Northern Kentucky University Athletics

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HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – Casse Mogan and Ellen Holton combined for 30 points and 15 rebounds as the Northern Kentucky University women's basketball team posted a 75-45 win against Illinois-Springfield on Saturday.

Mogan finished with 16 points and seven rebounds for NKU, which improved to 14-6 overall, 8-4 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference. Holton added 14 points and eight rebounds as the Norse finished with a 50-26 advantage on the boards.

Jaimie Hamlet chipped in 11 points for NKU, which built a 40-17 halftime lead by holding Illinois-Springfield (5-15 overall, 1-12 GLVC) to 30.8 percent shooting from the field. The Prairie Stars owned an early 12-10 lead after a layup by Amanda Hainlen, but NKU closed the half with a 30-5 run to take command.

Holton keyed NKU's first-half performance with 12 points on 6-for-7 shooting from the field. Mogan added eight points in the first half for the Norse, who shot 50 percent from the field during the opening 20 minutes.

Mogan upped her career total to 927 points, and she is now 30th on the all-time NKU scoring list. The junior guard from Circleville, Ohio, averages 17.2 points per game.

Sadie Bowling finished with eight points and a game-high nine rebounds, while Stephanie Hodges added eight points. NKU made just 30 percent of its shots from the field in the second half, but the Norse were 19-for-22 from the free-throw line after intermission to coast past the visitors.

NKU senior center Kendra Caldwell finished with six points and eight rebounds. Hainlen led Illinois-Springfield with 13 points. NKU is now 2-0 all-time against Illinois-Springfield.

NKU begins a difficult two-game road trip Thursday night with a GLVC game at Missouri S&T at 6:30 p.m. The Norse conclude the trip Saturday by meeting defending GLVC champion Drury at Springfield, Mo.