Kiera Hardy scored 16 points, and Nebraska held Colorado players to single-digit scoring in a 54-44 victory Saturday. It was the lowest point total all season for both teams.

“That was a tough game,” Nebraska coach Connie Yori said. “We haven’t won many games this year with our defense, but we are starting to do it more and more. Today, we played outstanding defense from start to finish and that was the difference.”

Chelsea Aubry had 11 points, and Kelsey Griffin had eight points and 11 rebounds for the Cornhuskers, who are tied with Texas A&M for first place in the conference.

Nebraska shot 37 percent from the field, but Colorado was worse, shooting just 35 percent.

Jackie McFarland led Colorado with nine points and 13 rebounds. She averaged 18.5 points and 11 rebounds coming into the game.

“That was one of the main focuses, was playing great defense,” Hardy said. “We weren’t making a lot of shots tonight. We had to try to win with our defense.”

Trailing 30-20 at halftime, Colorado pulled to 34-33 with 14:26 left after Susie Powers made a three-pointer, got a steal and Kara Richards made a jumper.

But Nebraska held the Buffaloes scoreless for nearly six minutes to rebuild its 10-point lead, and the Cornhuskers led by as many as 15 in the second half.

“They had several runs that really deflated our team,” Colorado head coach Kathy McConnell-Miller said. “And we thought that if we got within one, the momentum would go our way, but then we’d go and settle for a challenge shot, and then they’d answer.”

No. 16 Texas A&M 78, No. 12 Oklahoma 68

College Station, Texas – Takia Starks and A’Quonesia Franklin scored 25 points apiece to help Texas A&M extend its home winning streak to 14 games and maintain a share of the Big 12 Conference lead.

Danielle Gant added 11 points for the Aggies, who are tied with Nebraska for first place.

Courtney Paris had 25 points and 14 rebounds for Oklahoma, which trailed 37-29 at halftime.

No. 15 Baylor 81, Iowa St. 64

Waco, Texas – Angela Tisdale scored 21 points, tying her season high, and Bernice Mosby added 17 points and 15 rebounds to lead Baylor.

Trailing 49-26 at the break, the Cyclones opened the second half with a 13-4 run to pull to 53-39 with just under 16 minutes left. However, Baylor regrouped, and Iowa State never seriously challenged.

Alison Lacey, Nicky Wieben, and Megan Ronhovde scored 12 points each, while Heather Ezell added 10 for Iowa State.