CEDAR CITY, Utah - Nov. 20 - Southern Utah women's basketball will be back on the road on Saturday night when the Thunderbirds travel to Lincoln for a game with the University of Nebraska. The game will mark the first time in over ten years that the two teams have met on the hardwood.
Tip-off for the game is scheduled for 5:05 p.m. at the Bob Devaney Sports Center. Thunderbird basketball fans can follow all of the action with video streaming available through www.suutbirds.com.
Coach Janes on Nebraska
“Nebraska is a really good team. They are a team that puts a lot of pressure on you in man to man and full court press. It will be another step for our kids, but I think we'll do well and can do things against them.”
Thunderbird Trends
Three cheers for Higbee
Anne (Westwood) Higbee has led Southern Utah in points and rebounding each of the last two seasons. The senior could be the first player in SUU basketball history, men or women, to lead the team in both categories for a third consecutive year with a repeat performance during the 2008-09 campaign.
Jekyll & Hyde
Southern Utah has been two completely different teams from the first half to the second half. The Thunderbirds are shooting 20 percent from the field during the first 20 minutes, compared to 43 percent in the second half. SUU has also out scored its opponents 75-63 following the intermission, while being on the lower end of a 72-27 scoring difference in the first half.
Scouting Nebraska
Nebraska is a perfect 2-0 this year after a home-opening win over Weber State (96-47) and a road win over Creighton (72-67). Nebraska advanced to the second round of the NCAA tournament in 2007-08, suffering a 76-64 loss to the University of Maryland in College Park.
The Huskers are led by a quintet of double-digit scorers in Yvonne Turner (12.0 ppg), Cory Montgomery (12.0 ppg), Dominique Kelley (12.0 ppg), Monique Whittaker (11.5 ppg) and Kala Kuhlmann with 10.5 ppg. Montgomery leads the team with rebounding with 7.0 boards per contest.
Head coach Connie Yori is in her seventh season at the helm of the Husker program and has compiled a 108-81 record over the time. Overall, she has a 303-331 record over 19 seasons as a head coach.
Nebraska owns the all-time series advantage with a 2-0 mark with the last meeting coming during the 1996-97 season.
Last Time vs. Nebraska
LINCOLN, Neb. - Jan. 28, 1994 - Southern Utah turned the ball over 40 times Tuesday night, as the Nebraska Cornhuskers rolled to an easy 82-51 victory over the Thunderbirds.
“They were really physical and will be one of the top-five teams we'll face this year,” SUU head coach Joe Hillock said.
Nebraska (2-0) was led by Charlie Rogers with 17 points as 14 of the 15 Cornhuskers that saw action scored.
Southern Utah (1-2) was led by Krista Smith with 11 points and freshman Chelsey Wornell with ten points.
Nebraska led 42-22 at halftime before turning the second half over to the bench.
Last Time for the T-Birds
Second Half Surge Not Enough as Women's Basketball Falls 71-58 at UNLV
LAS VEGAS, Nev. - Nov. 18 - Southern Utah played an entirely different half of basketball during the final 20 minutes, but it was the first 20 minutes that created a hole too big to overcome as the Thunderbirds dropped a 71-58 decision to UNLV on Tuesday night. The loss drops SUU to 0-2 on the year, while the Lady Rebels moved to 2-0.
Interim Head Coach Kit Janes
Kit Janes moved from the lead assistant to the interim head coaching role following the passing of Steve Hodson. Janes is entering his third season with the Thunderbirds after being hired as the lead assistant when Hodson took the reins of the program prior to the 2006-07 season.
“This is a great opportunity for me and my family at this time of our lives,” he said when he joined the staff. “SUU has been great to me and my family and this gives me a chance to give a little back. At the same time, I'm excited and honored to be a part of a great program and have the chance to work with these great young ladies.”
Janes has been instrumental in the development of the post players at Southern Utah, coaching Anne (Westwood) Higbee to several preseason and postseason accolades, including second-team all-conference honors in 2007-08 and second-team all-conference preseason honors prior to this season.
Janes played tight end for the Thunderbird football program for four seasons from 1975-1979 and was an NAIA All-America selection in 1978. Janes and his wife, Diane, have been married for 30 years and have four sons: Kade, former SUU men's basketball players Rand and Nate, current SUU offensive lineman Jeff and daughter Amanda.
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