May 25, 2013

NU’s Hooper makes Team USA squad

Nebraska’s Jordan Hooper earned a position on USA Basketball’s 12-player roster for the Women’s World University Games, USA Basketball announced on Sunday.

Hooper, a 6-2 forward from Alliance, Neb., captured her first roster spot with USA Basketball in her first trip to a trials. The two-time All-American has powered Nebraska to back-to-back NCAA tournaments, including a trip to the NCAA Sweet 16 as a junior in 2013.

Hooper, a two-time first-team All-Big Ten selection, earned a spot on USA Basketball’s Women’s World University Games Team after three days (May 16-18) of intense competition among 33 of the nation’s top collegians at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs.

The U.S. Women’s Basketball Junior National Team Committee chose the select squad that will represent the United States at the World University Games in Kazan, Russia, July 8-15. Hooper and the other 11 members of the U.S. team will meet again for training at the USOC June 25-July 1.

“I am really excited,” Hooper said. “I didn’t really think I had much of a chance to make the team honestly, because there were so many great players, and I didn’t really feel like I played that well the first two days. But I made up my mind from the beginning to just go out and play hard and do my best, and I think that’s what the coaches liked about me.”

“It is a great opportunity,” Hooper said. “I am just going to try to make the most of it and enjoy the experience. I’m really honored to get a chance to represent the United States at the international level for the first time.”

NU women to face UNC in Big Ten/ACC Challenge

Nebraska will travel to North Carolina for the Big Ten/ACC Challenge.  The Huskers, who advanced to the 2013 NCAA Sweet 16, will face a Tar Heel team that earned a trip to the NCAA second round.

Nebraska (25-9, 12-4 Big Ten) finished No. 16 in the final NCAA RPI in 2012-13, while North Carolina was No. 18. The Huskers closed the season at No. 18 in the final USA Today/Coaches Top 25, while North Carolina (29-7, 14-4 ACC) came in at No. 19. NU entered the NCAA Tournament at No. 24 in the final Associated Press Poll, while the Tar Heels were No. 13.

The Huskers were the Big Ten regular-season runner-up, while North Carolina matched Maryland for second in the ACC final standings.

Hooper earns invite to Team USA camp

Nebraska’s Jordan Hooper has earned an invitation to compete at the 2013 USA Basketball Women’s World University Games Team Trials.

USA Basketball officially announced the 31 players invited to the trials on Wednesday, May 8, after the USA Basketball Junior National Team Committee issued the invitations.

Hooper earned honorable-mention All-America honors for the second straight season in 2012-13 while helping Nebraska to the NCAA Sweet 16. The 6-2 forward from Alliance, Neb., led the Huskers in scoring and rebounding with 17.9 points and 8.8 boards per contest while powering Nebraska to a 25-9 overall record.

A three-year starter for the Huskers, Hooper was a candidate for the Wade, Naismith and Wooden National Player-of-the-Year awards as a junior. The two-time first-team All-Big Ten selection enters her senior season at Nebraska ranked 10th in career scoring with 1,685 points, while ranking fifth in career rebounding with 811. She also ranks second in career three-pointers made with 215.

Hooper will be in a talented player pool that includes 10 players who have won gold medals with USA Basketball in international competition. The team will be coached by Oklahoma’s Sherri Coale, along with assistants Brian Giorgis (Marist) and Coquese Washington (Penn State). Wisconsin’s Bobbie Kelsey and Tulsa’s Matilda Mossman will serve as court coaches during the trials.

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Huskers to host Miami in ACC/Big Ten Challenge game

One piece of Nebraska’s 2013-14 home schedule was revealed Wednesday afternoon, as the pairings of the ACC/ Big Ten Challenge were announced. Nebraska will host defending ACC champion Miami at Pinnacle Bank Arena on Wednesday, Dec. 4, the second night of the two-day event between the conferences. Start time and television information will be announced at a later date.

The Hurricanes went 29-7 last season, winning both the regular season and tournament titles for the first time in program history before falling to Marquette in the Sweet 16. Under National Coach of the Year Jim Larrañaga, the Hurricanes reached the Sweet 16 for the second time in NCAA history.

Miami is 2-4 all-time in ACC/Big Ten Challenge games, including a 67-59 win over Michigan State last season. Nebraska is 1-1 all-time in ACC/Big Ten Challenge matchups following a 79-63 win at Wake Forest last November in Winston-Salem, N.C.

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Moore opens up WNBA camp in Minnesota

Nebraska senior Lindsey Moore picked up her diploma on Saturday, then left for Minnesota for the start of WNBA Training Camp with the Lynx on Sunday. The 2013 WNBA first-round draft pick from Covington, Wash, earned her degree in communication studies.

Moore was as a four-year starter and was voted to Nebraska’s All-Devaney Team as one of the top five players in the history of the program in 2013. Moore set a school record with 699 career assists. She also set Nebraska records for career starts (132), career minutes (4,360) and career victories (94). She led NU to three NCAA Tournament appearances, including the first two NCAA Sweet 16 bids (2010, 2013) in school history.

The Lynx, who advanced to the 2012 WNBA Finals, opened their 2013 training camp. Minnesota plays its first preseason game against Washington on Saturday, May 18 at the Bismarck Civic Center in North Dakota. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. The Lynx conclude preseason action against former Husker All-American Kelsey Griffin and the Connecticut Sun on Tuesday, May 21, at the Target Center in Minneapolis. Tip-off is set for Noon.

Moore and the 2012 WNBA Western Conference champion Lynx will go head-to-head with Griffin and the Sun again to open the regular season on Saturday, June 1 at the Target Center. Tip-off for the regular-season opener is set for 7 p.m.

The Lynx are offering Nebraska fans special discounts in “Husker Sections” for Moore’s first two appearances at the Target Center.

2013 Moore Lynx Ticket offer