Northern Kentucky University Athletics

Tues., Nov. 15
Highland Heights, Ky. – The Bank of Kentucky Center (9,400)
Virginia-Wise (2-2) at NKU (0-0), 7 p.m.
NKU Radio/Internet: www.nkunorse.com
Series Record: First Meeting

HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. - The Northern Kentucky University women's basketball team opens the season Tuesday night with a home game against Virginia-Wise at 7 p.m.

Virginia-Wise, a member of the NAIA, owns a 2-2 record going into Tuesday's game. The Cavaliers dropped a 67-61 decision at Milligan (Tenn.) on Saturday. Chelsea Cluesman led Virginia-Wise with 24 points and 10 rebounds in that defeat.

This is the first meeting between NKU and Virginia-Wise in women's basketball.

NKU played two exhibition games in the preseason, dropping an 88-34 decision at Dayton on Nov. 1 and falling by a 72-66 score at Cincinnati on Nov. 5.

SEASON OPENERS: NKU owns a 27-10 record in season-opening games. The Norse have won six straight season openers.

NKU's last loss in a season opener occurred on Nov. 16, 2004, when Georgetown (Ky.) posted an 85-64 win against the Norse in Regents Hall.

MIGHTY MO: Casse Mogan (pictured above) returns after averaging 17.8 points per game and earning All-Great Lakes Valley Conference accolades. Mogan also averaged 5.5 rebounds per contest and collected 72 steals.

Mogan enters this season with 1,083 career points, which is 22nd in Norse history. She needs just six points to pass current NKU assistant coach Karmen Graham (1,088 points) for 21st place on the scoring list.

The Circleville, Ohio, native was also named honorable mention All-American by Division II Bulletin last season. Mogan averaged 14.5 points per game in the two exhibition contests.

NKU AT A GLANCE: NKU returns four starters from last season's 18-10 team that advanced to the quarterfinals of the GLVC Tournament. The Norse, however, watched their streak of five consecutive NCAA Division II Tournament appearances come to an end.

Senior forward Sadie Bowling (9.3 points per game) returns to the lineup for NKU. Bowling averaged a team-leading 7.3 rebounds per game and added 44 steals. Senior forward Stephanie Hodges chipped in 5.1 points per contest and shot 83.3 percent from the free-throw line.

FROM LONG RANGE: NKU welcomes in Division I transfer Maria Bennett, who averaged 9.8 points per game at Wright State last season. Bennett, a 5-foot-8 guard, started 33 times last season and led Wright State in 3-pointers made (92) and 3-pointers attempted (282).

In the exhibition game against Cincinnati, Bennett drained four 3-pointers and finished with 14 points.

HOLTON DELIVERS AGAINST UC: NKU junior post player Ellen Holton scored 17 points against Cincinnati on 7-for-8 shooting from the field. She also blocked two shots in that game and added four rebounds. In the two exhibition games, Holton averaged 13.0 points per contest.

NKU/UC RECAP: Dayeesha Hollins and Jeanise Randolph combined for 33 points and 12 rebounds as Cincinnati posted a 72-66 exhibition victory over NKU on Nov. 5.

Hollins finished with 18 points and three rebounds, while Randolph added 15 points and a game-high nine boards. Cincinnati shot 65.2 percent from the field in the first half to build a 40-33 lead at the break and eventually increased that advantage to 14 points (68-54) with 6:02 left on the clock.

NKU used a 10-0 to cut the deficit to 68-64 when Jaimie Hamlet buried a 3-pointer with 1:31 remaining. The Norse had two chances in the final minute to cut the Cincinnati lead even further, but Casse Mogan and Kayla Thacker both missed shots.

The Bearcats' Chanel Chisholm sealed the victory by making a pair of free throws and a basket in the final 14 seconds