Sat., Dec. 1
Springfield, Mo.
JQH Arena (11,000)
NKU (1-4) at Missouri State (4-2), 2 p.m.
Series Record: First meeting
NKU GAME NOTES (PDF)
2012-13 NKU digital media guide
HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. - Northern Kentucky University will travel to Springfield, Mo., on Saturday to meet Missouri State at 2 p.m.
Missouri State is 4-2 after rallying to defeat visiting Oral Roberts, 73-72, in overtime Thursday night. NKU enters Saturday's game with a 1-4 record.
NORSE NOTES (FIVE STARTERS & ONE)
1• NKU picked up its first win as a Division I program on Tuesday night, 66-64 over Youngstown State.
2• The Norse scored two baskets in the final two seconds to defeat the previously unbeaten Penguins.
Kayla Thacker hit an 18-footer with 1.7 seconds left to tie the game at 64-all. A Youngstown State turnover then gave NKU possession underneath its own basket.
3•
Melody Doss hit a runner in the lane off an inbounds pass as time expired to give NKU the victory.
4•
Christine Roush, who picked up the assist on Doss' winning shot with a perfect inbounds pass, scored a career-high 24 points to lead NKU.
5• NKU has won eight consecutive home openers.
+1•NKU is now 53-7 all-time in The Bank of Kentucky Center.
ROUSH-ING PERFORMANCE: Christine Roush poured in a career-high 24 points to lead NKU against Youngstown State. She became the first Norse freshman to score more than 20 points in a game since Karyn Creager poured in 22 points on Feb. 28, 2004, during an 81-64 win at Kentucky Wesleyan.
Roush's 24 points were the most scored by an NKU freshman since Dec. 29, 2003, when
Karmen Graham netted 28 points against Wayne State (Mich.). Prior to that, NKU freshman Sharell Snardon scored 27 points against Wisconsin-Parkside on Feb. 1, 2003.
Roush enters Saturday averaging 9.2 points per game. She is from Louisville, Ky., and is a graduate of Mercy Academy.
MEL, VAL & LAST-SECOND SHOTS: Melody Doss has something in common with a former NKU standout who also wiped out an opponent's perfect record with a last-second shot. On Feb. 22, 1990, NKU's Val Gaerke hit a six-foot jumper as time expired to give the Norse an 82-80 win over previously unbeaten Saint Joseph's in Regents Hall.
The Pumas entered that game with a 24-0 record. It turned out to be Saint Joseph's only loss of the regular season.
WHAT HOME COOKING?: NKU attempted just eight free throws against Youngstown State, while the Penguins were 16-for-22 from the charity stripe.
COUNT THE BUCKET: NKU used instant replay technology for the first time Tuesday, and the officials confirmed
Melody Doss' buzzer-beating basket by viewing the final 1.7 seconds.
FAST START: NKU led by as many as 14 points (22-8) in the first half. The Penguins rallied to cut the halftime deficit to 32-31.
LANDMARK VICTORY: NKU now has 810 all-time victories in 39 seasons of competition. The Youngstown State win marked the Norse's first as a Division I program.
FIRST MEETING: NKU and Missouri State have never met on the basketball court. The Bears are members of the Missouri Valley Conference.
UP NEXT: NKU visits Ball State on Dec. 8 in Muncie, Ind. NKU's next home game is Dec. 16, when Butler visits The Bank of Kentucky Center at 2 p.m.
