Nebraska Cornhuskers women's basketball

The Nebraska Cornhuskers women's basketball team represents the University of Nebraska–Lincoln in the Big Ten Conference of NCAA Division I. The program became a varsity sport in 1975 and has since made 14 appearances in the NCAA Tournament, reaching the Sweet Sixteen twice. NU's longest-tenured head coach was Connie Yori, who led the Cornhuskers to a record-breaking 32–2 season in 2009–10.

Nebraska Cornhuskers women's basketball
2019–20 Nebraska Cornhuskers women's basketball team
UniversityUniversity of Nebraska–Lincoln
Head coachAmy Williams (4th season)
ConferenceBig Ten
LocationLincoln, Nebraska
ArenaPinnacle Bank Arena
(Capacity: 15,500)
NicknameCornhuskers
ColorsScarlet and Cream[1]
         
Uniforms
Home
Away
NCAA Tournament Sweet Sixteen
2010, 2013
NCAA Tournament Second round
1993, 1998, 2008, 2010, 2013
NCAA Tournament Appearances
1988, 1993, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2018
Conference Tournament Champions
2014
Conference Regular Season Champions
1988, 2010

The team is currently coached by former player Amy Williams.

History

Early years

Nebraska's women's basketball program started as a club sport in 1970 and became a varsity sport five years later. In its first season, George Nicodemus led the team to a 22–9 record and the second round of the AIAW Tournament. NU cycled through five head coaches over the next 15 years, until Angela Beck was hired in 1986. In 1988, Beck led the Huskers to a Big Eight title and their first NCAA Tournament. Nebraska returned to the tournament two other times under Beck until she left the program in 1996. Paul Sanderford was hired to replace Beck and he took the Cornhuskers to the tournament in 1998, 1999, and 2000.

Connie Yori (2002–16)

When Sanderford resigned due to health concerns following the 2002 season, NU hired Connie Yori from Creighton to lead the program.[2] The Huskers struggled through Yori's first season, finishing 8–20 and last in the Big 12.[3] In Yori's second season, NU improved to 18–12 and was invited to play in the WNIT, the program's first postseason tournament since 2000. Yori coached the Huskers to the best season in school history in 2009–10. Led by national player of the year finalist Kelsey Griffin, Nebraska started 30–0 and finished the regular season ranked No. 3 in the country, the highest ranking in school history. NU ended the year 32–2, reaching the Sweet Sixteen for the first time, and Yori was named national coach of the year. Nebraska joined the Big Ten the following season. Yori's program won the Big Ten Tournament in 2014.

Yori resigned in 2016 following an athletic department investigation into reports that she mistreated her players.[4] She left Nebraska as the program's all-time wins leader, coaching two AP All-Americans and 21 all-conference selections during her 14-year tenure.

Amy Williams (2016–present)

Following Yori's departure, Nebraska hired Amy Williams to lead the program. Williams, who played at NU from 1994 to 1998, began her head coaching career at NAIA Rogers State, starting the program from scratch.[5] She spent four years at South Dakota, guiding the Coyotes to two Summit League titles, an NCAA Tournament berth, and the 2016 WNIT championship. After a 7–22 debut season at NU, Williams led Nebraska to a 21–11 record in 2017–18. The Cornhuskers tied for third place in the Big Ten and Williams was named the conference's coach of the year.[6]

Pinnacle Bank Arena

The program plays its home games at Pinnacle Bank Arena, a $181 million multi-use facility completed in 2013. The arena, located in Lincoln's Haymarket District, has a listed capacity of 15,500 for basketball games.[7] The team has finished in the top 25 in average home attendance every year since moving to Pinnacle Bank Arena.[8] Prior to the opening of Pinnacle Bank Arena, Nebraska's men's and women's basketball teams played their home games at the Bob Devaney Sports Center.

