The Northern Kentucky University women’s basketball team held tight for 35 minutes before Green Bay was able to find the necessary surge to take an 81-73 victory in Horizon League action on Thursday night.
Kasey Uetrecht scored a team-high 18 points and pulled down eight rebounds for the Norse (10-7, 2-4 Horizon), shooting 5-of-9 from the field, including four three-pointers. Courtney Roush added a career-high 16 points to go with five rebounds.
Rebecca Lyttle added nine points while Rianna Gayheart and Christine Roush chipped in eight each. Combined, the Norse shot 40.7 percent from the floor with 11 treys and went 18-for-20 from the free-throw line.
Five players scored in double-figures for Green Bay (16-2, 6-0 Horizon), led by Allie LeClaire, who had 16. Jessica Lindstrom picked up a double-double, scoring 15 points and grabbing 10 rebounds as the Phoenix shot 53.7 percent from the field.
After falling behind by five points early, NKU fought back to tie the game at 14 after the first quarter. Kasey Uetrecht scored nine of the team’s 14 points, knocking down three from long range in the period.
The second started with a 6-2 run by the Norse to take a 20-16 lead. Two quick baskets by Allie LeClaire answered the run to tie it at 20-all with 5:43 left in the half. Molly Franson extended the Norse lead to 29-25 later in the half with a pair of free throws, two of her seven points on the night. Lindstrom answered with a three as NKU entered halftime with a 29-28 advantage.
Both teams came out shooting hot in the third quarter, combining to go 60.7 percent from the field in the third quarter. Back-to-back baskets from Lindstrom and Kaili Luken gave Green Bay back the lead at the 4:19 mark, but NKU continued to keep pace, and a traditional three-point play by Franson with 16 seconds on the clock tied things up at 52-52 after 30 minutes.
An 11-2 run to open the fourth quarter made the difference for Green Bay as the Phoenix opened up their largest lead of the nigiht at 63-54 with 5:51 to play. The Norse got some inside looks late, but Green Bay got the job done at the line, going 10-for-12 from the charity stripe in the final minute to seal the win.
The Norse have a quick turnaround as they close out a Horizon League weekend on Saturday, hosting Milwaukee at BB&T Arena. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m., with the action carried live on ESPN3.
NORSE NOTES
— Shar’Rae Davis tied her career high with five assists on the night. As a team, the Norse dished out 17 assists while committing just 12 turnovers.
— Kasey Uetrecht continued fighting the good fight on the glass, again posting a team-high eight rebounds as the Norse won the battle on the boards, 31-27.
— The Norse shot 90 percent or better from the free-throw line for the second-consecutive game. NKU was 9-for-9 from the charity stripe against Detroit.
From NKU Athletics