Number 16 Nebraska captured their first conference tournament title in school history, outscoring No. 23 Iowa 72-65 in the Big Ten Women’s Basketball Tournament Championship Game on Sunday at Bankers Life Fieldhouse.

After a 3-0 performance at the tournament, as the No. 3 seed, Nebraska improved to a 25-6 record.

Nebraska put up 20 second-chance points and made 30 out of their 36 free throws to overcome 31.3 percent (20-64) shooting, including a 2-for-17 effort from three-point range.

Sophomore Rachel Theriot was a key factor for the Huskers Sunday. Scoring a game-high 24 points on 9-of-17 shooting from the field, including 1-of-3 threes. She scored 19 points after halftime, while adding four assists for the game. She averaged 18.0 points and 10.0 assists in three tournament games to earn MVP honors.

Jordan Hooper added her 13th double-double of the season and 39th of her career with 18 points and 10 boards, despite going just 3-for-16 from the field and 0-for-3 from long range. The 6-2 senior forward from Alliance, NE, tied her career high with 12 free throws on 12-of-14 shooting. She joined Theriot as Nebraska’s representatives on the all-tournament team.

Hooper and the Huskers have contented well in the Big Ten tournament for the third time in the last three years. The Huskers wanted to win this one not only for themselves, but for their star senior Jordan Hooper.

Congratulations to Coach Connie Yory and the Lady Huskers on their first Big Ten Championship title. Go big red!