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Even for the nation’s best teams, it’s never easy to lose a player to injury, especially when that player happens to be a two-time all-conference selection.
The Nebraska women’s basketball team gets a boost this season from the return of senior forward Kelsey Griffin, a first-team All-Big 12 selection during the 2006 and 2007 seasons. Griffin redshirted last season after suffering a foot injury but is back practicing and is 100 percent healthy.
It didn’t take her long to get going in NU’s 68-54 exhibition victory over NCAA Division II Pittsburgh State Tuesday night.
Griffin scored NU’s first points of the season by hitting a jump-shot from the right elbow on the Huskers’ third possession. She finished with 19 points and eight rebounds.
“She was the dominant player on our team, but at the same time, I know she wasn’t happy with some of the shots she missed,” NU coach Connie Yori said. “But she was really good for not playing for 17 months.”
Griffin admitted that the long layoff gave her jitters.
“I was pretty nervous. It was almost like my freshman year again,” Griffin said. “It wasn’t even the basketball so much, it was all about being a floor leader.”
Senior Cory Montgomery scored 17 points, and junior Dominique Kelley added 14 for the Huskers.
After jumping out to a 12-3 lead in less than five minutes, the Huskers cooled off offensively but still led 33-24 at the half. NU then used a 15-4 run midway through the second half to pull away from the Gorillas.
One of the night’s biggest surprises was the absence of senior guard Yvonne Turner from the starting lineup. After starting all 31 contests a year ago, Turner found herself on the bench to start the game for the first time since her freshman year.
Freshman guard Lindsey Moore, a Parade High School All-American, started at point guard in place of Turner, but the senior provided an instant spark when inserted. She scored four points in the game’s first five minutes and ended up with six points. Her trademark defense also earned her five steals.
“The starting lineup was the best players in our practice setting,” Yori said. “We’re still trying to figure it out. We’ve got a freshman starting, but Yvonne’s going to have to play better for us.”
Moore was solid in her 25 minutes, turning the ball over just once.
“She’s really fun to play with,” senior guard Kala Kuhlmann said of the freshman. “She’s a good passer, and once she gets some experience, she’s going to be really good.”
There are things NU must improve before the regular season begins though, Griffin said. The Huskers failed to make a 3-pointer, missing all nine of their long-range attempts. They also turned the ball over 16 times and handed out just six assists.
“I think we still have our best to show yet,” Griffin said. “Our defense wasn’t where we want it to be. We shoot a lot better than we shot tonight, that’s for sure. We have to play smarter and play our system.”
Kuhlmann said some of the mistakes can be attributed to getting used to playing with everyone again, especially those who have missed time with injuries.
“We need to learn to play within our rotation and take into account who we’re playing with,” Kuhlmann said.
The struggles shouldn’t worry the Huskers too much. Early season exhibition games are usually used to get the kinks out six months after the players’ last game. For Griffin, that break was even longer, but her play didn’t reflect it.
danhoppen@dailynebraskan.com
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