Casse Mogan glides through the Rockhurst defense on Thursday night.
Box score
HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – Given the fact the Northern Kentucky University women's basketball team had beaten Rockhurst in all five previous meetings by an average of 27 points per game, a blowout might have been expected Thursday night when the Norse hosted the Hawks.
But NKU's 58-46 victory against Rockhurst on Thursday night was anything but easy. The Norse trailed much of the first half before gaining a 26-25 edge at the break. NKU finally took control early in the second half with a 17-6 run to build a 43-31 lead and coasted to the victory.
Casse Mogan scored 13 points and added four steals to lead NKU. Mogan also grabbed seven rebounds and blocked three shots for NKU, which improved to 10-3 overall, 4-1 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference. The Norse shot just 39.1 percent from the field but finished with a 34-24 rebounding advantage.
Stephanie Hodges added 11 points for NKU, which is 6-0 all-time against Rockhurst (4-9 overall, 0-5 GLVC).
Jaimie Hamlet scored 10 points for NKU, while teammate
Sadie Bowling grabbed a game-high 11 rebounds.
Shanece Miller scored a pair of baskets to key NKU's 17-6 spurt in the second half. Hamlet began the run by draining a 3-pointer, and she later added a layup to extend the Norse lead to 41-31. Mogan capped the spurt by making a pair of free throws to give NKU a 43-31 bulge with 11:02 remaining.
Rockhurst rallied and cut NKU's lead to 46-42 on a 3-pointer by Bri Edwards with 8:04 left on the clock, but NKU scored the next eight points to seal the win. Bowling scored four points during the Norse run.
After connecting on just 30.4 percent from the floor during the opening 20 minutes, NKU made 47.8 percent of its shots in the second half.
Chrissy Sarcone led Rockhurst with 11 points. The Hawks shot just 38.6 percent from the field and committed 16 turnovers.
NKU plays host to Missouri-St. Louis at 1 p.m. Saturday.
