Nebraska Women’s Basketball 2004-05 Updated Player Biographies • Page 26 • Huskers.com Nebraska Women’s Basketball 2004-05 Updated Player Biographies • Page 27 • Huskers.com Jina Johansen 5-7, Senior, Guard, Dannebrog, Neb. (Centura)
Honors and Awards 4Big 12 Commissioner's Academic Honor Roll 4Preseason Honorable-Mention All-Big 12 (2004-05) (Fall 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004; Spring 2002, 2003, 2004) 4First-Team Academic All-Big 12 (2003, 2004) 4Two-Time First-Team All-Nebraska (Omaha World-Herald, 2000, 2001) 20 4Collegiate Basketball Award of Excellence Watch List (1 of 36) 4First-Team Super-State (Lincoln Journal Star, 2001) Senior (2004-05) in league play, including a Big 12 record 55 minutes Johansen's Career Highs Jina Johansen is enjoying her best season as a Husker played in the Huskers’ 103-99 triple overtime victory over Category Total Game through 24 games as a senior. The 5-7 point guard from No. 2 Baylor on Jan. 12. Johansen never came off the Points 16 Iowa State (2/12/05) Dannebrog, Neb., is averaging 6.7 points, 3.2 rebounds fl oor against the Bears, scoring 10 points and dishing Rebounds 8 Iowa State (3/1/03) and a team-leading 6.1 assists per game. out eight assists in the Huskers’ fi rst-ever win over a Assists 11 Texas A&M (2/16/05) A team captain, Johansen leads the Huskers on the top-fi ve opponent. Steals 7 Grambling State (11/22/02) fl oor, in the classroom and in the community. A preseason Johansen’s effort against the Bears came after Blocks 2 Wofford (11/21/03) honorable-mention All-Big 12 selection, Johansen was playing the full 40 minutes for the 13th time in her FGA 12 Iowa State (1/10/04) also a CoSIDA Academic All-America nominee. She career in NU’s 81-74 win at Missouri on Jan. 8. In one FGM 6 Iowa State (2/12/05) carries a 3.696 GPA as a nutrition and dietetics major. of the best games of her career, Johansen scored 14 FTA 12 New Orleans (12/22/02) Johansen is also the basketball team’s representative on points and dished out eight assists without committing FTM 9 New Orleans (12/22/02) the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, and is active in a turnover. 3-PT FGA 8 Iowa State (1/10/04) the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. She also volunteers She added 40-minute efforts in Nebraska’s win over 3-PT FGM 4 Iowa State (2/12/05) her time at Belmont Elementary School. Kansas on Jan. 29, and at Texas A&M on Feb. 16, to push 4 Iowa State (1/10/04) Johansen ranks third on Nebraska’s career assist list her career total to 15 games of 40 minutes and 16 games of playing every minute in a contest. with 523, after her career-high 11-assist effort in the Johansen’s 153 assists ranked as the second-best In the Huskers’ Big 12-opening win over Colorado, Huskers’ 73-59 win at Texas A&M on Wednesday. It was total by a sophomore in school history. She also averaged Johansen scored 13 points, dished out seven assists Johansen’s fi rst-ever Big 12 win in the state of Texas. a school-record 36.7 minutes per game, playing the full and grabbed fi ve rebounds to secure the fi rst win of her Her performance against the Aggies followed a career 40 minutes 10 times on the year. night in NU’s 88-59 win over No. 14 Iowa State on Feb. 12. career against the Buffaloes. Johansen scored a career-high 16 points, tied a career Freshman (2001-02) best with four three-pointers and matched her then- Junior (2003-04) Johansen made the most of her fi rst career start by career high with nine assists against the Cyclones. Johansen averaged 6.9 points, 2.9 rebounds and 5.0 dishing out a career-high nine assists, while scoring Johansen has averaged a double-double with assists in Big 12 Conference games as a junior. Her four points in Nebraska’s 67-52 upset of No. 11 Kansas 10.5 points and 10.0 assists per game in her last two improved production allowed her to close the season State on Feb. 10. contests. With 20 assists in her last two games, she averaging 5.2 points, 2.7 rebounds and 4.8 assists per Johansen fi nished the season averaging 1.7 points, has pushed her season total to 147 assists, leaving her game while starting all 30 contests. She led the Huskers 1.0 rebound and 2.6 assists per game. She played in just six shy of her personal single-season record of 153 by hitting 41.1 percent from three-point range, which all 30 contests, including six straight starts to end the assists set as a sophomore in 2002-03. She needs just tied Amy Stephens (1987-88) for the top single-season regular season. 22 more assists to catch Meggan Yedsena for the school’s three-point shooting season by a junior in school history. senior single-season mark of 169 set in 1993-94. It also tied Stephens for second on NU's overall single- High School Johansen’s 147 assists rank second in the Big 12, season chart. Johansen fi nished her career ranked sixth in state while her 6.13 assists per game rank third in the league. Johansen's 30 three-pointers on the season tied Kiera history with 2,064 points while dishing out 843 assists. She ranks No. 3 in the conference with her 2.77 assist- Hardy for the team lead, while her 23 three-pointers in She led Centura High School to the Class C-1 state title to-turnover ratio. Big 12 games led the Huskers. game as a senior under Coach Kathy Mettenbrink. Johansen is also one of the Big 12’s most accurate shooters, hitting a league-leading 52.2 percent (12-23) Sophomore (2002-03) Personal from three-point range. She has hit 40.8 percent of her Johansen tied for second in the Big 12 with 5.5 The daughter of Russ and Marcia Johansen, Jina was three-pointers on the year. Her 37.3 percent career assists per game. She dished out seven or more born on Aug. 2, 1982, in Grand Island, Neb. One of fi ve three-point accuracy (59-158) ranks as the fourth-best assists 10 times in 2002-03, including a career-best children, Jina has three older sisters, Jaci, 33, Jill, 31, shooting percentage in school history. nine assists and nine points at Kansas on Jan. 29. She and Jessica, 24, and one older brother, Jerrid, 25. Jina is One of the fittest players in college basketball, averaged 5.7 points and 3.1 rebounds, while ranking majoring in nutritional science and dietetics and carries Johansen is averaging 36.2 minutes played per game third on the club with 1.2 steals per game. a 3.696 grade-point average.
Johansen's Career Sta tis tics -- Rebounds -- Year G-GS Min FG-FGA Pct. 3P-3PA Pct. FT-FTA Pct. Off-Def Tot-Avg. PF-D A TO Blk ST Pts-Avg. 2001-02 30-6 453 19-52 .365 0-4 .000 13-14 .929 6-23 29-1.0 25-1 79 46 0 13 51-1.7 2002-03 28-27 1,028 54-146 .370 9-32 .281 43-61 .705 17-71 88-3.1 60-0 153 113 3 33 160-5.7 2003-04 30-30 944 56-142 .394 30-73 .411 14-23 .609 10-70 80-2.7 36-0 144 78 3 22 156-5.2 2004-05 24-24 870 57-126 .452 20-49 .408 26-30 .867 3-73 76-3.2 24-0 147 53 1 19 160-6.7 Career 112-87 3,295 186-466 .399 59-158 .373 96-128 .750 36-237 273-2.4 145-1 523 290 7 87 527-4.7 Nebraska Women’s Basketball 2004-05 Updated Player Biographies • Page 26 • Huskers.com Nebraska Women’s Basketball 2004-05 Updated Player Biographies • Page 27 • Huskers.com Chelsea Aubry 6-2, Sophomore, Forward, Kitchener, Ontario, Canada (Grand River Collegiate Institute)
Honors and Awards 4Nike All-Canada Camp Selection (2003) 4Canadian Senior National Team (2004) 4Big 12 Commissioner's Academic Honor Roll (Fall, 2003, 2004) 4Canadian World University Games Team (2003) 45 4Canadian Under-20 National Team (2003) Sophomore (2004-05) With Aubry in the starting lineup this season, the Aubry's Career Highs Chelsea Aubry (pronounced O-bree) has established Huskers have posted a 13-5 record. Category Total Game herself as a leader for the Huskers during a solid Before the injury, Aubry ranked third on the team in Points 20 Texas A&M (2/16/05) sophomore season. scoring with 10.1 points per game, while ranking second Rebounds 11 Oklahoma (2/6/05) The 6-2 forward from Kitchener, Ontario, Canada on the squad with 5.0 rebounds per game. Assists 3 Iowa State (1/22/05) is tied for the team rebounding lead and ranks as Nebraska’s fi rst-ever Canadian women’s basketball Steals 3 Iowa State (2/12/05) Nebraska’s second-leading scorer this season. She is player, Aubry opened the season strong by scoring a then- Blocks 2 Oklahoma State (2/11/04) averaging 9.5 points and 5.3 boards per game entering career-high 16 points to go along with six rebounds in the FGA 13 Notre Dame (11/14/04) Sunday’s game at Kansas. Huskers’ 74-71 win over Western Illinois in the Preseason FGM 7 Texas A&M (2/16/05) Aubry has been surging in the Huskers’ last six WNIT on Nov. 12. She added 16 points and four boards FTA 8 Creighton (12/21/03) games since rejoining the starting lineup after missing in the second round at No. 10 Notre Dame on Nov. 14. In FTM 6 Creighton (12/21/03) three games and six starts with a foot injury suffered the loss to the Fighting Irish, Aubry tied her career high 3-PT FGA 4 Colorado (2/4/04) in practice on Jan. 1. by knocking down a pair of three-pointers. 