Northern Kentucky University Athletics

Photo gallery | Box score

HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – Sadie Bowling scored 19 points and grabbed a career-high nine rebounds to lead the Northern Kentucky University women's basketball team to a 74-46 win against West Virginia Wesleyan on Tuesday.

Bowling added six assists and three blocked shots for NKU, which won its third straight game and improved to 6-3. The Norse shot 59.4 percent from the field in the second half to pull away from the visiting Lady Bobcats (4-4).

Casse Mogan finished with 12 points for NKU, while teammate Brandi Rayburn added 10 points. The Norse used a 14-2 run early in the second half to turn a 32-30 lead into a 46-32 advantage with 11:41 remaining.

NKU later blew the game open with a 22-4 spurt to build a 70-40 bulge. Bowling capped the run by burying a 3-pointer. Bowling's 19 points equaled her career high, set earlier this season against UC-Clermont.

West Virginia Wesleyan owned a 10-7 lead seven minutes into the game, but Bowling drained a 3-pointer and later made two free throws to give NKU a 12-11 advantage. The 5-foot-10 sophomore forward netted 10 points in the first half as the Norse forged a 26-21 lead despite shooting just 29.2 percent from the field.

Whitney Levering scored eight points in the first half for NKU, which watched West Virginia Wesleyan connect on 52.9 percent from the field in the opening 20 minutes.

NKU freshman guard Jaimie Hamlet scored eight points and dished out three assists. Levering collected a game-high four steals for the Norse.

NKU dominated the boards and finished with a 38-22 advantage in rebounds. The Norse upped their lead in the all-time series with West Virginia Wesleyan to 3-0.

NKU returns to action Dec. 30 with an in-region road game at Ashland. The Norse resume Great Lakes Valley Conference play Jan. 2 with a home game against Lewis.