Northern Kentucky University Athletics

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HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – Down by 19 points midway through the second half Thursday night, Northern Kentucky University turned to full-court pressure to get back in the game against Wisconsin-Parkside.

The Norse staged a furious rally to cut the Wisconsin-Parkside lead to three points with less than two minutes remaining, but the Rangers held on for a 66-60 victory in The Bank of Kentucky Center. Wisconsin-Parkside improved to 13-3 overall, 6-2 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference. NKU is 12-4 overall, 5-3 in the GLVC.

Jadee Rooney scored 20 points to lead Wisconsin-Parkside, which is ranked No. 21 in the NCAA Division II poll. Amy Selk added 10 points and 12 rebounds for the Rangers, who held NKU to 35.6 percent shooting from the field and handed the Norse their first loss at home this season.

Wisconsin-Parkside built a 34-23 halftime lead as reserve guard Jenna Endisch drilled a trio of 3-pointers. The Rangers held NKU scoring leader Casse Mogan to just four points in the first half and shot 48.3 percent from the field.

After Brittany Beyer's basket with 9:21 remaining extended the Wisconsin-Parkside lead to 53-34, NKU turned to a full-court press. The pressure bothered the Rangers, and NKU rallied as Mogan (15 of her 19 points in the second half) and Maria Bennett (12 points, including a trio of 3-pointers in the second half) helped the Norse chop the deficit to 63-60 with 1:18 left on the clock.

Beyer, however, made two free throws with 52 seconds remaining to give the Rangers a 65-60 lead. Rooney added a free throw with 14 seconds left to cap the scoring. Wisconsin-Parkside is now just 2-15 all-time on the road against NKU. The Rangers' only other victory in Highland Heights, Ky., came on Jan. 22, 2004, a 57-45 win in Regents Hall.

NKU still leads the all-time series with Wisconsin-Parkside by a 25-9 margin.

Kayla Thacker added six points, eight rebounds and three steals for NKU, while teammate Sadie Bowling grabbed 12 rebounds. Ellen Holton finished with nine points, and Kelsey Simpson scored eight points.

Mogan moved into 10th place on the NKU all-time scoring list with 1,346 career points. The senior guard passed Christie Freppon, who finished with 1,339 career points.

NKU plays host to Lewis at 3 p.m. Saturday.