Los Angeles • "Big-shot Xo" has a ring to it.
If Xojian Harry keeps racking up 3-pointers like she did in a key stretch of the second half on Monday night, she might warrant the nickname for good.
BYU was glad to have her heroics late in its 80-76 win over Nebraska. Jennifer Hamson had racked up four fouls, and the Cougars were forced to take her out. The lead had whittled down to two points with eight minutes left.
That's when Harry stepped up. The junior guard, mainly a role player through this point in her career, started burying shots like a veteran. She hit a 3-pointer before a timeout, then came back with another 40 seconds later.
Her third, right on the heels of a Lexi Eaton jumper, sent the BYU fans at Pauley Pavilion jumping. Without warning, the Cougars had ripped off an 11-1 run, nine of those points by Harry.
She finished with 11 points, only two off her career best.
Huskers hit shots in second half
While the Cornhuskers were slow to start, once they awoke, they were fierce.
The two halves stand far apart: In the first, Nebraska hit only 33.3 of its shots, but was hovering in the 20s before making a late run to end.
The second half was a hot one, however. As Jordan Hooper found her stroke for 15 of her 20 total points, Nebraska raised its percentage to 42.4.
It was a tough one for the Huskers to swallow, but afterward they called their run to make it close "fun." Hooper said she'd probably root for BYU next week in the Sweet 16.
Next stop, Lincoln
After beating Nebraska, the Cougars' next stop is … Nebraska.
For the Sweet 16, BYU earned a berth to the Lincoln, Neb., regional, where they'll play on the home court of the Cornhuskers team they just beat.