3-PT FGM 2 Notre Dame (11/14/04) During the past six contests, Aubry has helped the In NU’s win over Washington State on Nov. 22, she Colorado (2/4/04) Huskers to a 5-1 record by averaging 10.5 points and produced 16 points. Aubry just missed her fi rst career 6.2 rebounds per game. double-double with 11 points and nine rebounds in a She is coming off the best performance of her career win over Southeastern Louisiana on Dec. 1. High School with a career-high 20 points in a perfect shooting night Aubry added double-fi gure scoring efforts with 11 As a power forward for Grand River Collegiate in the Huskers’ 73-59 win at Texas A&M on Feb. 16. Aubry points against Northern Colorado and 11 points in the Institute, Aubry also played volleyball and rugby for the hit all seven of her fi eld goal attempts, including her only win over Louisiana-Lafayette on Dec. 20. Renegades. She averaged 15 points and 15 rebounds three-point attempt of the night, while knocking down On the season, Aubry has scored in double fi gures on per game for Coach Kathy Brooks as a senior. all fi ve of her free throws against the Aggies. eight occasions, including two of the last three games. Aubry was the school’s junior and senior athlete Aubry was at her best down the stretch against She opened the season with four straight double-fi gure of the year. She was also a member of the provincial the Aggies, scoring 10 of Nebraska’s fi nal 17 points in scoring efforts. champion Waterloo Wildhawks club team coached by the last 5:36 of the game. Behind Aubry’s strong play, Dave Hollinger. NU was able to turn a 56-53 lead with 5:49 left into a Freshman (2003-04) 14-point victory. Aubry fi nished her true freshman season averaging Personal In NU’s 88-59 win over No. 14 Iowa State on Feb. 5.5 points and 3.5 rebounds per game while playing in The daughter of Rick and Shelley Aubry, Chelsea 12, Aubry was solid with nine points, six rebounds and all 30 contests. She established season highs with 12 has an older sister, Shauna, 23, and a younger brother, a career-high three steals. That followed on the heels points and nine rebounds in 27 minutes in NU's win over Alex, 18. Chelsea was born on June 27, 1984, in Oshawa, of a 10-point, eight-rebound performance in a loss at Texas-Arlington on Dec. 6. She added a second 12-point Ontario. No. 17 Texas on Feb. 9. effort in a loss at Kansas State on Feb. 14, and matched Aubry, who has not declared a major. She chose In the Huskers’ 70-51 win over Oklahoma on Feb. 6, her career best with nine rebounds against Kansas and Nebraska over Iowa State, Michigan State, Vermont Aubry scored seven points and pulled down a career-high again in NU's win over Drake in the opening round of the and Toledo. 11 rebounds to help the Huskers snap a six-game losing Women's National Invitation Tournament. streak to the Sooners. During the summer of 2004, Aubry earned a spot Aubry started Nebraska’s fi rst 12 games, helping on the Canadian Senior National Team that played an NU to an 8-4 record as a starter before suffering a foot exhibition tour against Japan's Olympic Team in British injury in practice on Jan. 1. She sat out two weeks with Columbia June 4-8. the injury, missing NU’s fi rst three conference games Aubry also competed with the Canadian Under-20 (Colorado, at Missouri, Baylor), before coming off the National Team at the World University Games in Korea in bench in NU’s next three league contests (at Kansas August of 2003. Aubry was one of Canada's top players State, Texas Tech, at Iowa State). The Huskers were 3-3 at those games, averaging 11.4 points and 9.4 rebounds without Aubry in the starting lineup. per game in nearly 28 minutes per game.
Aubry's Career Sta tis tics -- Rebounds -- Year G-GS Min FG-FGA Pct. 3P-3PA Pct. FT-FTA Pct. Off-Def Tot-Avg. PF-D A TO Blk ST Pts-Avg. 2003-04 30-0 551 65-146 .445 5-27 .185 30-45 .667 47-59 106-3.5 42-0 18 38 8 10 165-5.5 2004-05 21-18 534 73-148 .493 8-24 .333 45-58 .776 33-78 111-5.3 25-0 14 37 3 14 199-9.5 Career 51-18 1,085 138-294 .469 13-51 .255 75-103 .728 80-137 217-4.3 67-0 32 75 11 24 364-7.1 Nebraska Women’s Basketball 2004-05 Updated Player Biographies • Page 28 • Huskers.com Nebraska Women’s Basketball 2004-05 Updated Player Biographies • Page 29 • Huskers.com Jessica Gerhart 6-2, Sophomore, Forward, Fenton, Iowa (Sentral)
Honors and Awards 4Three-Time All-State Selection (Iowa Girls Coaches Association 4Big 12 Commissioner's Honor Roll (Fall, 2003, 2004) and Des Moines Register) 4Street & Smith's Midwest Honorable-Mention All-American 33 4adidas Top 10 All-American Camp Sophomore (2004-05) 17 points to go along with nine rebounds in NU’s fi rst- Gerhart's Career Highs Jessica Gerhart (pronounced GAIR-hart) provided a round Preseason WNIT victory over Western Illinois on Category Total Game potent offensive option inside for the Huskers through Nov. 12. She hit a pair of free throws with seven seconds Points 20 Northern Colorado (11/19/04) her fi rst 18 games, before being sidelined with an left to seal the win over the Westerwinds. Rebounds 11 Missouri (1/8/04) appendectomy on Feb. 1. In the second round of the Preseason WNIT, Gerhart 11 SE Louisiana (12/1/04) The sophomore from Fenton, Iowa started each of knocked down the fi rst three three-pointers of her career Assists 2 Mississippi (11/28/03) NU’s fi rst 18 contests and was averaging 11.2 points to fi nish with 13 points in a loss at No. 10 Notre Dame 2 Rice (12/30/03) and 6.2 rebounds per game, before missing games on Nov. 14. Steals 2 Baylor (1/12/05) against Oklahoma State and Oklahoma. She returned Gerhart led the Huskers with 16 points in the win Missouri (1/8/05) to the court in a limited role against Texas, Iowa State over Louisiana-Lafayette on Dec. 20, while adding 13 Blocks 3 Baylor (1/12/05) and Texas A&M, but has played less than 10 minutes points in the Huskers’ rout of Memphis to close non- FGA 16 Memphis (12/30/04) in each contest. conference play on Dec. 30. FGM 10 Northern Colorado (11/19/04) With the drastically decreased playing time since A solid rebounder, Gerhart set her career high with 11 FTA 4 Six Times the surgery, Gerhart’s averages have dipped to 9.4 boards in a win over Southeastern Louisiana on Dec. 1, Last, Baylor (1/12/05) points and 5.3 rebounds per game, but she is still tied before matching that total against Missouri on Jan. 8. FTM 4 Three Times for the team rebounding lead with Chelsea Aubry and Last, Baylor (1/12/05) ranks third on the team in scoring, trailing only fellow Freshman (2003-04) 3-PT FGA 5 Louisiana-Lafayette (12/20/04) sophomores Kiera Hardy and Aubry. Gerhart played in all 30 games and averaged 3.0 5 Notre Dame (11/14/04) After posting her fi rst career double-double with 17 points and 1.7 rebounds per game. She ranked as NU's 3-PT FGM 3 Notre Dame (11/14/04) points and 11 rebounds in the Huskers’ 81-74 win at top shooter from the fi eld by hitting 56.3 percent of her Missouri on Jan. 8, Gerhart was averaging 13.2 points attempts. As a junior, Gerhart averaged 23 points and 11.2 and 7.0 rebounds per game. In Nebraska's win over Iowa State on Jan. 14, rebounds, while hitting 64 percent of her fi eld goals and However, following the win at Mizzou, Gerhart Gerhart scored eight points in just nine minutes on 72 percent of her free throws. Sentral fi nished 25-1 and slipped into a shooting slump and hit just 6-of-34 fi eld 4-of-5 shooting from the fi eld to help the Huskers gain lost only to state champion Rock Valley. goal attempts (17.6 percent) over her next fi ve games control of the game in the second half. A talented all-around athlete, Gerhart also earned before having her appendix removed. Gerhart tied her season high with 10 points against four letters in volleyball, three letters in softball, two Before the slump, Gerhart was one of NU’s top Rice, all in the fi rst half, to help the Huskers trim a letters in track and fi eld and four letters in golf. shooters, hitting 49.4 percent of her shots from the nine-point defi cit to just one point at the half against fi eld. Her season shooting percentage has dipped to the Owls. She scored eight straight points for NU and Personal 43.7 percent. hit 5-of-6 shots from the fi eld for the game. The daughter of Wayne and Debra Gerhart, Jessica Despite her recent setbacks, Gerhart’s 116 total She nearly notched a double-double in her debut has one younger sister, Kelsey, 10, and two brothers, rebounds this season are more than double the 52 by scoring nine points and pulling down eight rebounds Travis, 23, and Shane, 15. Jessica was born on May 18, boards she grabbed last year when she appeared in all in NU's win over Wofford. She added a season-high 10 1985, in Emmetsburg, Iowa. 30 games for the Huskers. Her 206 points have also points and nine boards against Mississippi. Gerhart chose Nebraska over Northern Iowa, Bradley more than doubled the 91 points she produced as a and Minnesota State-Mankato. freshman. High School She owns 10 double-fi gure scoring efforts on the Gerhart earned fi rst-team all-state honors as a season, including a career-high 20 points in Nebraska’s senior at Sentral Community High School by averaging win over Northern Colorado on Nov. 19. Gerhart followed 23 points, 14 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 3.2 blocked that performance by scoring 19 points in a win over shots per game. She closed her career as Sentral's Washington State on Nov. 22. career scoring leader. She scored 16 points in the Huskers’ Big 12-opening She helped Sentral and Coach Merle Tigges to the victory over Colorado on Jan. 5. regional fi nals. A four-year starter, Gerhart helped Gerhart opened the season with a then-career high Sentral to an 82-12 four-year record.
