The Northern Kentucky University women’s basketball team put four players in double figures, but could not stave off a late rally as Milwaukee claimed a 78-71 victory in Horizon League action on Thursday night.
Christine Roush led the way for NKU (16-10, 8-7 Horizon), just a rebound short of a double-double with 19 points and nine boards. Molly Franson added 14 points, including 8-of-10 from the free-throw line, while Rianna Gayheart chipped in 13 points and Courtney Roush scored 10.
Milwaukee (16-10, 10-5 Horizon) was led by Sierra Ford-Washington, who posted 24 points on 6-of-13 shooting from the field. Steph Kostowicz picked up a double-double with 19 points and 10 rebounds, while Sydney Howard connected on three triples, scoring 15 on the night.
The Norse and Panthers stayed close through the first six minutes of the game, tied at 13-13, until three-straight possessions ended in turnovers for NKU, allowing Milwaukee to create a measure of separation and take a 22-16 lead at the end of the first quarter.
NKU battled back in the second quarter, cutting the deficit as close as one point at 28-27 with 3:22 to go until half, but Milwaukee pushed the lead back to five, using a pair of trips to the free-throw line to extend their advantage to 36-31 at the break.
Milwaukee connected on four of its first five shots from the field in the third quarter, but NKU still kept pace, seeing the Panthers shot for shot. A shooting drought saw just one field goal between the teams in the final six minutes of the period, as Milwaukee carried an eight-point advantage into the final stanza.
An 11-3 run in the early part of the fourth quarter sealed the game for the Panthers, who got five of those points from the free-throw line, extending the lead to as many as 13 at 62-49 with 5:39 to go. The Norse fashioned a comeback as Gayheart scored 10 of her 13 points in the final stanza, including a clutch steal and three-pointer with 33 seconds left to make it a seven-point game at 74-67. NKU would get no closer, as the Panthers took care of business at the free-throw line to reach a 78-71 final.
The Norse will look to get back to their winning ways on Saturday when they play their final regular-season road game at Green Bay. Tipoff is set for 2 p.m. Eastern with the action carried live on ESPN3.
NORSE NOTES
· Molly Franson’s 8-for-10 performance from the free-throw line matched a career high from Nov. 28, 2014, when she matched the effort against Grand Canyon.
· Rianna Gayheart’s 13-point effort was the most she’s scored in Horizon League play this season, and her highest point total since going for 14 points against Kentucky on Dec. 2.
· The Norse forced 21 Milwaukee turnovers on the game, scoring 18 points off those miscues.
Cleveland State holds off NKU men
The Northern Kentucky University men’s basketball team came within two points of Cleveland State with 20 seconds to play but fell to the Vikings, 63-58, at the Wolstein Center.
Drew McDonald posted his fifth double-double of the season, pouring in a game-high 20 points and 12 rebounds. The freshman went 7-of-11 from the field and 6-of-7 from the charity stripe on Thursday and had nine points and eight boards after the first period.
Jalen Billups followed McDonald with 17 points and a perfect 7-for-7 showing from the line while Tyler White scored 11 points and pulled down seven rebounds.
Cleveland State was led by Rob Edwards with 19 points after a 3-of-6 showing from long range and a 6-of-6 performance from the line.
The Norse led 9-4 in the early going and maintained the lead until the 11:14 mark of the first half. A CSU run handed the Vikings a 20-14 advantage with seven minutes to play.
NKU stayed within single digits of the Vikings, but struggled from the field throughout the remainder of the opening period. Nine of NKU’s 24 points came from the free throw line in the first half as Cleveland State held a 31-24 lead at the intermission.
A trio of triples and a McDonald layup put the Norse on an 11-0 run to regain a 35-33 lead upon returning to the court. NKU held the Vikings without a field goal until the 14:49 mark when a jumper put CSU back within one point of the Norse.
A McDonald jumper and Holland trey put NKU back on top at 48-46 with 10 minutes to play. After Cleveland State reclaimed its lead, Billups netted seven-straight NKU points and cut the Vikings’ advantage to 56-55 with under five minutes to play.
The teams closed out the contest battling from the free throw line as each team netted a single field goal across the final 4:17.
A McDonald jumper put NKU up by one with 2:35 to play, but a pair of CSU free throws gave the Vikings a lead that would stick throughout the remainder of the contest.
With one game left in the regular season, NKU sits at 9-19 overall and 5-12 in Horizon League play, while Cleveland State improves to 9-21 and 4-13 in the League.
The Norse conclude the regular season on Saturday, Feb. 27 at Youngstown State. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m.
NORSE NOTES:
· NKU won the rebounding battle 36-32 overall including 25-20 on the defensive glass.
· The Norse posted 14 assists on 19 field goals with Lavone Holland II and Todd Johnson dishing out five assists apiece.
· McDonald has two double-doubles in the last three games after notching 12 points and 11 rebounds against Detroit. The freshman posted six points and three rebounds in the first meeting with CSU on Jan. 16.
From NKU Athletics