Northern Kentucky University Athletics

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HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – Whitney Levering scored a career-high 16 points as the Northern Kentucky University women's basketball team cruised to a 61-41 victory against Saint Francis (Ind.) on Saturday.

Levering, a 6-foot-1 sophomore from Fredericktown, Ohio, also grabbed five rebounds and was 7-for-11 from the field. She scored nine points in the second half as NKU (5-3) pulled away from the visiting Lady Cougars (5-4) for its second straight win.

Brandi Rayburn added 13 points and seven rebounds for NKU, which held Saint Francis to 30.6 percent shooting from the field. The Norse won the rebounding battle by a 40-34 margin and committed just nine turnovers.

NKU sophomore guard Casse Mogan scored 10 points, grabbed seven rebounds and dished out five assists, while teammate Sadie Bowling added 12 points off the bench. Rachel Lantry finished with five assists and three steals for the Norse.

NKU jumped out to a 16-2 lead during the opening 10 minutes and allowed just one field goal for the first 11:30 of the game. Saint Francis, however, closed the half with a 9-2 run and trailed just 23-17 at the break.

With NKU holding a 30-22 lead in the second half, Levering drained a 3-pointer from out front to extend the Norse advantage to 33-22. After a conventional three-point play by Bessie Jenkins cut the NKU lead to 33-25, Levering responded with another basket off an assist from Mogan to give the Norse a 10-point cushion at 35-25.

Mogan and Bowling converted back-to-back baskets later in the half as NKU built a 47-32 lead. The Norse led by as many as 22 points and improved to 2-0 in the all-time series against Saint Francis.

Mogan has now scored in double figures in every game this season for NKU. Julie Seiss led Saint Francis with 13 points, and teammate Chanell Ridley blocked four shots.

NKU returns to action Dec. 22 with a home game against West Virginia Wesleyan at 2 p.m.