Four players posted double figures in scoring on Sunday to lead the Northern Kentucky University women’s basketball team to a 73-67 win over Indiana State on in NKU’s home opener at BB&T Arena.
With the game locked in a 64-64 tie with 1:46 remaining, Kasey Uetrecht and Rebecca Lyttle combined to score six uninterrupted points for a 70-64 edge. Indiana State’s Alexis Newbolt connected on a three-pointer to cut the Norse lead before the duo of Uetrecht and Lyttle sealed the win from the free throw line, moving NKU to 2-0 on the season.
Uetrecht registered a game-high 18 points, with 10 coming in the second quarter and eight in the final stanza for her third-straight double-figure scoring effort. The sophomore matched her strong offensive performance with seven rebounds, six of which came on the defensive end.
Uetrecht’s rebounding effort led the Norse as they out-rebounded the Sycamores, 48-32, including 20-8 on the offensive glass for 15 second-chance points.
Lyttle issued a 7-of-9 performance from the free throw line and finished one rebound shy of a double-double with 17 total points and nine rebounds. Christine Roush was also one rebound short of a double-double as she posted 15 points on the day followed by Molly Glick with 12 points.
The Norse and Sycamores traded runs throughout the game, beginning with eight straight points from Indiana State to open the game. A Mikayla Terry layup thwarted the Indiana State momentum and sparked a run of 11 uninterrupted points from the Norse, seven of which came from Lyttle. NKU closed the quarter out-scoring the Sycamores 18-6 for an 18-14 lead.
Uetrecht returned to the floor in the second quarter and exploded for 10 points as she scored all but two of NKU’s buckets in the period. However, Indiana State scored 12 straight points to jump ahead for a 35-33 lead at halftime despite Uetrecht’s scoring effort.
The third quarter saw three lead changes as the squads battled from the free throw line following a 7-0 run from NKU to open the half. Seven of NKU’s points in the quarter came from the charity stripe, with Molly Franson going 5-of-6 from the line.
Indiana State posted nine points from the line in the third quarter as the Norse held the Sycamores to a single field goal over the first six minutes of action.
Entering the final quarter, Indiana State led 55-51 as the teams traded buckets to start the final stanza before NKU’s late push that sealed the victory.
The Norse return to action on Wednesday when they travel to take on crosstown rival Cincinnati at 7 p.m.
NORSE NOTES:
— NKU won its first home opener since the 2013-14 season when NKU defeated Cincinnati, 77-61.
— With 15 points today, Roush now has 958 career points, tied for 30th all-time.
— After dishing out six assists against Miami (Ohio), Rianna Gayheart posted five on Sunday to push her career total to 260, good for 19th all-time.
— The Norse have forced 20 or more turnovers in each of their games this season.
From NKU Athletics