Prince Shines as Nebraska Dominates Richmond in First Four

Prince Shines as Nebraska Dominates Richmond in First Four

DURHAM, NC – The roar of the crowd at Cameron Indoor Stadium signaled the true start of March Madness, and the Nebraska Cornhuskers wasted no time making their mark. Led by a stellar performance from Britt Prince, Nebraska punched their ticket to the Round of 64 with a commanding victory over the Richmond Spiders in the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament’s First Four. Prince was electric, scoring 22 points on an efficient 10-of-14 shooting, including a crucial 11 points in the second half that propelled the Huskers to a dominant win.

Huskers Explode in Second Half

From the opening tip, Nebraska showed they were ready for the big stage. Britt Prince kicked off the scoring with a confident mid-range jumper, setting the tone for her impressive night. The Cornhuskers’ offense flowed smoothly, with Palet Hake hitting an early three-pointer and Amaya Hargrove making her presence felt inside. Richmond’s Maggie Dugan, the two-time A10 Player of the Year, tried to keep pace, knocking down her own triples and showing her scoring prowess.

However, Nebraska’s offensive firepower, particularly from beyond the arc, proved too much for the Spiders. The Huskers hit three of their first five three-point attempts in the first half, showcasing a balanced attack that featured sharp shooting from players like Nissley and Bojon. While Richmond’s Ally Sweeney also hit a couple of key threes, they struggled to find consistent scoring outside of Dugan. The first half saw Nebraska build a solid lead, with Prince already demonstrating her knack for finding scoring opportunities.

Prince Leads Second-Half Surge

The second half was where Nebraska truly took control. Britt Prince was unstoppable, scoring 11 points after halftime. She hit a tough shot while being fouled, showing her ability to finish through contact. Nebraska’s offense caught fire, going on a significant run that extended their lead to double digits. “What a start to this third quarter in this second half from Britt Prince,” a commentator exclaimed, highlighting her impact.

The Huskers’ hot shooting continued, with multiple players contributing from deep. Palet Hake added to her scoring, and Ken Hanke put on a show, seemingly unable to miss. “She’s feeling it. She’s in that zone where you just feel like that ball is going to go in no matter where you shoot it,” a commentator noted about Hanke’s performance. This offensive explosion put Richmond in a difficult position, and despite some late efforts, they couldn’t close the gap.

Nebraska’s Dominance Sets Up Baylor Clash

The final score reflected Nebraska’s dominant second-half performance. Their ability to hit clutch shots and maintain offensive pressure proved to be the difference. The win secures Nebraska’s spot in the Round of 64, where they will face the formidable Baylor Bears. This matchup carries some historical weight, as both programs were once part of the Big 12 conference.

For Richmond, the loss ends their tournament hopes. Despite the efforts of players like Dugan and Sweeney, they couldn’t overcome Nebraska’s offensive onslaught, especially in the second half. The Spiders, who entered the tournament as an 11 seed, will look to build on their season after this First Four appearance.

Looking Ahead

Nebraska’s impressive showing in the First Four sets them up for a challenging but exciting matchup against Baylor. Their ability to shoot the three and their strong offensive execution, particularly in the second half, will be key factors as they advance in the NCAA Tournament. The performance of Britt Prince has firmly established her as an early star of March Madness.

“We’ve caught a lot of games this year, Jen, I’m not sure I’ve seen that, especially coming out of the locker room at halftime,” one commentator noted after Nebraska’s explosive second-half run.

Source: First Four: Richmond Spiders 🆚 Nebraska Cornhuskers | Women’s NCAA Tournament | Full Game Highlights (YouTube)