HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – The Northern Kentucky University women's basketball team travels to Chicago, Ill., to take on Loyola on Wednesday night. The tipoff is set for 8 p.m. (EST) as the Norse wrap up their season-opening four-game road trip.
NKU enters Wednesday's game with an 0-3 record after dropping a 65-53 decision at Western Kentucky on Saturday. Loyola is 2-1 after defeating Southern Illinois, 82-73, on Saturday.
THE SERIES: In the only meeting between the two programs, NKU posted a 74-55 win over Loyola on Dec. 22, 2005, in Highland Heights, Ky.
Karmen Graham - now an NKU assistant coach - scored 18 points and grabbed six rebounds to lead the Norse, who used a 22-6 run in the second half to pull away and defeat the Ramblers.
Karyn Creager keyed the run with six points as NKU knocked off a Division I opponent for the first time since Dec. 8, 1993, when the Norse posted a 79-60 win over Morehead State.
Angela Healy scored 13 points and added eight rebounds for NKU, which shot 52.6 percent from the field. The Norse held Loyola to 37.5 percent shooting from the field and forced 25 turnovers.
NKU used a 15-0 run in the first half to turn a 22-20 deficit into a 35-22 lead. Cassie Brannen powered in for a pair of baskets to start the run, and Brittany Winner capped the spurt with a jumper to give NKU a 13-point advantage.
REINFORCEMENTS: NKU reserves
Kaitlyn Gerrety and
Rianna Gayheart combined for 19 points and 11 rebounds against Western Kentucky. Gerrety finished with 10 points and eight rebounds, while Gayheart netted a career-high nine points and grabbed three rebounds.
IMPROVING FROSH: NKU freshman
Christine Roush scored a career-high 11 points and added four rebounds against Western Kentucky. Roush also buried a pair of 3-pointers.
INSIDE STRENGTH: NKU senior forward
Tiara Hopper added 10 points and seven rebounds against Western Kentucky. Hopper led NKU with eight points in a season-opening 49-31 loss at Cincinnati on Nov. 9, and she scored eight against Miami (Ohio) on Nov. 12.
IT TAKES A THIEF: NKU junior guard
Kayla Thacker collected a career-high six steals against Western Kentucky. Thacker also scored 11 points and grabbed eight rebounds in that game.
DIFFERENT LANDSCAPE: NKU is 0-3 for the first time since starting 0-5 during the 2004-05 season. That Norse squad finished with a 16-12 record, but it was also competing against a Division II schedule.
HOME OPENER NOV. 27: NKU plays host to Youngstown State on Nov. 27 in The Bank of Kentucky Center at 7 p.m. Youngstown State is off to a 3-0 start and plays at Miami (Ohio) this Sunday before facing NKU.
