The Nebraska women’s basketball team is going dancing for the third consecutive season after hearing its name called in the NCAA Tournament Selection Show on Sunday.
The Huskers will travel to Durham, N.C., where they will face Richmond in a play-in game on Wednesday.
“We’re dancing, we’re dancing,” head coach Amy Williams said. “I’m just really excited for our team. This is a team that has worked hard. We’ve had some ups and downs this season, but it’s a group that’s been fired up to try to just get better over the last week, and we want to take advantage of the opportunity in front of us.”
Nebraska (18-12) and Richmond (26-7) are heading into the contest as No. 11 seeds. The Huskers finished No. 28 in the NET rankings and the Spiders No. 37.
The Huskers’ undefeated nonconference slate included wins over NCAA Tournament teams Virginia, Samford and Cal Baptist, which helped Nebraska overcome a 7-11 record and first-round tournament exit in a tough Big Ten to earn a postseason berth.
“I’m so thankful to (general manager) Amanda Hart,” Williams said. “I think she was meticulous at putting together our schedule this year. I think that a lot went into us having the metrics to be in this position, to be an NCAA Tournament team. When you look at the NET, the strength of schedule, the wins above bubble, every area, we proved that we are one of the best teams in the country, so we’re excited to be able to have an opportunity to go show that on this stage.”
With Nebraska landing in a play-in game, Williams knows that the team will have to get off to a fast start in the tournament. She said that the coaches have been preparing for different scenarios with practice with just two days between selection and tipoff.
“It’s going to be a quick turnaround, but our kids are more than ready to have a game against a different opponent.” Williams said.
Richmond is a dangerous ream, ranking ninth nationally in 3-point percentage at 37% on 28.5 attempts per game (seventh nationally). Maggie Doogan, a 6-foot-2 senior forward, is averaging 21.0 points, 7.8 rebounds and 3.9 assists while shooting 50.3% from the field, including 40.2% from 3. Senior Rachel Ullstrom, a 6-foot-1 guard, is second in both scoring and rebounding, averaging 14.2 points and 5.7 rebounds while shooting 41.3% from 3. Junior Ally Sweeney, a 5-foot-6 point guard, is another double-digit scorer and 40% 3-point shooter, averaging 10.5 points and a team-best 4.4 assists.
Richmond earned an at-large bid after falling to George Maon in the A-10 Tournament semifinals. The Spiders went 1-3 against NCAA Tournament teams in nonconference play, with the lone win over Green Bay and the losses to Texas, TCU and Fairfield. Richmond split the regular season meetings with A-10 Tournament champion Rhode Island.
Nebraska lost seven of its last nine, with only four of the losses to top-25 teams. The Huskers will look to regroup get back to playing the way they were early in the season to make a postseason run.
“Now, moving into the tournament it’s time to be playing our best basketball in March,” Williams said. “Nobody on our team feels like we have maxed out yet, so that’s something we’ve been really working hard on this week, is just everyday finding a way to get better. Teams that get better between the conference tournament and the NCAA Tournament I feel like are ones that can really make a run and a push. That’s what we want to be, is one of those teams that maxes out and plays our best basketball here in March.”
A win on Wednesday would send Nebraska into the first round to face No. 6 seed Baylor on Friday. Tipoff against the Spiders is set for 6 p.m. CT on ESPN2.
