Griffin pours in career high 31 (Basketball)
When you’re a Naismith national player-of-the-year candidate people expect big things from you.
That’s cool with Kelsey Griffin.
Griffin, of Chugiak High fame, matched her career high Wednesday with 31 points to carry No. 24 Nebraska to a 69-56 win over visiting Creighton.
The 6-foot-2 senior forward sank 12 of 16 field goals and 7 of 13 free throws to account for the most points a Creighton squad has allowed in three years. She also grabbed 11 rebounds.
“Kelsey was outstanding tonight. That’s pretty obvious,” Nebraska Coach Connie Yori told reporters.
Griffin, a two-time first-team All-Big 12 selection from Eagle River, surpassed the 1,500-point career scoring mark in this game while her fifth double digit rebound effort increased her career total to 749. Her 23 career double-doubles ranks third in school history.
The Alaskan pumped in 22 points and grabbed 9 rebounds in the final 20 minutes alone, helping the Huskers pull away from a 30-29 halftime lead.
“The amazing thing is that she … (had) two and three players all over her all night,” Yori said. “She had five offensive rebounds in the second half, and there were almost always two players around her. She played so hard tonight. She just refused to let us lose the game.”
By improving to 9-0 Nebraska equaled its best start and longest winning streak in program history.
Griffin leads the team with 18-point, 9-rebound averages.