Gerhart's Career Sta tis tics -- Rebounds -- Year G-GS Min FG-FGA Pct. 3P-3PA Pct. FT-FTA Pct. Off-Def Tot-Avg. PF-D A TO Blk ST Pts-Avg. 2003-04 30-0 255 40-71 .563 0-0 .000 11-16 .688 16-36 52-1.7 21-0 4 13 0 6 91-3.0 2004-05 22-18 480 87-199 .437 14-41 .341 18-24 .750 28-88 116-5.3 39-2 10 23 10 10 206-9.4 Career 52-18 735 127-270 .470 14-41 .341 29-40 .725 44-124 168-3.2 60-0 14 36 10 16 297-5.7 Nebraska Women’s Basketball 2004-05 Updated Player Biographies • Page 28 • Huskers.com Nebraska Women’s Basketball 2004-05 Updated Player Biographies • Page 29 • Huskers.com Kiera Hardy 5-6, Sophomore, Guard, Kansas City, Mo. (O'Hara)
Honors and Awards 4No. 1 on NU's Sophomore Three-Point List (59 Made, 2004-05) 4Big 12 Player of the Week (Jan. 17, 2005) 4No. 2 on NU’s Freshman Three-Point List (30 Made, 2003-04) 4Paradise Jam All-Tournament Team (2004) 4No. 6 on NU’s Career Three-Point List (89 Made, 2003-present) 21 4Big 12 Rookie of the Week (Jan. 26, 2004) 4Big 12 Commissioner's Honor Roll (Fall, 2003) Sophomore (2004-05) Her 37 points against the Bears ranked as the Hardy's Career Highs Kiera Hardy (pronounced kee-AIR-uh) was Nebraska’s second-highest total by a sophomore in school history, Category Total Game most exciting player as a freshman and has turned into trailing only Crystal Coleman’s 41 points against Points 37 Baylor (1/12/05) one of the most explosive players in the Big 12. Oklahoma State on Feb. 19, 1983. Overall, Hardy’s Rebounds 9 Kansas (2/7/04) The 5-6 guard from Kansas City, Mo., is leading the effort against BU tied for the seventh-highest output Assists 5 SE Louisiana (12/1/04) Big 12 through 12 conference games by averaging 21.8 by an individual in school history. Steals 6 Missouri (1/14/04) points per game. Hardy’s performance against Baylor represented her Blocks 1 Creighton (12/18/04) Overall this season, Hardy leads the Huskers second 30-point scoring effort of the season, joining Princeton (11/23/03) and ranks second in the Big 12 with 19.5 points per her 31 points in a win over Hampton in St. Thomas, FGA 25 Baylor (1/12/05) game, trailing only Kansas State All-American Kendra Virgin Islands, on Nov. 27. Her eruption against the FGM 12 Kansas State (1/15/05) Wecker. Lady Pirates earned her a spot on the Paradise Jam FTA 13 Baylor (1/12/05) Hardy’s scoring average ranks as the third-best All-Tournament team. FTM 11 Baylor (1/12/05) scoring average by a sophomore in school history, trailing She followed her performance against Baylor with 3-PT FGA 13 Kansas State (1/15/05) only All-American Karen Jennings’ 20.5 points per game 29 points and fi ve three-pointers in a loss at No. 23 3-PT FGM 6 Baylor (1/12/05) in 1990-91, and Big Eight Player-of-the-Year Maurtice Kansas State on Jan. 15. Hardy earned Big 12 Player- of-the-Week honors on Jan. 17, after averaging 33 points Ivy’s 19.7 points per game in 1985-86. She scored 20 points and grabbed fi ve rebounds and 5.5 rebounds per game against the Wildcats and Hardy, who has scored in double figures in 20 against Oregon State in the fi nale on March 22, after Bears. straight games, is averaging 21.0 points per game producing 18 points, seven boards and a season-high She also scored 29 points in a loss at Creighton during that stretch and could become the fi rst Husker to four assists in a win over Drake on March 18. on Dec. 18, after opening the season with 28 points in average 20 points per game in a season since Nafeesah Hardy hit for a season-high 21 points against NU’s fi rst-round Preseason WNIT victory over Western Brown put up 20.2 points per contest in 1993-94. Missouri on Feb. 25, which included a 10-for-10 effort Illinois on Nov. 12. Hardy has scored 20 or more points 11 times this at the free throw line. She earned Big 12 Rookie-of- In Nebraska’s nine games this season against year, including seven games with 27 or more points. the-Week honors on Jan. 26, after producing 11 points, current top-25 opponents, Hardy is averaging 20 points She has also established herself as one of the best three rebounds and three steals in NU's win over No. 9 and knocking down nearly three three-pointers per game, long-range shooters in the Big 12 this season. Hardy Kansas State. has already set a Nebraska sophomore single-season despite scoring just four points against No. 10 Notre record with 59 three-pointers, which ranks as the Dame in the second game of the season, when she was second-highest overall total in school history. She has mired in an 8-for-42 shooting slump over a three-game High School Hardy led O’Hara High School to a Class 4A state climbed to No. 6 on the school’s career three-point list stretch early in the year. quarterfi nal appearance as a senior. She scored 27 with 89 in just 51 career games, putting her on pace Although Hardy’s scoring exploits demand points in O'Hara's 72-71 overtime win over Center in to shatter NU’s career three-point record held by WNBA immediate attention, she ranks third on the team with the Class 4 District 14 championship game. All-Star Anna DeForge with 155. 2.1 assists per game, while ranking second on the club A three-time all-state selection and a four-time In Big 12 action, Hardy leads the league lead with with 1.4 steals per game. She is also averaging 3.5 first-team all-conference pick, Hardy scored nearly 3.00 three-pointers per game. rebounds per game. 2,000 points for Coach Mary Haggerty in her career. In the Huskers’ 103-99 triple overtime victory over
No. 2 Baylor on Jan. 12, Hardy erupted for a career-high Freshman (2003-04) 37 points to power the Huskers to their fi rst-ever win Hardy made the greatest impact of Nebraska's Personal over a top-fi ve opponent. newcomers by averaging 9.1 points, 2.9 rebounds and The daughter of Karen Hardy, Kiera has an older Hardy played 52 minutes against the Bears, which a team-leading 1.7 steals per game. She also tied for the brother, Cameron, 22, and two sisters, La'Cletia, 21, ranks as the second-highest total in Big 12 history, team lead with 30 three-pointers, which ranked second and Kristen, 17. Kiera was born on June 22, 1985, in trailing only Jina Johansen’s 55 minutes in the marathon on NU's freshman single-season list. Kansas City, Mo. Hardy has not declared a major. She victory. Hardy knocked down a career-high six three- Hardy played her best basketball of the year in chose Nebraska over UMKC and Wichita State. pointers against BU, which tied for the second-highest the postseason, averaging 19 points, six boards, three total in school history. She also set career bests by assists and two steals in NU's two games in the Women's hitting 11-of-13 free throws. National Invitation Tournament.
