By Chloe Smith
NKU Athletics Communications
Northern Kentucky women’s basketball trailed Murray State for 36 minutes in regulation, but pushed the overtime period on Saturday afternoon. A last second 3-point shot by Kasey Uetrecht that would have forced a second overtime bounced off the rim as the Norse fell by three, 72-69. With the setback, NKU falls to 2-7 on the season, while Murray State advances to 5-4.
Stat Leaders
· Junior guard Mikayla Terry recorded her first career double-double with 19 points and 17 rebounds. Her rebounds are the most by any Norse this season, and it marks the first time since Rebecca Lyttle grabbed 18 boards against Cincinnati on Nov. 18, 2015, that an NKU player has recorded 15 or more rebounds. Terry played the full 45 minutes of gameplay, and also added a team-best three steals and two blocks.
· Redshirt-senior guard Shar’Rae Davis was the only other Norse in double-digit scoring, with a season-best 13 points while tying her career high of five assists. Davis played 36 minutes of action, just one off her career high.
· Senior guard Kelley Wiegman added nine points in 40 minutes on the floor.
First Half Summary
· The Norse were slow to start in the first quarter, as the Racers outscored NKU, 20-13. NKU shot 28.6 percent from the field, while Murray State shot 38.9 percent.
· NKU used a strong second quarter, ending on an 11-2 run, to end the half trailing by two points, 34-32.
· Terry had already recorded her double-double at the close of the first half, leading the team with 12 points and 10 rebounds.
Second Half Summary
· The second half mirrored the first, with the Norse shooting 26.7 percent in the third quarter before outscoring the Racers 19-12 in the fourth quarter behind a .438 clip.
· NKU used another 11-2 run to tie the game at 53-53, and a 3-pointer by freshman forward Hayley Combs gave the Norse their only lead of the game at the 2:45 mark, 58-57.
· A good bucket from Murray State and a free throw from freshman Laura Thomas left the game tied at 59-59 as the regulation period came to a close.
Overtime Summary
· Murray State took an immediate lead with a 9-2 run, leading 68-61 with just under 2:30 to play. NKU scored seven points while allowing four in the remaining minutes of the contest, but fell three points short as the Racers outscored the team 13-10 in overtime.
Norse Notes
· The setback was just the third loss to the Racers in program history, with NKU retaining the lead in the all-time series, 9-3.
· NKU has consistently been holding teams under their scoring average. The Racers were putting up 76.5 points per game prior to the matchup, and scored just 59 in the regulation period.
· The last time NKU lost an overtime game with one period of extra minutes was on Feb. 27, 2003 against Wisconsin-Parkside.
· The Norse shot 34.8 percent from the field while Murray State shot at a 43.3 percent rate. However, the Racers had more opportunities in the post, outscoring the Norse in the paint, 38-28.
· The Norse committed 18 turnovers and also forced 18 miscues from the Racers. It marks the first time this season that NKU has not committed more turnovers than a Division I opponent (NKU had 17 turnovers and forced 24 against NAIA opponent IU East).
· NKU made more free throws (19) than Murray State even attempted (17), but misfired on 12 shots from the charity stripe for a 61.3 free-throw percentage.
