Northern Kentucky University Athletics

Photo gallery | Box score | Video highlights

HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – The Northern Kentucky University women's basketball team placed four players in double figures Thursday night as the Norse cruised to a 71-55 victory over UNC Wilmington in The Bank of Kentucky Center.

Kayla Thacker led NKU (3-6) with a career-high 17 points, including 12 in the first half.  She finished the night with eight rebounds, four assists and four steals.  Thacker went 5-for-7 from the floor and 6-for-8 from the freethrow line.

"I thought (Kayla) really did a good job creating some offensive posessions for us with her defense," NKU head coach Dawn Plitzuweit said.  "Kayla is someone who can make a lot of things happen on the court and can certainly do it on both ends."

Tiara Hopper added 16 points, while Kaitlyn Gerrety came off the bench to score 11.  She also pulled down six rebounds.  Melody Doss finished with 11 points for the Norse.

UNC Wilmington (1-8) held a 22-18 lead with 6:08 left in the first half, but the Norse closed the half with a 15-2 run to take the lead going into halftime.  A 3-point field goal by Doss gave NKU a 33-24 advantage at the break.

Momentum continued to be in NKU's favor in the second half.  Thacker hit two free throws to cap a 16-2 spurt, during which six different NKU players scored, to give the Norse a 67-45 advantage with 5:38 remaining in the game.

UNC Wilmington was unable get any closer than 15 the rest of the way.

"I thought our kids played very hard, and I thought they really played with a lot of energy," Plitzuweit said.  "It's certainly great to go into Christmas break and head into conference play with a win."

The Norse won the rebounding battle over the taller Seahawks by a 38-34 margin. NKU collected four blocked shots, including two from Christine Roush, and forced 18 turnovers.

Rianna Gayheart added seven points, three assists and three steals for NKU.

Gerrety, Doss and Gayheart combined for 28 points off the bench, while the Seahawks failed to get any points from their bench players.

NKU shot 48.1 percent from the floor, including 13-for-25 (.520) in the first half.  Hopper went 6-for-9 from the floor for the Norse.

Chelsea McGowen, Tawanna Lee and Jessica Freeman each finished with 14 points for UNC Wilmington, while Karneshia Garrett pulled down a game-high 15 rebounds.

NKU begins Atlantic Sun Conference play on Dec. 31 in Jacksonville, Fla.  The Norse will take the floor against Jacksonville at 5 p.m.