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So Natalie Potts, 40 seconds into the second half, took a charge near center court. It didn’t immediately erase a six-point halftime deficit — No. 23 NU wouldn’t grab the lead until early in the fourth quarter — but the play set a certain tone.

“We always want to start the second half and punch first,� Potts said, “and a momentum booster like that is really what got us started.�

Potts’ 17-point, seven-rebound performance didn’t hurt, either. The Huskers hit 14 3s — four each from Potts and Logan Nissley — and stopped SELA’s efficient offense just enough in the fourth quarter to stave off an upset.

“One of my assistants said ‘gritty, not pretty,’ and I think that probably describes it,� coach Amy Williams said. “This was the type of test we needed here early in the season.�

Even if — especially if — NU (2-0) failed the biggest part of the exam.

“We wanted to keep them out of the paint, and they scored 40 points in the paint,� Williams said. “So we did not really accomplish our goals as far as that’s concerned.�

She gave a quick laugh. Ugly Week 1 wins over directional schools are kind of a coach’s ideal scenario. It’s a W with lots of learning lessons attached, and the Lions (1-1) gave the Huskers much to chew on. NU didn’t have freshman star Britt Prince — day-to-day, Williams said, with a lower leg injury — and other stars Alexis Markowski and Allison Weidner had off days on offense.

A member of the Southland Conference that finished 19-12 last season, Southeastern Louisiana did not have an off day. It made 8 of 12 shots in the first quarter and forced six Husker turnovers, including one where guard Jalencia Pierre picked Weidner’s pocket and cruised for a layup.

Lions Alexius Horne (24 points for the game) and Lexi Alexander (14) repeatedly got open looks near the rim as Nebraska lagged a step behind crisp passes.

“That definitely hurts our heart,� said junior guard Callin Hake, who had six points, seven assists and six rebounds. “We’ve got to guard our yard better.�

SELA led 37-31 at half. Potts took the charge early in the third quarter, signaling a surge of defensive intensity. Still, the Lions held the Huskers at bay for a quarter. When Nissley drained two 3s in a row to tie the game at 54, Horne answered with a top-of-the-key trey of her own. SELA led 57-54 headed into the fourth.

Potts gave Nebraska its first lead of the second half on a 3, then helped the Huskers retake the lead, 62-61, on a subsequent driving layup. She followed that play with a steal as NU started to rack up the defensive stops. Alberte Rimdal hit a 3 to give the Huskers a 65-61 advantage. The Lions never got closer than two after that.

Williams credited Hake as the “warrior� in 33 minutes of play.

“I thought she did a great job of pushing pace,� Williams said, "and then she was hunting the paint. And when she got those paint touches, it created easier opportunities for our team.�

Hake’s final assist led to the decisive blow, Nissley’s fourth and final 3. It gave Nebraska a 73-68 lead with 1:58 left.

The Huskers didn’t have their best but withstood the best shot of SELA. Hake said she expects the same Tuesday when Southern comes to town.

“When you’re ranked, you have a target on your back and so we can’t take any games for granted and we can’t take any game lightly,� Hake said. “And I think (Southeastern Louisiana) punched first, and that’s not what we want.

“So we’re going to be punching first on Tuesday, I can tell you that.