Players

Retired numbers
No. Player[9] Position Career Year retired
23Kelsey GriffinF2005–102014
30Maurtice IvyG1984–882011
51Karen JenningsF1989–931994

Huskers in the WNBA

Season-by-season results
Statistics overview
Season Coach Overall Conference Standing Postseason
Independent (1974–1982)
1974–75 Jan Callahan 9–7–
Jan Callahan: 9–7–
1975–76 George Nicodemus 21–9–NWIT Fifth Place
1976–77 George Nicodemus 21–16–
George Nicodemus: 42–25–
1977–78 Marcia Walker 18–11–
Marcia Walker: 18–11–
1978–79 Lorrie Gallagher 23–13–AIAW Regional
1979–80 Lorrie Gallagher 23–17–AIAW Regional
Lorrie Gallagher: 46–30–
1980–81 Colleen Matsuhara 18–13–AIAW Regional
1981–82 Colleen Matsuhara 14–17–
Big Eight Conference (1982–1996)
1982–83 Colleen Matsuhara 14–145–95th
Colleen Matsuhara: 46–445–9
1983–84 Kelly Hill 16–126–86th
1984–85 Kelly Hill 10–185–96th
1985–86 Kelly Hill 11–174–104th
Kelly Hill: 37–4715–27
1986–87 Angela Beck 16–138–64th
1987–88 Angela Beck 22–711–31stNCAA Second Round
1988–89 Angela Beck 14–145–97th
1989–90 Angela Beck 10–182–12T–7th
1990–91 Angela Beck 17–118–63rd
1991–92 Angela Beck 21–119–53rdNWIT Fourth Place
1992–93 Angela Beck 23–810–42ndNCAA Second Round
1993–94 Angela Beck 17–137–74th
1994–95 Angela Beck 13–144–107th
1995–96 Angela Beck 19–108–6T–3rdNCAA First Round
Big 12 Conference (1996–2011)
1996–97 Angela Beck 19–98–86th
Angela Beck: 191–12880–76
1997–98 Paul Sanderford 23–1011–5T–3rdNCAA Second Round
1998–99 Paul Sanderford 21–128–8T–5thNCAA First Round
1999–2000 Paul Sanderford 18–1310–65thNCAA First Round
2000–01 Paul Sanderford 12–184–1210th
2001–02 Paul Sanderford 14–164–1211th
Paul Sanderford: 88–6937–43
2002–03 Connie Yori 8–201–1512th
2003–04 Connie Yori 18–127–9T–7thWNIT Sixteen
2004–05 Connie Yori 18–148–8T–6thWNIT Sixteen
2005–06 Connie Yori 19–138–8T–6thWNIT Quarterfinals
2006–07 Connie Yori 22–1010–6T–4thNCAA First Round
2007–08 Connie Yori 21–129–76thNCAA Second Round
2008–09 Connie Yori 15–166–10T–7thWNIT First Round
2009–10 Connie Yori 32–216–01stNCAA Sweet Sixteen
2010–11 Connie Yori 13–183–1312th
Big Ten Conference (2011–present)
2011–12 Connie Yori 24–910–66thNCAA First Round
2012–13 Connie Yori 25–912–42ndNCAA Sweet Sixteen
2013–14 Connie Yori 26–712–43rdNCAA Second Round
2014–15 Connie Yori 21–1110–87thNCAA First Round
2015–16 Connie Yori 18–139–9T–7thWNIT First Round
Connie Yori: 280–166121–107
2016–17 Amy Williams 7–223–13T–11th
2017–18 Amy Williams 21–1111–5T–3rdNCAA First Round
2018–19 Amy Williams 14–169–9T–6rd
2019–20 Amy Williams 17–137–1110th–
Amy Williams: 59–6030–38
Total:809–567

      National champion         Postseason invitational champion  
      Conference regular season champion         Conference regular season and conference tournament champion
      Division regular season champion       Division regular season and conference tournament champion
      Conference tournament champion

[11]

References
  1. The Power of Color (PDF). Nebraska Athletics Brand Guide. July 1, 2019. Retrieved March 16, 2020.
  2. "NU women's baseketball coach resigns". dailynebraskan.com. Retrieved 2020-05-30.
  3. "Connie Yori". Huskers.com. Archived from the original on 2015-09-23. Retrieved 2015-11-18.
  4. Star, Brian Rosenthal | Lincoln Journal Star, Brent Wagner | Lincoln Journal. "Yori out as Nebraska women's basketball coach". JournalStar.com. Retrieved 2016-04-05.
  5. http://www.huskers.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=100&ATCLID=210881343
  6. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2018-02-28. Retrieved 2018-03-23.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  7. "Pinnacle Bank Arena :: History". www.pinnaclebankarena.com. Retrieved 2015-11-17.
  8. "Women's Basketball Attendance". Retrieved 2020-05-30.
  9. Nebraska Women's Basketball History
  10. "Huskers in the WNBA". Huskers.com. Retrieved 2015-11-04.
  11. "Media Guide". University of Nebraska. Retrieved 10 Aug 2013.
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