The Northern Kentucky University women’s basketball team closes out the 2015-16 regular season on Saturday as the Norse welcome Cleveland State to BB&T Arena.
Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. with the action carried live on ESPN3.
Fans are encouraged to arrive early, as NKU will honor its three seniors – Rianna Gayheart, Courtney Roush and Christine Roush – in a special pregame ceremony.
Game Information
Cleveland State University Vikings (8-19, 5-12 Horizon)
Northern Kentucky University Norse (17-11, 9-8 Horizon)
March 5 – 7 p.m.
BB&T Arena (9,400) – Highland Heights, Ky.
TV: ESPN3 // Brady Laber (play-by-play) and Brandon Cole (analyst)
Series History: NKU leads, 2-0
Last Time Out – Shar’Rae Davis came up big once more against Youngstown State, scoring a team-high 15 points off the bench to lead NKU to a 70-59 win over the Penguins. Davis was one of four Norse in double-figures, as Courtney Roush added 13 points, while Christine Roush and Kasey Uetrecht each posted 12-point games.
About Cleveland State – The Vikings are on a bit of a hot streak, having won three of their last four games to improve to 5-12 in Horizon League play. Freshman Ashanti Abshaw continues her bid for Horizon League Freshman of the Year, averaging 16.1 points and 9.3 rebounds per game to lead the Vikings. Khayla Livingston is averaging 11.4 points as the team’s top three-point shooter, connecting on 41.4 percent of her shots from long range.
The Series – NKU went to 2-0 in the all-time series against Cleveland State with an 83-51 win at the Wolstein Center. Christine and Courtney Roush combined for 48 of NKU’s 83 points, with Christine Roush posting a team-best 26 and Courtney Roush dropping a then career-high 22 points in the win. Kelley Wiegman added 11 points and Kasey Uetrecht chipped in 10 points.
Postseason Implications – NKU can lock up a No. 5 seed in next week’s Horizon League Championship with a win over Cleveland State. With a loss, NKU can still take the No. 5 seed with a Youngstown State loss to Wright State. Otherwise, NKU will enter the postseason as the No. 6 seed.
Fast Break Points
• The Norse are tied for fifth in the Horizon League standings at 9-8 with one game remaining.
• NKU will be the No. 5 seed in the Horizon League Championship with a win on Saturday or a Youngstown State loss on Sunday.
• NKU has averaged 72.7 points per game this season to rank third among Horizon League squads.
• NKU’s overall turnover margin of +3.6 ranks second in the Horizon League and 37th in the nation.
• The Norse have forced 15 or more turnovers in 24 of their 28 games this season, and have forced 92 errors in their last five games.
• The Norse rank third in the League in FG shooting (42.0%) and lead the League in 3-point (35.4%) and FT shooting (78.9%).
• NKU’s 78.9 percent free-throw accuracy ranks third among all Division I programs.
• The Norse are knocking down 8.1 treys per game, ranking second among Horizon League squads.
• F Courtney Roush got her first start of the season on Thursday against Youngstown State, scoring 13 points and pulling five rebounds.
• Courtney Roush is one of the Horizon League’s most efficient shooters, ranking third overall (55.3%) and fourth in League games (53.0%).
• G Christine Roush leads the Norse and ranks third in the Horizon League, scoring 16.4 points per game.
• With 460 points, Christine Roush needs nine points to claim NKU’s highest season scoring total in the Division I era.
• Christine Roush leads the league in free-throw shooting (91.9%) and ranks third in the league in three-point shooting (40.3%).
• F Molly Glick ranks third in Horizon League games for three-point shooting, hitting at a 43.2% clip.
• F Kasey Uetrecht (151) and F Rebecca Lyttle (144) are seventh and ninth, respectively, on NKU’s Division I season rebounding list.
From NKU Athletics