Sadie Bowling drives against Missouri S&T's Julie Meyer during NKU's 61-58 win.
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HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – The Northern Kentucky University women's basketball team survived a major scare from Missouri S&T on Saturday to post a 61-58 victory in The Bank of Kentucky Center, the Norse's eighth consecutive win.
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.
Casse Mogan led NKU (17-6 overall, 11-3 Great Lakes Valley Conference) with 16 points, including a short jumper with 1:31 remaining that gave the Norse a 58-56 lead. Hailee Parks countered with a basket off an assist from Julie Meyer to tie the game at 58-all with 1:02 left on the clock.
Sadie Bowling drew a foul with 41 seconds remaining and made one of two free throws to give NKU a 59-58 lead. After a Missouri S&T timeout, Levering stepped up and made her big defensive play with a steal off a pass from Brittany Percival, and NKU held off the Lady Miners for the win.
Lantry added 14 points for NKU, which won despite shooting just 14-for-27 (51.9 percent) from the free-throw line. The Norse did make 51.2 percent of their shots from the field, including 60 percent in the second half.
Bowling scored 10 points and grabbed four rebounds for NKU, while Levering finished with nine points, six rebounds and two steals. Mogan added six rebounds, three assists and two blocked shots, while Lantry had three assists and four rebounds.
NKU is now 9-1 all-time against Missouri S&T. The Norse are 5-0 at home against the Lady Miners.
Meyer led Missouri S&T (11-11 overall, 6-8 GLVC) with 17 points. Bell finished with 13 points for the Lady Miners, who shot 47.7 percent from the field. Percival added 12 points for Missouri S&T, which lost in the final seconds for the second time in three days.
On Thursday night, Bellarmine rallied to defeat Missouri S&T by a 64-62 score at Louisville, Ky.
NKU travels to Louisville on Thursday to meet Bellarmine at 5:45 p.m. The Norse conclude the two-game road trip next Saturday with a GLVC contest at Kentucky Wesleyan.