Hardy's Career Sta tis tics -- Rebounds -- Year G-GS Min FG-FGA Pct. 3P-3PA Pct. FT-FTA Pct. Off-Def Tot-Avg. PF-D A TO Blk ST Pts-Avg. 2003-04 27-0 566 88-227 .388 30-97 .309 41-49 .837 21-58 79-2.9 69-2 44 52 1 45 247-9.1 2004-05 24-23 779 175-409 .428 59-158 .373 60-73 .822 18-65 83-3.5 53-1 51 67 1 33 469-19.5 Career 51-23 1,345 263-636 .414 89-255 .349 101-122 .828 39-123 162-3.2 122-3 95 119 2 78 716-14.0 Nebraska Women’s Basketball 2004-05 Updated Player Biographies • Page 30 • Huskers.com Nebraska Women’s Basketball 2004-05 Updated Player Biographies • Page 31 • Huskers.com LaToya Howell 5-5, Junior, Guard, Chicago, Ill. (Queen of Peace/Air Force)
Honors and Awards 4Air Force Single-Season Assist Record (119, 2002-03) 4Honorable-Mention All-Mountain West Conference (2001-02) 4Air Force Single-Season Steals Record (90, 2001-02) 4Two-Time Mountain West Conference Player of the Week 4Air Force Single-Game Assist Record (15 vs. UNLV, Jan. 30, 2003) 5 (Dec. 2, 2002; Dec. 30, 2002) 4Air Force Single-Game Steals Record (8 vs. UNLV, Feb. 23, 2002) Junior (2004-05) from a severely sprained ankle suffered late in the fi rst Howell's Career Highs LaToya Howell has earned six starts this season, half of NU’s exhibition opener against Nebraska-Kearney, Category Total Game but has come off the bench in each of the last 10 Howell scored a season-high 10 points, grabbed two Points 10 Northern Colorado (11/19/04) games to provide an offensive and defensive spark rebounds and distributed three assists against Northern Rebounds 7 Iowa State (1/22/05) for the Huskers. Colorado. She added seven points, a season-high six Assists 6 SE Louisiana (12/1/04) Howell enters the Kansas game averaging 4.0 points, rebounds, three assists and two steals in the win over Steals 4 Four Times, most recently 3.0 rebounds, 2.3 assists and a team-leading 1.9 steals Washington State. She dished out a season-best six Kansas (1/29/05) per game. assists in the win over Southeastern Louisiana. Blocks 0 None Howell has helped the NU defense turn up the heat on FGA 7 Three Times, most recently the opposition by averaging 2.4 steals per game (33 total Nebraska - Redshirt (2003-04) Louisiana-Lafayette (12/20/04) steals) over the last 14 games, including four games Howell was one of the Huskers’ top players in FGM 4 Baylor (1/12/05) with four steals each during that stretch (Creighton, practice during her redshirt season after transferring FTA 6 Oklahoma State (2/1/05) Colorado, Kansas State, Kansas). from Air Force before the 2003 fall semester. FTM 6 Oklahoma State (2/1/05) In Big 12 games, Howell ranks third in the league 3-PT FGA 7 St. Bonaventure (1/3/04) behind only Texas’ Tiffany Jackson and Texas A&M’s Air Force (2002-03) 3-PT FGM 2 Northern Colorado (11/19/04) Morenike Atunrase in steals per game with 2.08 per Howell averaged 17.4 points, 7.0 assists, 4.7 contest. Overall this season, Howell ranks ninth in the rebounds and 3.2 steals per game. She tied the Air Force She led the Academy team to a school-record 19 Big 12 with 1.9 steals per game. single-game record with 38 points against Minnesota victories and produced 48 team and individual The 5-5 guard started NU’s first two Big 12 by hitting on 10-of-18 shots from the fi eld and 17-of-18 records along the way. She was the team's MVP. Conference games, but has come off the bench in each free throw attempts. of the Huskers’ last 10 contests. In the Huskers’ 103-99 Howell also set an Air Force single-season record triple overtime win over No. 2 Baylor, Howell sparked the High School with 119 assists. Along with earning two Mountain Howell attended Queen of Peace High School in Huskers with nine points off the bench. In NU’s 88-59 West Conference Player-of-the-Week honors during the win over No. 14 Iowa State, Howell scored eight points, Burbank, Ill. A four-year letterwinner for Coach Lori season, Howell set a school single-game record with 15 Esser, Howell scored more than 1,000 career points. including six in the fi rst half, while producing three assists in a win over UNLV on Jan. 30. rebounds and two steals. She added eight points, four Howell was a three-year all-area and all-conference rebounds and two assists in 18 minutes off the bench selection and earned honorable-mention all-state honors against No. 10 Texas Tech on Jan. 19. Air Force (2001-02) after the 1999-2000 season. In NU’s win over Kansas, Howell knocked down her One of the top newcomers in the Mountain West only three-point attempt and hit a free throw to score the Conference, Howell led all freshmen in the league and Personal fi rst four points of Nebraska’s decisive 10-0 run midway ranked second on the team in scoring with 10.0 points The daughter of James and Sandra Howell, LaToya through the second half. Howell’s spark helped turn a per game. She added 3.9 assists and 3.2 steals per has two younger sisters, LaTia, 18, and LaTanya, 16. 39-37 NU lead with 11 minutes left into a 49-37 edge contest, while her 49 steals in Mountain West Conference LaToya was born on Nov. 7, 1982, in Chicago, Ill. Howell with 7:50 to play against KU. She knocked down all six games established a league record. is majoring in psychology at Nebraska. of her free throw attempts and snagged a pair of steals Howell set a school single-season record with 90 to help the Huskers to a 73-71 win over Oklahoma State steals, including a single-game record eight steals on Feb 1. against UNLV. She added 109 assists. After spending the entire 2003-04 season as a Howell erupted for a season-high 30 points against redshirt and missing Nebraska’s fi rst two regular-season San Diego State to help her earn honorable-mention All- games in the Women’s National Invitation Tournament, Mountain West Conference honors. Howell fi nally played her fi rst regular-season game as a Husker in the win over Northern Colorado and made Air Force Academy Prep (2000-01) her fi rst start in the win over Washington State. After completing her high school career, Howell Despite being limited somewhat while recovering attended the U.S. Air Force Academy's prep school.
Howell's Career Sta tis tics -- Rebounds -- Year G-GS Min FG-FGA Pct. 3P-3PA Pct. FT-FTA Pct. Off-Def Tot-Avg. PF-D A TO Blk ST Pts-Avg. 2004-05 22-6 459 23-69 .333 7-21 .333 34-48 .708 25-40 65-3.0 60-3 50 49 0 42 87-4.0 Career 22-6 459 23-69 .333 7-21 .333 34-48 .708 25-40 65-3.0 60-3 50 49 0 42 87-4.0 Nebraska Women’s Basketball 2004-05 Updated Player Biographies • Page 30 • Huskers.com Nebraska Women’s Basketball 2004-05 Updated Player Biographies • Page 31 • Huskers.com Elena Diaz 6-1, Junior, Forward, Medellin, Colombia (Comfenalco at Cartagena/Dodge City CC)
Honors and Awards 4Colombian Under-21 National Team (2001, 2002) 4First-Team NJCAA Region VI All-Tournament Team (2004) 4Colombian Junior National Team (1999) 4First-Team All-Jayhawk West Conference (2004) 15 4Second-Team All-Jayhawk West Conference (2003) Junior (2004-05) the fi eld and 5-of-6 shooting from the free throw line. Diaz's Career Highs Elena (pronounced Ell-ay-nuh) Diaz has provided The junior from Medellin, Colombia, by way of Dodge Category Total Game a major contribution in her fi rst year at Nebraska after City CC added three rebounds and an assist in just 15 Points 11 Baylor (1/12/05) transferring from Dodge City (Kan.) Community College. minutes of work against the Bears. 11 Northern Colorado (11/19/04) Diaz has made 15 starts, including each of Nebraska’s Diaz opened the season with a seven-point, fi ve- Rebounds 9 Texas A&M (2/16/05) last 10 Big 12 Conference games. rebound effort in the fi rst-round Preseason WNIT victory Assists 6 Iowa State (2/12/05) Over Nebraska’s last four games, Diaz has stepped over Western Illinois on Nov. 12, before making the fi rst Steals 3 Hampton (11/27/04) up her play to average 7.5 points, 6.5 rebounds and 2.5 start of her career in the loss at No. 10 Notre Dame in Blocks 1 Four Times, most recently assists per game, while shooting 70 percent (14-20) the second round of the tournament. She added the Oklahoma (2/6/05) from the fi eld. second start of her career in the win over Southeastern FGA 8 Texas Tech (1/19/05) Diaz is coming off a six-point effort in Nebraska’s Louisiana and her third start in the win over Tennessee- 8 Louisiana-Lafayette (12/20/04) 73-59 win at Texas A&M on Feb. 16, when she also pulled Martin, before getting the nod at No. 10 Ohio State. FGM 4 Four Times, most recently down a career-high nine rebounds. Iowa State (2/12/05) In the Huskers’ 88-59 win over No. 14 Iowa State Dodge City CC (2002-03, 2003-04) FTA 8 Baylor (1/12/05) on Feb. 12, Diaz scored eight points, grabbed seven Diaz capped an excellent junior college career at FTM 5 Baylor (1/12/05) rebounds and dished out a career-high six assists in Dodge City CC by leading the Lady Conquistadors to a 5 Northern Colorado (11/19/04) one of the best all-around performances of her career. school-record 26 wins and a trip to the NJCAA Region VI 3-PT FGA 0 None Diaz is averaging 5.3 points and 4.3 rebounds per Tournament title game. Dodge City fi nished the season 3-PT FGM 0 None game on the season, while leading the Huskers with her with a 26-8 overall record and a fi nal No. 8 national 55.3 fi eld goal percentage. ranking under Coach Jim Turgeon. 