the Creighton vs. Nebraska women’s college basketball game at the Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln on Sunday, Nov. 19, 2023. Creighton won the game 79-74.
Nebraska’s Darian White (0) moves past Creighton’s Emma Ronsiek (31) in the Creighton vs. Nebraska women’s college basketball game at the Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln on Sunday, Nov. 19, 2023. Creighton won the game 79-74.
Creighton’s Kiani Lockett (11) drives through Nebraska’s Darian White (0) in the Creighton vs. Nebraska women’s college basketball game at the Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln on Sunday, Nov. 19, 2023. Creighton won the game 79-74.
Creighton head coach Jim Flanery calls out to his team in the Creighton vs. Nebraska women’s college basketball game at the Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln on Sunday, Nov. 19, 2023. Creighton won the game 79-74.
Creighton’s Lauren Jensen (15) looks to the official during the Creighton vs. Nebraska women’s college basketball game at the Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln on Sunday, Nov. 19, 2023. Creighton won the game 79-74.
Nebraska’s Logan Nissley (2) brings the ball downcourt in the Creighton vs. Nebraska women’s college basketball game at the Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln on Sunday, Nov. 19, 2023. Creighton won the game 79-74.
Creighton’s Lauren Jensen (15) shoots the ball over Nebraska’s Jaz Shelley (1) and Alexis Markowski (40) in the Creighton vs. Nebraska women’s college basketball game at the Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln on Sunday, Nov. 19, 2023. Creighton won the game 79-74.
Creighton fans celebrate a basket in the Creighton vs. Nebraska women’s college basketball game at the Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln on Sunday, Nov. 19, 2023. Creighton won the game 79-74.
Nebraska’s Darian White (0) keeps the ball from Creighton’s Lauren Jensen (15) in the Creighton vs. Nebraska women’s college basketball game at the Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln on Sunday, Nov. 19, 2023. Creighton won the game 79-74.
Nebraska head coach Amy Williams talks to an official in the Creighton vs. Nebraska women’s college basketball game at the Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln on Sunday, Nov. 19, 2023. Creighton won the game 79-74.
Creighton’s Jayme Horan (12) is hurt in the Creighton vs. Nebraska women’s college basketball game at the Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln on Sunday, Nov. 19, 2023. Creighton won the game 79-74.
Nebraska’s Natalie Potts (22) looks to pass the ball away from Creighton’s Emma Ronsiek (31) in the Creighton vs. Nebraska women’s college basketball game at the Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln on Sunday, Nov. 19, 2023. Creighton won the game 79-74.
Nebraska’s Darian White (0) smiles on the bench during the Creighton vs. Nebraska women’s college basketball game at the Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln on Sunday, Nov. 19, 2023. Creighton won the game 79-74.
Husker fans celebrate a basket in the Creighton vs. Nebraska women’s college basketball game at the Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln on Sunday, Nov. 19, 2023. Creighton won the game 79-74.
Nebraska’s Jaz Shelley (1) looks to pass the ball past Creighton’s Kiani Lockett (11) in the Creighton vs. Nebraska women’s college basketball game at the Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln on Sunday, Nov. 19, 2023. Creighton won the game 79-74.
Nebraska men’s basketball players Josiah Allick and Keisei Tominaga watch the Creighton vs. Nebraska women’s college basketball game at the Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln on Sunday, Nov. 19, 2023. Creighton won the game 79-74.
Nebraska’s Jessica Petrie (12) and Nebraska’s Darian White (0) walk off the court following the Creighton vs. Nebraska women’s college basketball game at the Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln on Sunday, Nov. 19, 2023. Creighton won the game 79-74.
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In the latest episode of Even Field, Josie Whelan and Ambre Moton recap Nebraska volleyball’s season and loss in the national championship.
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