Sadie Bowling (left) grabbed 18 rebounds against KWC.
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HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. - Defense and rebounding were the difference on Thursday night as Northern Kentucky University pulled off a 64-51 victory over Kentucky Wesleyan.
NKU outrebounded the Panthers by a 47-30 margin, pulling down 36 boards on the defensive end. The defense limited Kentucky Wesleyan to 32.3 percent shooting from the floor and also forced 13 turnovers.
Sadie Bowling led the board attack by pulling down a career-high 18 rebounds and collecting three blocks for NKU. She also added 10 points, four assists and a steal. She finished 3-for-5 from the floor.
“
Sadie Bowling is a warrior. Now, she has the scar to prove it,” NKU head coach Nancy Winstel said.
Tiara Hopper led the team with a game-high 14 points and pulled down five rebounds. She also contributed three blocks and two steals.
The Norse used an 11-2 run, capped by a 3-pointer by
Maria Bennett with 4:47 remaining in the game, to stretch the lead to 13 points. Kentucky Wesleyan, however, mounted a comeback of their own and cut the lead to five with 2:33 left.
NKU hit eight free throws in the final two minutes of the game to seal the conference win.
“This league is tough,” Winstel said. “There are no easy games.”
Kayla Thacker finished with nine points and seven rebounds for NKU. She also blocked two shots. Mogan and Bennett both added eight points for the Norse.
Neika Smith led the Panthers with 12 points, while Kristen Rowe added 11. Katie Behrens, Kentucky Wesleyan's leading scorer (10.8), was held to six points.
The Norse are now 54-7 all-time and 28-1 at home against the Panthers. Kentucky Wesleyan fell to 12-6 overall, 6-4 in the GLVC.
The Norse will travel to Evansville, Ind., on Saturday to take on Southern Indiana at 2 p.m.