2000, 2001 and 2002. She was named the team's MVP She has been even better in Big 12 action, averaging A native of Medellin, Colombia, Diaz led all players all three seasons. 6.0 points and 5.1 rebounds per game, while shooting in the Region VI Tournament with 11.3 rebounds per a sizzling 60.8 percent from the fi eld. Diaz would be game. She averaged a double-double during the three Personal leading the Big 12 Conference in individual fi eld goal tournament games by ranking fi fth in the tournament The daughter of Jose Diaz and Karen Lopez, Elena percentage, but she is fi ve fi eld goals shy of the minimum with 17.3 points per contests. Diaz added two Diaz Lopez was born April 18, 1983 in San Juan, requirement of 3.0 made fi eld goals per game. blocks, two steals and two assists per contest in the Colombia. Elena has one sister, Olga Diaz, 33, and two Since taking over as NU’s full-time starter 10 games tournament. brothers, Jose Diaz, 31, and Jhon Jairo Diaz, 27. Elena ago, Diaz is shooting 66 percent (31-47) from the fi eld. Diaz led Dodge City to a victory in the Region VI is majoring in French at Nebraska. In her last seven games, she has hit 72.4 percent (21-29) Tournament semifinals by scoring a team-high 19 Diaz chose Nebraska over West Virginia, Saint of her shots from the fl oor. points against Colby Community College. In the Region Bonaventure, Washington State, Saint Francis (Pa.) In Nebraska’s 103-99 triple overtime win over No. 2 VI quarterfi nal win over Coffeyville CC, Diaz led all and New Mexico State. Baylor on Jan. 12, Diaz tied a career high with 11 points, scorers with 27 points and 10 rebounds. while pulling down seven rebounds. She earned her For the season, Diaz averaged 14.5 points and 6.7 second straight start at Kansas State and contributed rebounds per game, while shooting 48.6 percent from six points and a career-high eight rebounds. the fi eld and 78 percent from the free throw line. She added a solid outing with eight points, two Diaz earned second-team All-Jayhawk West rebounds, two assists and one steal against No. 10 Conference honors and helped Dodge City to a then- Texas Tech, and eight points and three rebounds in school record 22 victories as a freshman. NU’s win over Kansas on Jan. 29. She also started against Colorado. Diaz added a solid seven-point, High School seven-rebound effort in the win over Oklahoma on Feb. Diaz led Comfenalco at Cartagena to the Colombian 6, before pitching in nine points and three boards in the national championship in 1999. She also earned loss at Texas on Feb. 9. tournament MVP honors for her performance. Diaz set her career high with 11 points in the win over Along with her high school success, Diaz led her Northern Colorado, which included 3-of-5 shooting from Antioquia club team to Colombian national titles in
Diaz's Career Sta tis tics -- Rebounds -- Year G-GS Min FG-FGA Pct. 3P-3PA Pct. FT-FTA Pct. Off-Def Tot-Avg. PF-D A TO Blk ST Pts-Avg. 2004-05 24-15 424 52-94 .553 0-0 .000 23-34 .676 45-57 102-4.3 53-0 19 33 4 13 127-5.3 Career 24-15 424 52-94 .553 0-0 .000 23-34 .676 45-57 102-4.3 53-0 19 33 4 13 127-5.3 Nebraska Women’s Basketball 2004-05 Updated Player Biographies • Page 32 • Huskers.com Nebraska Women’s Basketball 2004-05 Updated Player Biographies • Page 33 • Huskers.com Jelena Spiric 6-0, Junior, Forward, Belgrade, Serbia & Montenegro (The Belgrade V/Colby CC)
Honors and Awards 4First-Team NJCAA All-Region VI (2004) 4Two-Time Big 12 Rookie of the Week (Jan. 10, Jan. 17) 4First-Team NJCAA Region VI All-Tournament Team (2004) 4Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll (Fall 2004) 4Northeast-10 Conference All-Freshman Team (2003) 4 4First-Team NJCAA All-American (2004) 4Serbia & Montenegro National Team (2004) Junior (2004-05) against the Bears also demolished her previous career Spiric's Career Highs After earning fi rst-team NJCAA All-America honors high of 26 minutes played against Colorado. Category Total Game at Colby (Kan.) Community College, Jelena Spiric Spiric scored 18 points and grabbed six rebounds, Points 19 Baylor (1/12/05) (pronounced YEll-uh-nuh SPEER-itch) is making a while also dishing out four assists and grabbing two Rebounds 9 Baylor (1/12/05) serious bid for Big 12 Newcomer-of-the-Year honors steals in Nebraska’s 81-74 win at Missouri on Jan. 8. Assists 6 Memphis (12/30/05) this season for the Huskers. During NU’s decisive 26-6 run in the fi nal 8:26, Spiric Steals 3 Iowa State (1/22/05) The 6-0 forward from Belgrade, Serbia & Montenegro, hit 5-of-6 free throws, while adding one rebound, one Blocks 1 Iowa State (1/22/05) has started each of Nebraska’s last 10 Big 12 Conference assist and one steal to help the Huskers. 1 Creighton (12/18/04) games and is tied with freshman Danielle Page for In the win over Colorado on Jan. 5, Spiric scored eight FGA 12 Kansas State (1/15/05) second on the team in scoring in league games with points and grabbed six rebounds, while snagging two FGM 5 Three Times, most recently 9.2 points per contest. Spiric also ranks third on the steals. She added seven points, three boards and two Oklahoma (2/6/05) team in league play with 4.8 boards per game. steals in a win over Kansas Jan. 29, and added seven FTA 16 Baylor (1/12/05) Spiric is coming off a strong 10-point, six-rebound, points and three boards in a win over OSU on Feb. 1. FTM 15 Baylor (1/12/05) fi ve-assist performance in the Huskers’ 73-59 win at In the Huskers’ win over Memphis on Dec. 30, Spiric 3-PT FGA 5 Colorado (1/5/05) Texas A&M on Feb. 16. She played one of the best games scored 10 points, while dishing out a career-best six 3-PT FGM 2 SE Louisiana (12/1/04) of her NU career in the win over Oklahoma on Feb. 6, assists and pulling down fi ve rebounds. In NU’s win Washington State (11/22/04) producing 12 points, seven rebounds, three assists and over Louisiana-Lafayette on Dec. 20, Spiric had the two steals in a 70-51 win over the Sooners. She added a fi rst double-fi gure scoring effort of her career with 10 points, while adding four rebounds and three assists. attempts, 36.2 percent of her three-point attempts and solid eight-point, three-rebound effort in NU’s win over 82.9 percent of her free throws. No. 14 Iowa State on Feb. 12. Through NU’s fi rst seven games this season, when For the season, Spiric is averaging 7.2 points, 3.7 she started fi ve contests, Spiric averaged just 3.0 points, 1.7 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.0 steal per game. UMass-Lowell (2002-03) rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.3 steals per game, despite Spiric attended the University of Massachusetts- Spiric had an eight-point, four-rebound performance being slowed for much of the non-conference season by Lowell and started 30 games as a true freshman for the in the win over Southeastern Louisiana on Dec. 1, after her recovery from knee surgery in March of 2004. She NCAA Division II power River Hawks. putting up eight points, three steals and two assists in suffered a torn ACL in her fi nal junior college game. In her only season, she averaged 8.9 points per game the win over Washington State on Nov. 22. She added six Spiric has earned a pair of Big 12 Rookie-of-the-Week and 2.5 steals per game. She added 3.1 rebounds and points and four boards in the win over Tennessee-Martin, awards (Jan. 10 and Jan. 17). She averaged 13 points 2.3 assists per contest to help the River Hawks to a 23-8 before adding eight points at No. 10 Ohio State on Dec. and six rebounds in wins over Colorado and Missouri to overall record, a 17-5 conference mark and a trip to the 11. She added two points, three rebounds, a steal and open Big 12 play and win her fi rst award on Jan. 10. NCAA Division II Tournament. She averaged 14.5 points and 7.0 rebounds per game her fi rst career block at Creighton on Dec. 18. against Baylor and Kansas State to win her second Big High School 12 weekly honor on Jan. 17. Colby CC (2003-04) Spiric attended The V Belgrade High School and Spiric made her fi rst Big 12 start in Nebraska’s 103- In her only season at Colby CC, Spiric led the Lady played club basketball for Red Star, Radivoj Korac, 99 triple overtime victory over No. 2 Baylor on Jan. 12, Trojans to their best season in school history. Partizan, Vojvodina and the Serbia & Montenegro and erupted for career highs with 19 points and nine Spiric joined fellow Belgrade, Serbia & Montenegro National Team program. She played on the Partizan rebounds to help the Huskers to an upset over the Bears. natives Bojana Samardziska and Ivana Drmanac to lead club team with Samardziska and Drmanac. She added her second Big 12 start in the loss at No. 23 Colby to a school-record 29 wins and a No. 8 national Kansas State on Jan. 15, scoring 10 points and pulling ranking for Coach Tom Stephens. Colby's 29-4 record Personal down fi ve boards. included a 16-3 mark against ranked foes. The daughter of Slobodan and Branislava Spiric, In the win over Baylor, Spiric hit 15-of-16 free throws, Spiric averaged 15.7 points, 5.2 rebounds, 3.2 Jelena was born on Aug. 11, 1983, in Belgrade, Serbia including eight straight free throws to open the third assists and 2.0 steals per contest. She earned fi rst- & Montenegro. She has one brother, Nikola, 26. Jelena overtime period to lead the Huskers to victory. team NJCAA All-America honors, while adding fi rst- is majoring in biochemistry. She chose Nebraska over Spiric’s 15 made free throws rank as the second- team NJCAA All-Region VI honors. Her 517 points as a California, Oklahoma State, UTEP, New Mexico State, highest total in NU history, while her 16 attempts rank sophomore were the eighth-highest single-season point Manhattan and UNC-Wilmington. fourth on the Husker career chart. Her 44 minutes played total in school history. She hit 64 percent of her two-point
