NKU women extend winning streak to three with 60-57 victory over IUPUI on Thursday night

NKyTribune staff

Big upsets in college basketball are typically pulled off by motivated underdogs playing at home. That’s what Northern Kentucky University fans were hoping to see Thursday night when the IUPUI women visited BB&T Arena to take on an improving Norse squad.

And that’s exactly what they were treated to as NKU posted a 60-57 victory over the favored Jaguars. The Norse avenged a 70-48 loss to IUPUI earlier this season and improved to 6-14 overall, 5-5 in the Horizon League.

Ally Niece scored 16 points — 10 in the second half — and dished out six assists to lead NKU. Grayson Rose buried four 3-pointers and finished with 14 points as the Norse won their third straight game.

Molly Glick hit a pair of free throws in the final seconds to give NKU a 60-57 cushion. With a chance to tie and send the game into overtime, IUPUI’s Holly Hoopingarner attempted a 3-pointer that rimmed out at the buzzer.

NKU held IUPUI to 27.3 percent shooting from the field in the first half to take a 25-19 lead into the locker room. Rose and Niece each scored six points in the first half, while teammate Kailey Coffey added five points.

Taylor Clos scored 12 points and grabbed three rebounds for NKU, which shot 44.9 percent from the field. Clos also drained a 3-pointer with 1:57 remaining in the game that gave NKU a 55-54 lead.

Glick finished with 10 points and three steals for the Norse. Coffey pulled down a game-high 10 rebounds and scored six points.

Tamya Sims scored 14 points to lead IUPUI, which dropped to 13-8 overall, 7-3 in the Horizon League. The Jaguars also had their five-game winning streak snapped on Thursday night.

NKU plays host to Illinois-Chicago at 2 p.m. Saturday at BB&T Arena.

(Information compiled from NKU Athletics Communications and staff reports)