Northern Kentucky University Athletics

Sat., Feb. 26
Owensboro, Ky. - Owensboro Sportscenter (5,002)
NKU (17-9, 11-7 GLVC) at Ky. Wesleyan (17-8, 11-7), 6:15 p.m.
NKU Internet: www.nkunorse.com
Series Record: NKU leads, 52-7
Last Meeting: KWC 53, NKU 52 (2-10-11)


HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – Having already lost twice to Kentucky Wesleyan this season, the Northern Kentucky University women's basketball team gets a third shot at the Panthers this Saturday at 6:15 p.m. in the first round of the Great Lakes Valley Conference Tournament at Owensboro, Ky.

NKU is the No. 7 seed in the GLVC Tournament, while Kentucky Wesleyan is the No. 6 seed. The two teams tied for second place in the GLVC East Division with 11-7 records, but Kentucky Wesleyan earned the right to host as the Panthers swept the Norse in the regular season.

NKU enters the GLVC Tournament with a 17-9 overall record. Kentucky Wesleyan is 17-8 and owns a six-game winning streak entering the postseason.

The NKU-Kentucky Wesleyan winner advances to St. Louis, Mo., for the quarterfinals of the GLVC Tournament on March 4. The GLVC semifinals are scheduled for March 5, with the championship game set for March 6.

THE SERIES: NKU owns a 52-7 lead in the all-time series against Kentucky Wesleyan, but the Panthers won both games this season. Kentucky Wesleyan pulled out a 67-63 victory over NKU on Jan. 22 in Owensboro, Ky. The Panthers completed the season sweep on Feb. 10 with a 53-52 win at NKU.

A THIRD TIME?: Kentucky Wesleyan is attempting to become just the second team to ever defeat NKU three times in a season. Quincy defeated NKU in all three meetings during the 2003-04 campaign, marking the only time the Norse women have ever lost three times in a season to the same opponent. Quincy swept the regular-season series in 2003-04, and later knocked off NKU in the first round of the NCAA Tournament at Quincy, Ill.

CLIMBING THE CHARTS: NKU junior guard Casse Mogan is now 24th in school history with 1,045 career points. Dana Morningstar is 23rd with 1,049 points, and Angel Donley is 22nd with 1,064 points.

Mogan averages 17.7 points per game, which is No. 3 in the GLVC. Mogan is No. 2 in steals in the GLVC with an average of 2.62 per game.

GLVC TOURNAMENT HISTORY: NKU owns a 22-9 all-time record in the GLVC Tournament, and the Norse have won four GLVC Tournament championships (1999, 2000, '06 and '09). NKU won each of its first three GLVC Tournament titles in Roberts Stadium. The Norse captured the 2009 GLVC Tournament title at Quincy, Ill.

ROAD RALLY: A pair of big-time scoring spurts in the second half and some outstanding late-game defense enabled NKU to rally for a 73-63 victory at Southern Indiana on Saturday.

Casse Mogan scored 15 of her 19 points in the second half as NKU rallied from a 36-25 deficit at the break. Jaimie Hamlet netted 12 of her 17 points after intermission for the Norse.

NKU opened the second half with a 12-0 run to take a 37-36 lead on Mogan's conventional three-point play with 15:10 remaining. Southern Indiana fought back and eventually took a 47-44 advantage, setting the stage another big NKU spurt.

Tied at 52-all with 6:31 remaining, NKU went on a 14-3 run to gain a 66-55 lead with 2:45 left on the clock. Hamlet buried a pair of 3-pointers during the spurt and keyed the run with eight points.

NKU held Southern Indiana to just 25.9 percent shooting from the field in the second half. The Lady Eagles managed just two field goals during the final six minutes of the game.
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NO. 1 IN THE GLVC: NKU leads the GLVC in scoring defense at 53.0 ppg. The Norse are also No. 1 in field-goal percentage defense, holding the opposition to just 35.2 percent from the field.

THE LAST TIME AGAINST KENTUCKY WESLEYAN: On Feb. 10, Kentucky Wesleyan held NKU scoreless the final 4:48 of the game and pulled out a 53-52 win against the Norse in Highland Heights, Ky.

Karly Rhoads drained a 3-pointer with 2:08 remaining to give Kentucky Wesleyan a 53-52 lead, capping a game-ending 7-0 run by the Panthers. NKU had a chance to win in the final seconds, but Kourtney Rhoads – Karly's sister – blocked Stephanie Hodges' jumper from the right corner and grabbed the rebound as time ran out.

Katie Behrens scored 18 points to lead Kentucky Wesleyan.