Spiric's Career Sta tis tics -- Rebounds -- Year G-GS Min FG-FGA Pct. 3P-3PA Pct. FT-FTA Pct. Off-Def Tot-Avg. PF-D A TO Blk ST Pts-Avg. 2004-05 24-15 523 57-134 .425 6-39 .154 52-63 .825 23-65 88-3.7 59-1 39 40 2 32 172-7.2 Career 24-15 523 57-134 .425 6-39 .154 52-63 .825 23-65 88-3.7 59-1 39 40 2 32 172-7.2 Nebraska Women’s Basketball 2004-05 Updated Player Biographies • Page 32 • Huskers.com Nebraska Women’s Basketball 2004-05 Updated Player Biographies • Page 33 • Huskers.com Danielle Page 6-2, Freshman, Forward, Monument, Colo. (Lewis-Palmer)
Honors and Awards 4First-Team Class 4A All-State (2004, Rocky Mountain News) 4Two-Time Big 12 Rookie of the Week (Jan. 31, Feb. 14) 4Colorado Springs Gazette Big School Player of the Year (2004) 4Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll (Fall 2004) 4Honorable-Mention All-State (2002, 2003) 52 4The Show - Colorado All-Star Game - MVP (2004) 4First-Team All-Metro League (2003, 2004) Freshman (2004-05) point lead with 5:49 to play into a 14-point victory. Page's Career Highs Freshman Danielle Page is making a major run at In the last fi ve games, Page has connected on 25- Category Total Game Big 12 Freshman-of-the-Year honors during conference of-29 free throws (86.2 percent). Through her fi rst 19 Points 15 Oklahoma (2/6/05) play. games this season, she had hit just 14-of-26 shots from Rebounds 11 Kansas (1/29/05) The 6-2 forward from Monument, Colo., has come the free throw line (53.8 percent). Assists 4 Oklahoma State (2/1/05) on strong, tying for second on the team in Big 12 play Page has scored in double fi gures in six of NU’s last Steals 3 Northern Colorado (11/19/04) with 9.2 points per game, while ranking fourth on the seven games dating back to a then-career-high 10-point Blocks 5 Iowa State (2/12/05) club with 4.6 rebounds per game. She also leads the effort at No. 19 Iowa State on Jan. 22. FGA 14 Iowa State (1/22/05) Huskers with 21 blocks in conference action to rank fi fth Over the past seven games, Page is averaging 11.6 FGM 6 Kansas (1/29/05) in the Big 12 with 1.75 blocks per game. She has added points and 5.4 rebounds per game. She has added 2.3 FTA 9 Oklahoma (2/6/05) 1.3 steals per game in league action. blocked shots per game to push her team-leading total FTM 7 Oklahoma (2/6/05) A two-time Big 12 Rookie of the Week, Page claimed to 29 blocks on the season. 3-PT FGA 1 North Carolina State (11/26/04) her fi rst Big 12 weekly honor on Jan. 31, after posting Page’s 29 blocks have moved her into the No. 4 3-PT FGM 0 None the fi rst double-double of her career with 12 points, 11 spot on Nebraska’s freshman single-season block rebounds and three blocked shots in the Huskers’ 59-48 chart, ahead of former Huskers Charlie Rogers (24) win over Kansas on Jan. 29. and Maurtice Ivy (27). With fi ve more blocks, Page will 22.0 points, 12.7 rebounds, 4.5 blocks, 4.3 steals and Page followed up her award-winning effort against move to No. 3 on the freshman block list, marking the 2.8 assists per game for Coach Doug Cox. She shot the Jayhawks by producing the best week of her young highest block total by a Husker freshman in 25 years. 53 percent from the fi eld and 70 percent from the free career in wins over Oklahoma State and Oklahoma. In Page has scored a total of 90 points her past eight throw line. NU’s win over Oklahoma on Feb. 6, Page established her contests, dating back to a then-career-best nine-point After her senior season, Page was chosen to play career scoring high for the fi fth consecutive game by effort against No. 10 Texas Tech on Jan. 19. She totaled in The Show, featuring the top 25 seniors in the state of erupting for 15 points against the Sooners. She added just 67 points through her fi rst 16 games this season. Colorado, at the Pepsi Center in Denver on April 10. Page four blocked shots to go along with six rebounds and Page scored eight points in NU’s win over Memphis earned MVP honors in the game by scoring 17 points to two steals off the bench. on Dec. 30, when she added seven rebounds and two the lead the White team to victory. Page was one of the catalysts during Nebraska’s blocked shots. She came up big down the stretch for the As a junior, Page averaged 16 points and 10 decisive 23-6 run over the fi nal 12 minutes against Huskers in their win at Missouri on Jan. 8. She fi nished rebounds per game for Lewis-Palmer while earning Oklahoma. She scored nine points, grabbed three with seven points, four rebounds, two blocked shots and first-team All-Metro League honors, second-team rebounds, blocked three shots and recorded two steals two steals. During the Huskers’ 26-6 surge in the fi nal all-area accolades and honorable-mention all-state down the stretch for the Huskers. 8:26, Page scored three points, grabbed all four of her recognition. She helped Lewis-Palmer to the second Page’s effort against OU followed a 12-point, fi ve- rebounds and blocked both of her shots on the night. round of the state tournament. rebound performance in the Huskers’ win at Oklahoma In NU’s win over No. 2 Baylor on Jan. 12, Page played Page helped Lewis-Palmer to the quarterfinals State on Feb. 1. She tied her career-high scoring effort a career-high 39 minutes off the bench and scored six of the state tournament as a sophomore, claiming against OSU, while setting a career high with four points, grabbed four rebounds and snagged two steals. honorable-mention all-state honors in her fi rst season assists against the Cowgirls. She added six points, two rebounds, one block and a on the varsity. She added her second Big 12 Rookie-of-the-Week steal at Kansas State on Jan. 15. A standout in the classroom, Page also claimed award on Feb. 14, after leading the Huskers with 13 academic all-state honors. points in the loss at No. 17 Texas on Feb. 9, before she High School scored eight points, grabbed fi ve rebounds and produced Page was the fi rst player in Nebraska's six-player Personal a career-high fi ve blocked shots in NU’s 88-59 rout of No. recruiting class to commit to the Huskers in 2003. The daughter of Fred and Lynn Page, Danielle was 14 Iowa State on Feb. 12. Page added a pair of steals, She was a fi rst-team Class 4A selection by the Rocky born Nov. 14, 1986, in Colorado Springs, Colo. She has as her seven combined stops led directly to 12 points Mountain News and the Colorado Springs Gazette's one brother, Britain, 9. Danielle has not declared a in transition for the Huskers. Athlete of the Year for girls basketball in 2004. major at Nebraska. She is coming off an 11-point, fi ve-rebound effort in A two-time All-Metro League selection, Page helped Page chose Nebraska over Colorado State, San the Huskers’ win at Texas A&M on Feb. 16. She scored Lewis-Palmer High School to an 18-6 record and a share Diego, Boise State, Denver and Santa Clara. seven points in the fi nal 4:24 to help NU turn a three- of the 4A Metro championship as a senior. She averaged
Page's Career Sta tis tics -- Rebounds -- Year G-GS Min FG-FGA Pct. 3P-3PA Pct. FT-FTA Pct. Off-Def Tot-Avg. PF-D A TO Blk ST Pts-Avg. 2004-05 24-0 458 59-137 .431 0-1 .000 39-55 .709 39-67 106-4.4 35-0 7 32 29 24 157-6.5 Career 24-0 458 59-137 .431 0-1 .000 39-55 .709 39-67 106-4.4 35-0 7 32 29 24 157-6.5 Nebraska Women’s Basketball 2004-05 Updated Player Biographies • Page 34 • Huskers.com Nebraska Women’s Basketball 2004-05 Updated Player Biographies • Page 35 • Huskers.com Bojana Samardziska 6-4, Junior, Center, Belgrade, Serbia & Montenegro (Zef Ljus Marku (Skopje, Macedonia)/Colby CC)
