Nebraska 61, Xavier 58
COLLEGE PARK, Md. — Nebraska’s first NCAA Tournament win in 10 years turned from a frolic to a scare.
The Cornhuskers led the entire game and by 15 in the second half, then held off a furious comeback bid by Xavier in the opening round of the Spokane Regional.
Kelsey Griffin tied a season high with 26 points for the eighth-seeded Cornhuskers (21-11). Tay Hester had 13 points and Cory Montgomery 12 for Nebraska.
Jerri Taylor scored 19 points for Xavier (24-9), the Atlantic 10 champion. It was the third straight one-and-out appearance for the Musketeers since they reached the finals of the Mideast Regional in 2001.
Xavier trailed 39-24 with 17:23 left and 51-37 with 8:41 remaining before making a late run. But a breakaway layup by Nebraska’s Dominique Kelley with 16 seconds left made it 61-55, and time ran out on the Musketeers.
“When we got the lead, we got a little tentative,” Cornhuskers coach Connie Yori said.
And Xavier was only too happy to take advantage.
“At the end of the game we finally found a sense of urgency,” coach Kevin McGruff said. “I just wish we would have found that earlier.”
Maryland 80, Coppin St. 66
Crystal Langhorne had 25 points and 12 rebounds, and Marissa Coleman scored 17 to lead top-seeded Maryland (31-3).
Coppin State made more field goals (27-24) than the Terrapins and had fewer turnovers (16-15), but was outscored at the free-throw line 28-10.
