NKU's Whitney Levering (left) battles for position against Kentucky State.
HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. - The Northern Kentucky University women's basketball team begins Great Lakes Valley Conference play Thursday at 5:30 p.m. with a road game against preseason East Division favorite Indianapolis.
NKU is 3-1 after suffering a 62-57 loss at Wayne State on Saturday. The Norse were ranked 15th nationally going into that game and owned an 11-point lead in the second half. Wayne State, however, used an 18-2 run to gain a 46-41 advantage and held on to defeat NKU.
Indianapolis is 5-0 and was ranked 10th nationally in last week's NCAA Division II poll. The Greyhounds are led by junior forward Samantha Meissel, who averages 23.2 points per game. Meissel, who was named GLVC Player of the Week on Monday, is also shooting 64.4 percent from the field.
BIG MO: NKU sophomore guard
Casse Mogan is averaging 15.8 points and 7.8 rebounds per game. Mogan also has 12 steals and is 31-for-34 (.912) from the free-throw line through the first four games.
Mogan has scored in double figures in all four games this season. She led NKU with 17 points and six steals in the loss at Wayne State.
DANDY BRANDI: NKU senior forward
Brandi Rayburn made a successful return to the lineup last week by averaging 13.0 points and 6.5 rebounds in two games. Rayburn sat out the first two games of the season while recovering from an injury.
BEYOND THE ARC: NKU junior guard
Jessie Carmack is 9-for-18 from 3-point range this season. Carmack averages 8.5 ppg. As a team, NKU is just 16-for-71 (.225) from 3-point range this season.
INSIDE FACTOR: NKU freshman post player
Kelsey Simpson averages 7.5 ppg and 5.5 rebounds per contest. Simpson is shooting 52.2 percent from the field.
DEFENSE WINS: NKU is limiting opponents to 33.9 percent shooting from the field. The Norse have also held the opposition to 12-for-55 shooting (.218) from 3-point range.
THE LAST TIME AGAINST INDIANAPOLIS: On Feb. 7, 2009,
Jessie Slack scored 18 of her 23 points in the first half to spark NKU's 64-56 win against Indianapolis in The Bank of Kentucky Center. The Norse built a 38-21 halftime lead and coasted to the victory.
STREAK AGAINST INDY: NKU has beaten Indianapolis 10 consecutive times. The Greyhounds have not defeated the Norse since Dec. 2, 2004, when Indianapolis posted a 61-58 win over NKU in Nicoson Hall.
NKU owns a 40-14 lead in the all-time series against Indianapolis. The Norse are 14-8 on the road against the Greyhounds with four straight wins in Nicoson Hall.
USI ON SATURDAY: NKU concludes the road trip Saturday by meeting Southern Indiana in Evansville, Ind., at 2 p.m. The Screaming Eagles are 7-2 and have won six straight games.
NKU owns a 34-17 lead in the all-time series against Southern Indiana. The Norse have won the last four meetings against the Screaming Eagles.