Honors and Awards 4Third-Team All-Jayhawk West Conference (2004) 4First-Team NJCAA Region VI All-Tournament Team (2004) 4Honorable-Mention NJCAA All-Region VI (2003) 4Second-Team NJCAA All-Region VI (2004) 41,038 Career Points in Two Seasons at Colby CC 11 4Second-Team All-Jayhawk West Conference (2004) 4Macedonian National Team (1998-2004) Junior (2004-05) per game on her way to second-team All-Jayhawk West Samardziska's Career Highs One of the top junior college centers last season, Conference honors last season. Category Total Game Bojana Samardziska (pronounced BOY-ah-nah SAM-ar- Points 19 Tennessee-Martin (12/7/04) ZEE-ska) is the only center on Nebraska's roster. Colby CC (2002-03, 2003-04) Rebounds 6 Memphis (12/1/04) The 6-4 center from Belgrade, Serbia & Montenegro Samardziska keyed Colby CC's rise to national 6 SE Louisiana (12/1/04) joined her countrywomen Jelena Spiric and Ivana prominence in two seasons for Coach Tom Stephens. Assists 3 Northern Colorado (11/19/04) Drmanac at Nebraska for the 2004-05 season. Samardziska joined fellow Husker recruits and Serbia Steals 2 Ohio State (12/11/04) Samardziska made a splash with a career-high 19 & Montenegro natives Jelena Spiric and Ivana Drmanac in Blocks 3 SE Louisiana (12/1/04) points in Nebraska’s 69-60 win over Tennessee-Martin helping Colby CC to a school-record 29 victories and a No. FGA 12 Tennessee-Martin (12/7/04) on Dec. 7, and the junior college transfer has shown she 8 national ranking in 2003-04. FGM 9 Tennessee-Martin (12/7/04) is capable of producing solid numbers. She provided a dominant inside presence, averaging FTA 7 SE Louisiana (12/1/04) Samardziska knocked down 9-of-12 shots from the 17.6 points, 9.4 rebounds and 3.1 blocked shots per FTM 4 SE Louisiana (12/1/04) fi eld against Tennessee-Martin. She also hit her only game to earn second-team NJCAA All-Region VI honors 4 Northern Colorado (11/19/04) free throw attempt of the game, while pulling down fi ve in 2003-04. She also claimed second-team All-Jayhawk 3-PT FGA 0 None rebounds, blocking two shots and snagging one steal West Conference accolades. 3-PT FGM 0 None in the win over the Skyhawks. She did all that in just Samardziska captured fi rst-team NJCAA Region VI All- 13 minutes of court time, in an amazingly productive Tournament honors by averaging 26.0 points, 8.5 rebounds performance. and an amazing 5.5 blocks per game. Personal Samardziska had scored just 21 points in Nebraska’s She fi nished her two-year career ranked fourth on The daughter of Boban and Renata Samardziska, fi rst seven games before her outburst against Tennessee- Colby CC's all-time scoring list with 1,038 points. She Bojana was born April 12, 1983 in Skopje, Macedonia. Martin. She entered the UT-Martin game averaging 3.3 added 601 rebounds to fi nish her career with averages She has one brother, Predrag Samardziski, 18. Bojana points per game. of 16.0 points and 9.2 rebounds over 65 career games. is majoring in business administration. She chose She added another hugely productive outing in the She also set a school record with 262 career free throws Nebraska over Illinois, California, UNC-Wilmington, win over Memphis on Dec. 30, when she scored 11 points, made. Her 582 points as a sophomore were the second-best St. John's and Manhattan. grabbed six rebounds and added a blocked shot in just single-season total in school history. 11 minutes of action off the bench. Samardziska made an instant impact on the Colby CC In Nebraska’s win over Colorado to open Big 12 program by averaging 14.3 points and 9.1 rebounds per Conference play on Jan. 5, Samardziska helped the game as a freshman to earn honorable-mention NJCAA Huskers with 10 points, three rebounds, two blocks and All-Region VI honors. She posted 15 double-doubles in 32 a steal in a career-high 20 minutes. She made her fi rst games to earn third-team All-Jayhawk West Conference start of the year in place of an injured Chelsea Aubry in honors. The arrival of Samardziska and fellow Husker the win at Missouri on Jan. 8. recruit Ivana Drmanac helped Colby go from 8-23 in Samardziska is averaging 3.5 points per game, 2001-02 to 18-14 in 2002-03. despite playing just 7.4 minutes per contest. She has added 2.0 rebounds per game, while ranking third on the High School team with nine blocks. For the season, Samardziska is Samardziska attended high school at Zef Ljus Marku in shooting 50.9 percent (27-53). She has also contributed Skopje, Macedonia and competed in the Vodnjanski Lisici eight steals and four assists. and Partizan club programs. She was coached by her In her two-year career at Colby (Kan.) Community father, Boban Samardziski. She was twice honored as the College, Samardziska scored 1,038 points and grabbed top young player in Macedonia. She has been a member of 601 rebounds. She captured fi rst-team NJCAA Region the Macedonian National Team since she was 15. VI All-Tournament honors by averaging 26 points, 8.5 rebounds and 5.5 blocked shots per game in 2004. She averaged 17.6 points, 9.4 rebounds and 3.1 blocks
Samardziska's Career Sta tistics -- Rebounds -- Year G-GS Min FG-FGA Pct. 3P-3PA Pct. FT-FTA Pct. Off-Def Tot-Avg. PF-D A TO Blk ST Pts-Avg. 2004-05 20-1 147 27-53 .509 0-0 .000 16-30 .533 20-19 39-2.0 19-0 4 7 9 8 70-3.5 Career 20-1 147 27-53 .509 0-0 .000 16-30 .533 20-19 39-2.0 19-0 4 7 9 8 70-3.5 Nebraska Women’s Basketball 2004-05 Updated Player Biographies • Page 34 • Huskers.com Nebraska Women’s Basketball 2004-05 Updated Player Biographies • Page 35 • Huskers.com Ivana Drmanac 6-2, Junior, Forward, Belgrade, Serbia & Montenegro (The XI Belgrade/Colby CC) Honors and Awards 30 4Ranks 23rd on Colby CC's All-Time Scoring List (573 Points) Junior (2004-05) The Lady Trojans fi nished with a 29-4 overall record Drmanac's Career Highs and advanced to the NJCAA Region VI semifi nals in 2004 Ivana Drmanac (pronounced EE-vah-nah-DER- Category Total Game under Coach Tom Stephens. mah-neck) joins Colby (Kan.) Community College Points 8 Northern Colorado (11/19/04) Colby CC fi nished with a 14-2 record to tie for fi rst in teammates and fellow Belgrade, Serbia & Montenegro Rebounds 4 Northern Colorado (11/19/04) the Jayhawk West Conference. It was the highest fi nish natives Jelena Spiric and Bojana Samardziska on the Assists 2 Three Times, most recently by the Lady Trojans in school history. 2004-05 Nebraska roster. Memphis (12/30/04) As a freshman, Drmanac averaged 9.0 points and Drmanac has been a contributor for the Huskers in Steals 1 Hampton (11/27/04) 4.6 rebounds per game to help Colby to an 18-14 overall her fi rst season, appearing in 16 games and averaging 1 Colorado (1/5/05) record and a 9-7 league mark, which was the best fi nish 1.0 points and 0.7 rebounds per game. She has knocked Blocks 1 Iowa State (1/22/05) in school history before 2003-04. down four three-pointers off the bench, including a pair 1 Memphis (12/30/04 Before Drmanac and Samardziska arrived at Colby of treys against Northern Colorado on her way to a career- FGA 6 Northern Colorado (11/19/04) CC, the Lady Trojans fi nished with an 8-23 overall record high eight points. FGM 3 Northern Colorado (11/19/04) and a 2-14 league mark. The 6-2 forward has also been solid with the FTA 0 None basketball, distributing eight assists while committing FTM 0 None just fi ve turnovers in her time on the court for the Huskers High School 3-PT FGA 4 Northern Colorado (11/19/04) this season. Drmanac attended The XI Belgrade High School and 3-PT FGM 2 Northern Colorado (11/19/04) Drmanac had her best game of the season in the played club basketball for Radivoj Korac and Partizan. Huskers’ win against Northern Colorado, scoring a She competed with Samardziska and Spiric on the career-high eight points while pulling down a career- Partizan club squad that won Yugoslavian national best four rebounds in a career-high 14 minutes off the titles in 1999 and 2002. bench. She also established her career high with two assists, which she matched against Washington State Personal and Memphis. The daughter of Milorad Drmanac and Slavica Along with her production in non-conference action, Markovic, Ivana was born March 7, 1983, in Belgrade, Drmanac has continued to contribute in the Big 12. She Serbia & Montenegro. Ivana has one sister, Bojana, 28. had played in six straight league games, including a Ivana is majoring in fi nance. career-high 14-minute effort at No. 17 Texas, before Drmanac chose Nebraska over Hawaii, Oklahoma sitting out NU’s win at Texas A&M on Feb. 16. She scored State, UTEP, New Mexico State and UNC-Wilmington. her only points in Big 12 play by knocking down a three- pointer in NU’s loss at Iowa State on Jan. 22. Drmanac was a key player in Colby CC's rise to national prominence. A two-year starter, Drmanac averaged 9.2 points and 4.5 rebounds per game to help the Lady Trojans to a school-record 29 wins and a No. 8 national ranking in 2003-04.
Colby CC (2002-03, 2003-04) Drmanac ranks No. 23 on Colby CC's all-time scoring list with 573 points. As a sophomore in 2003-04, she averaged 9.2 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game for the Lady Trojans. She shot 50 percent from two-point range, while hitting 32.4 percent (36-111) of her three-point attempts. She also connected on 72.2 percent of her free throws.
