Central Missouri closed on an 8-0 run to defeat the UNK women’s basketball team last night, 67-57, in the Central Region Championship Game in Warrensburg, Missouri. This was the third Sweet 16 appearance for the Lopers, the last coming in 2007. They have never advanced to the Elite-8. The 9th ranked Lopers, who won their first MIAA Tourney Championship this season, end the year with a record of 23-4. With the victory, the Jennies advance to the Elite Eight in Columbus, Ohio.
The Nebraska and Creighton women’s basketball teams have earned an at-large bid to the 32-team Postseason WNIT. The Huskers, who posted five wins over NCAA Tournament teams (Rutgers, Northwestern-2, Michigan State, Idaho State), are the Big Ten’s lone representative in the Postseason WNIT. The Bluejays are making their 13th appearance in the WNIT Postseason Tournament, including the WNIT Championship in 2004. This year’s tourament will start with eight teams at each of four regional sites — Charlotte, N.C.; Fort Worth, Texas; Memphis, Tenn.; and Rockford, Ill. First-round play begins Friday, March 19; Round 2 is March 20, and Round 3 is March 22. The four regional champions will advance to the Memphis site, with the semifinals tipping off March 26 and the championship game set for March 28.
Nebraska women’s basketball redshirt sophomore Ashley Scoggin has been named 1 of 10 finalists for the NCAA Division I Junior College Transfer of the Year Award. Scoggin started all 24 games in 2020-21 and is averaging 8.5 points, 2.2 rebounds and 2.3 assists in more than 31 minutes per game. The 22-year-old, who had the start of her Division I career sidetracked for four seasons by knee injuries, was an NJCAA All-Region 18 performer in her only season on the court at Salt Lake City Community College.
Yvan Ouedraogo is leaving the Nebraska basketball program and entering the transfer portal. The 6-foot-9, 245-pound native of Bordeaux, France, played in 54 games with 34 starts over the past two seasons, averaging 4.7 points and 5.3 rebounds per game for his career. He only played more than 14 minutes in one of Nebraska’s final 15 games, including not playing at all in four of the last five outings. His departure gives Nebraska an available scholarship to fill for its 2021-22 roster.
The Nebraska volleyball team dropped one spot, to No. 5 in the latest AVCA Top-25 Poll. Wisconsin still sits atop the rankings, followed by Texas, Kentucky and Minnesota. After earning a split with the Huskers this past weekend, Ohio State moved up two spots to No. 9. Purdue comes in at No. 10, Penn State is 12th. The Huskers are on the road this week with matches at Iowa Wednesday and Saturday.
