Mon., Dec. 31
Jacksonville, Fla. – Veterans Memorial Arena (14,091)
NKU (3-6) at Jacksonville (4-7), 5 p.m.
Series Record: First meeting
NORSE NOTES (FIVE STARTERS & ONE)
1• NKU is 3-6 after posting a 71-55 win over North Carolina-Wilmington on Dec. 20 in The Bank of Kentucky Center.
2• The Norse rallied from an early 11-4 deficit by shooting 52 percent from the field before halftime to build a 33-24 lead at the break.
3• Four NKU players scored in double figures, led by junior guard
Kayla Thacker's career-high 17 points.
4• NKU's bench outscored UNCW's reserves 28-0 as
Kaitlyn Gerrety (11 points) and
Melody Doss (10 points) both netted double figures.
5• The NKU women are 54-8 all-time in The Bank of Kentucky Center, including 2-1 this season.
+1• NKU makes its Atlantic Sun Conference debut by playing at Jacksonville on Dec. 31 in the first-ever meeting between the two programs.
IN FLORIDA: The NKU women are 9-7 all-time in games played in the state of Florida. The Norse visited the Sunshine State to begin the 2010-11 season and split a pair of games, defeating Lynn (Fla.), 53-43, but falling to Nova Southeastern, 77-70.
THACKER-RIFFIC: NKU's
Kayla Thacker scored a career-high 17 points against UNC Wilmington, and the junior guard also grabbed eight rebounds, dished out four assists and collected four steals in 38 minutes of play. Thacker is No. 1 in the A-Sun in minutes played (37.2 mpg) and she is 10th in scoring at 11.4 points per game. She is No. 5 in steals per contest at 2.1 spg.
EFFECTIVE OFFENSE: NKU scored a season-high 71 points in the win against UNC Wilmington. The Norse connected on 48.1 percent of their shots from the field in that victory.
BENCH STRENGTH: NKU's bench outscored UNC Wilmington's reserves 28-0 as
Kaitlyn Gerrety (11 points) and
Melody Doss (10 points) both netted double figures.
Rianna Gayheart added seven points, three steals and three assists off the bench for NKU in that victory. Those three players combined for 15 of NKU's 33 points in the first half as the Norse rallied from an early 11-4 deficit.
It marked the fourth time this season Gerrety has scored in double figures, all as a reserve. Doss netted double figures for the second time this season, her other being a career-high 14 points at Missouri State.
IN THE POST: NKU senior forward
Tiara Hopper was 6-for-9 from the field and finished with 16 points against UNC Wilmington. Hopper averages 11.3 points per game and leads NKU in rebounding at 6.6 boards per game.
FROM LONG RANGE: NKU freshman
Christine Roush is No. 2 the A-Sun in 3-point shooting (.444), and she is No. 6 in treys made per game (1.8). Roush averages 9.8 points per contest.
GET THE LEAD: NKU is 3-0 this season when leading at halftime. The Norse are 0-6 when trailing at the break.
OUTSIDE THE LINE: NKU is No. 1 in the A-Sun in 3-point shooting defense, limiting opponents to .252 from long range.
120 & COUNTING: NKU's
Dawn Plitzuweit is now 120-45 as a head coach after picking up victory No. 120 against UNC Wilmington. Plitzuweit collected 117 wins in five seasons at Grand Valley State and led the Lakers to the 2006 NCAA Division II national championship.
FROM GLVC TO A-SUN: NKU competed in the Great Lakes Valley Conference from 1985-2012 as a member of Division II. The Norse women captured national championships in 2000 and '08 while in Division II.
NKU made its debut in the GLVC on Dec. 17, 1985, in Louisville, Ky., by playing Bellarmine. NKU pulled out a 68-67 win in its first-ever GLVC game as Pam King scored 18 points against Bellarmine in Knights Hall.
