NKU's Sadie Bowling drives to the basket against Southern Indiana.
Box score
HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – The momentum of a three-game winning streak meant a great deal for the Northern Kentucky University women's basketball team during a 71-38 victory over Southern Indiana on Thursday night.
Casse Mogan scored 21 points to lead four players in double figures as NKU opened Great Lakes Valley Conference play by knocking off Southern Indiana.
Sadie Bowling added 12 points for NKU, which won its fourth straight game and improved to 5-2 overall, 1-0 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference.
Ellen Holton and
Stephanie Hodges both scored 10 points for the Norse, who held Southern Indiana (3-3 overall, 0-1 GLVC) to 25.5 percent shooting from the field.
Kendra Caldwell grabbed 12 rebounds for NKU, which is now 35-19 all-time against Southern Indiana.
“There was a lot of talking on defense, and a lot of listening, which helped us keep them from shooting and get steals,” said Caldwell, NKU's lone senior. “That helped us out a lot. Our defense hasn't been that good, and you could tell something was different tonight.”
NKU built a 28-19 halftime lead by holding Southern Indiana to 22.2 percent shooting from the field. The Norse then scored the first 12 points of the second half to extend their advantage to 40-19 and cruised to the victory.
“That was our best game this year, and we did it as a team,” NKU head coach Nancy Winstel said. “We did some really good things and I'm really happy for them. We've been working hard, and I've been working them hard. We've had some tough non-conference games to try to get ready for the GLVC. It's only one win in the GLVC, but it's a good way to start. I was real proud of our play.”
In addition to her scoring, Mogan added eight rebounds and three steals. It marked the sixth consecutive game the junior guard from Circleville, Ohio, has scored in double figures.
“Mo has been a leader since last year,” Winstel said of Mogan. “She has kind of been the nuts and bolts of the operation. What is so nice about our team right now is that she doesn't have to do everything. The rest of the team is taking responsibility to do things so that she doesn't have to do everything. It's just a really nice team win and I'm just really happy for the girls.”
NKU shot 44.4 percent from the field and converted 76 percent of its free throws.
NKU plays host to nationally ranked Indianapolis at 5:30 p.m. Saturday. The Greyhounds are ranked 11th nationally in this week's NCAA Division II poll.
