UA can prove ranking wrong with win

Arizona plays Northeastern tonight at approximately 8 following the Nebraska and Wichita State first round game that begins at 6 p.m.

Nebraska enters the weekend at 7-1, with its only loss being a 142-122 shoot-out on the road against third-ranked Connecticut.

"Nebraska is a very, very good team," UA head coach Joan Bonvicini said. "They have a veteran team. It'll be a real good game."

The Huskers are led by Nicole Kubik, who scored 19 points in the UConn game and netted 10 points and dished out 10 assists in a 80-68 drubbing of Bradley on Wednesday.

Anchoring the Huskers in the paint should be 6-foot-2 sophomore forward Charlie Rogers.

Rogers led the Huskers with 17 points and 8 rebounds against Bradley.

If the Huskers and the Wildcats should meet, it would be Nebraska coach Paul Sanderford's third straight year facing Arizona.

Sanderford was the head coach at Western Kentucky last season when his team was knocked out by the Wildcats 76-54 in the first round of the NCAA tournament.

Arizona also handed Western Kentucky a 80-72 loss in the first round of the 1996 postseason National Invitational Tournament.

However, each team must get past its first round opponent.

Wichita State is struggling so far this season, at 0-3, and should be handled easily by the experienced Husker squad.

Northeastern is 3-1 after a 69-64 win against Boston University Tuesday, and are led by 5-foot-6 guard Tesha Tinsley. Northeastern's loss came Nov. 23 at Maine University.

Tinsley, from Baltimore, scored a game-high 24 points against the Terriers along with grabbing six rebounds and handing out eight assists. UA senior defensive menace DeAngela Minter will have the task of controlling her.

The consolation game is Sunday at 1 p.m. Arizona has won four of the six Copper Bowl Classics, the tournament's previous name.

Admission is free for UA students with an identification card, $4 for general admission and $3 for seniors, UA faculty and youth.