Drmanac's Career Sta tis tics -- Rebounds -- Year G-GS Min FG-FGA Pct. 3P-3PA Pct. FT-FTA Pct. Off-Def Tot-Avg. PF-D A TO Blk ST Pts-Avg. 2004-05 16-0 97 6-27 .222 4-16 .250 0-0 .000 1-10 11-0.7 10-0 8 5 2 2 16-1.0 Career 16-0 97 6-27 .222 4-16 .250 0-0 .000 1-10 11-0.7 10-0 8 5 2 2 16-1.0 Nebraska Women’s Basketball 2004-05 Updated Player Biographies • Page 36 • Huskers.com Nebraska Women’s Basketball 2004-05 Updated Player Biographies • Page 37 • Huskers.com Sarah White 6-0, Freshman, Forward, Topeka, Kan. (Washburn Rural)
Honors and Awards 4Second-Team Kansas Class 6A All-State (2003) 4Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll (Fall 2004) 4Centennial Conference Most Valuable Player (2003, 2004) 4First-Team Kansas All-Class All-State (2004) (2004) 4First-Team All-Centennial Conference (2003, 2004) 14 4First-Team Kansas Class 6A All-State (2004) 4First-Team Kansas Class 6A All-State (Soccer, 2003) Freshman (2004-05) As a junior in 2002-03, White averaged 18.6 points White's Career Highs Freshman Sarah White’s early production has been a and 8.5 rebounds per game to earn second-team Class Category Total Game pleasant surprise for the Huskers. White has played in 6A all-state honors. She was also a unanimous choice Points 7 SE Louisiana (12/1/04) 14 games this season and is averaging 2.6 points and for fi rst-team All-Centennial Conference honors. Rebounds 3 Four Times, most recently 1.4 rebounds in 6.7 minutes per game. She has seen White earned four letters in basketball and three Iowa State (2/12/05) action in six Big 12 Conference contests this season, in soccer. She also claimed fi rst-team Class 6A all- Assists 0 None including each of the Huskers’ last four games. state honors in soccer as a junior in 2003. She did Steals 1 Hampton (11/27/04) Nebraska coaches had considered redshirting not play soccer as a senior, choosing to concentrate on 1 SE Louisiana (12/1/04) White this season as she made the transition from high basketball. Blocks 1 Texas (2/9/05) school post player to college wing player, but injuries Along with her high school experience, White played 1 Western Illinois (11/12/04) to Nebraska backcourt players Heather Kephart, LaToya for the Kansas Belles basketball club where she was FGA 4 Four Times, most recently Howell and Jelena Spiric forced White into action earlier coached by former Husker forward Kate Benson. White Texas (2/9/05) than expected. also played for the Kansas City Hawks club team. FGM 3 SE Louisiana (12/1/04) The 6-0 native of Topeka, Kan., stepped up to the A solid performer in the classroom, White was a FTA 5 Memphis (12/30/04) challenge. After going scoreless in eight minutes in the member of the National Honor Society and the Fellowship FTM 4 Memphis (12/30/04) season-opening win over Western Illinois, of Christian Athletes. 3-PT FGA 3 Northern Colorado (11/19/04) White struck for six points, including her fi rst career 3-PT FGM 1 Notre Dame (11/14/04) three-pointer, in the loss at No. 10 Notre Dame. She Personal 1 Northern Colorado (11/19/04) produced a career-high seven-point performance in the The daughter of Randal and Charlet White, Sarah win over Southeastern Louisiana on Dec. 1. was born Sept. 28, 1985, in Ponca City, Okla. She has White has given the Huskers solid minutes off one brother, Austin, 21. Sarah is majoring in elementary the bench in recent victories. Against Memphis, she education at Nebraska. scored six points and and grabbed three rebounds in 12 White chose Nebraska over Creighton, Wichita State minutes. She added six more points and one rebound in and Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. just six minutes of work against Colorado. White tied her career high by playing 12 minutes in the loss at Texas, where she scored two fi rst-half points and added three rebounds. She added two more points and three rebounds in just four minutes in the win over Iowa State on Feb. 12. She scored two more points and pulled down one rebound in four minutes of action in NU’s win at Texas A&M on Feb. 16, including an appearance in the fi rst half.
High School White captured fi rst-team Kansas all-class all-state honors at Washburn Rural High School as a senior in 2003-04. She added fi rst-team Class 6A accolades after leading Washburn Rural to a state runner-up fi nish as a senior for Coach Bill Annan. She added fi rst-team All-Centennial Conference accolades, as the two-time league most valuable player.
White's Career Sta tis tics -- Rebounds -- Year G-GS Min FG-FGA Pct. 3P-3PA Pct. FT-FTA Pct. Off-Def Tot-Avg. PF-D A TO Blk ST Pts-Avg. 2004-05 14-0 94 13-27 .481 2-8 .250 8-12 .667 5-14 19-1.4 6-0 0 5 2 2 36-2.6 Career 14-0 94 13-27 .481 2-8 .250 8-12 .667 5-14 19-1.4 6-0 0 5 2 2 36-2.6 Nebraska Women’s Basketball 2004-05 Updated Player Biographies • Page 36 • Huskers.com Nebraska Women’s Basketball 2004-05 Updated Player Biographies • Page 37 • Huskers.com Heather Kephart 5-8, Sophomore, Guard, Canute, Okla. (Canute)
Honors and Awards 4AAU All-American (2002) 4Big 12 Commissioner's Honor Roll (Fall, 2003; Spring, 2004) 4Oklahoma High School Girls Tournament Single-Game Scoring 4Ranks No. 2 on Oklahoma High School Girls All-Time Scoring List Record (41 points) 22 (2,747 Points) Sophomore (2004-05) High School Kephart's Career Highs Heather Kephart is a likely candidate to apply for a A four-year starter at Class B Canute High School, Category Total Game medical hardship this season. Kephart amassed a then-Oklahoma high school record Points 16 Wofford (11/21/03) The sophomore from Canute, Okla., has appeared 2,747 points in 117 career games, averaging 23.5 points Rebounds 4 Princeton (11/23/03) in just one game, the second contest of the year in the per game. She averaged 24 points, seven rebounds and 4 Texas-Arlington (12/6/03) Preseason WNIT at No. 10 Notre Dame. Against the six assists per game in 2002-03, despite playing much of Assists 2 Princeton (11/23/03) Fighting Irish, Kephart knocked down a three-pointer, her senior season with an injured shoulder that required Steals 2 Wofford (11/21/03) grabbed two rebounds, notched one assist and had one off-season surgery. Blocks 1 Princeton (11/23/03) steal in 10 minutes of court time. As a junior, Kephart averaged 30.1 points, eight FGA 10 Wofford (11/21/03) Kephart’s appearance at Notre Dame marked her rebounds and fi ve assists per game for Coach Mike FGM 5 Wofford (11/21/03) fi rst court time since undergoing foot surgery in March Maddox. She connected on 78 three-pointers, while 5 Washington State (12/4/03) of 2004. Unfortunately, Kephart’s return to the court hitting 42 percent of her long-range attempts. FTA 2 Wofford (11/21/03) was short-lived. After the game against the Fighting A 2002 Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) All-American, 2 E. Kentucky (11/29/03) Irish, Kephart began to experience discomfort in her hip. Kephart was a standout in the classroom, earning FTM 2 Wofford (11/21/03) She has been rehabilitating the injury throughout the valedictorian honors while being named to the National 3-PT FGA 8 Wofford (11/21/03) season but has been limited in practice and has not Honor Society. 3-PT FGM 5 Washington State (12/4/03) played since Nov. 14. Personal Freshman (2003-04) The daughter of Dean and Cecilia Kephart, Heather Kephart provided a potent threat from three-point has two older sisters, Jenny, 24, and Amber, 21. Heather range for the Huskers through the fi rst eight games of was born on Jan. 15, 1985, in Clinton, Okla. She has not her freshman season. She connected on 17-of-46 (37.0 declared a major at Nebraska. percent) three-point attempts to lead the Huskers in both Kephart chose Nebraska over Oklahoma, Oklahoma categories through eight games. State, Oral Roberts, Tulsa, UNLV, Denver, Arkansas and Unfortunately, Kephart missed nearly eight weeks Fresno State. with a foot injury suffered in practice on Dec. 20. She missed the next 13 games with the injury, before returning for three contests. The pain in her foot returned to force her out of NU's fi nal six games. She underwent season-ending surgery in March. Kephart opened the season with 16 points in a win over Wofford, which tied for the fi fth-highest total by a freshman in a career-opening game in school history. Her performance against the Lady Terriers included a 4-of-8 effort from long range. In NU's come-from-behind win at Washington State, she hit a career-high fi ve three- pointers on seven attempts. Despite playing in only 11 games, Kephart still ranked fi fth on the Nebraska freshman single-season list with 17 three-pointers.
Kephart's Career Sta tis tics -- Rebounds -- Year G-GS Min FG-FGA Pct. 3P-3PA Pct. FT-FTA Pct. Off-Def Tot-Avg. PF-D A TO Blk ST Pts-Avg. 2003-04 11-0 136 22-59 .373 17-49 .347 3-4 .750 5-13 18-1.6 12-1 5 8 1 3 64-5.8 2004-05 1-0 10 1-3 .333 1-2 .500 0-0 .000 1-1 2-2.0 0-0 1 0 0 1 3-3.0 Career 12-0 146 23-62 .371 18-51 .353 3-4 .750 6-14 20-1.7 12-1 6 8 1 4 67-5.6