NKU's Kelsey Simpson (right) has helped the Norse win eight straight games.
HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – The Northern Kentucky University women's basketball team meets Great Lakes Valley Conference rival Bellarmine at 5:45 p.m. Thursday in Louisville, Ky.
NKU enters Thursday riding an eight-game winning streak and is 17-6 overall. The Norse are 11-3 in the GLVC.
Bellarmine is 14-9 overall, 7-7 in the GLVC. NKU owns a 48-26 lead in the all-time series with Bellarmine, including a 76-58 win earlier this season.
NKU concludes the road trip Saturday by playing at Kentucky Wesleyan at 2 p.m. The Norse are 50-5 all-time against Kentucky Wesleyan.
Both games can be heard live on WIOK (107.5 FM) and at www.nkunorse.com.
CLOSE CALL: NKU survived a major scare from Missouri S&T on Saturday to post a 61-58 victory in The Bank of Kentucky Center. With NKU clinging to a 59-58 lead in the last minute,
Whitney Levering stole an errant Missouri S&T pass with 14 seconds remaining. Levering was fouled with 12 seconds left and made one of two free throws to extend the Norse lead to 60-58.
On Missouri S&T's ensuing possession, Jazmine Bell drove down the left side of the lane for a contested layup. Bell's shot was off the mark and rebounded by
Rachel Lantry with 2.2 seconds remaining. Lantry then made one of two free throws, and Missouri S&T could only get off a desperation heave from 75 feet at the buzzer.
STREAK AT 23:
Casse Mogan led NKU with 16 points, including a short jumper with 1:31 remaining that gave the Norse a 58-56 lead. Mogan has now scored in double figures in all 23 games this season. She averages 17.3 points per game and 6.0 rebounds per contest. Mogan is also shooting 83.7 percent from the free-throw line.
FREE-THROW WOES: NKU pulled out the win against Missouri S&T despite shooting just 14-for-27 (51.9 percent) from the free-throw line. For the season, NKU is shooting 75.1 percent from the charity stripe.
SENIORITY RULES: NKU senior guard
Rachel Lantry averaged 16 points in the two victories last week, including a career-high 18 points in the Norse's 66-62 win against Drury. For the season, Lantry averages 9.4 ppg and leads the team with 24 blocked shots.
THE LAST TIME AGAINST BELLARMINE: Earlier this season on Jan. 23,
Brandi Rayburn scored 21 points and grabbed six rebounds as NKU cruised to a 76-58 win against Bellarmine in The Bank of Kentucky Center.
Casse Mogan added 17 points and nine rebounds for NKU, while teammate
Sadie Bowling finished with 14 points and four assists.
NKU held Bellarmine to 33.3 percent shooting from the field, including 25 percent in the first half. NKU began the second half with a 17-1 run to build a 53-24 lead and coasted to the victory. Rayburn netted six points during that spurt, while
Rachel Lantry scored five. Lantry capped the run with a basket while being fouled at the 14:48 mark. Lantry added 13 points for the Norse.
NKU has defeated Bellarmine four straight times and has won six of the past seven meetings with the Knights.
THE LAST TIME AGAINST KWC: Earlier this season on Jan. 21,
Casse Mogan scored 21 points as NKU posted a 51-42 win against Kentucky Wesleyan.
Brandi Rayburn added 11 points for the Norse.
Sadie Bowling grabbed 11 rebounds for NKU, which held Kentucky Wesleyan to 34.8 percent shooting from the field. NKU also used a 9-0 run early in the second half to build a 17-point lead (37-20) and was never threatened.
Mogan converted a pair of baskets to fuel that spurt.
