Sat., Dec. 8
Muncie, Ind.
Worthen Arena (11,500)
NKU (1-5) at Ball State (3-6), 4 p.m.
Series Record: First meeting
GAME NOTES (PDF)
HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. - The Northern Kentucky University women's basketball team meets Ball State at 4 p.m. Saturday in Muncie, Ind.
NKU is 1-5 going into that game, while Ball State is 3-6.
NORSE NOTES (FIVE STARTERS & ONE)
1• NKU is coming off a 70-67 loss at Missouri State last Saturday in Springfield, Mo.
2• The Norse owned a 55-46 lead with 7:46 left in the game, but Missouri State outscored NKU 24-12 to close the contest and pull out the win.
3• Missouri State finished with a 68-38 advantage in rebounds, including 35 offensive boards.
4• NKU freshman guard
Rianna Gayheart set career highs in points (18), assists (8), steals (4) and rebounds (5) on Saturday. Gayheart also knocked down a trio of 3-pointers in that game.
5• NKU sophomore forward
Melody Doss added a career-high 14 points against Missouri State.
+1• NKU plays host to Butler on Dec. 16 at 2 p.m.
SEEING DOUBLE-DOUBLE: NKU senior forward
Tiara Hopper recorded her first double-double of the season with 13 points and 15 rebounds at Missouri State. The 15 rebounds were the most for Hopper as a member of the Norse. While playing at Tennessee Tech, she did grab a career-best 16 rebounds against Lipscomb on Nov. 18, 2010.
Hopper also added three blocked shots against Missouri State. She leads NKU in both scoring (12.0 points per game) and rebounding (7.2 rpg).
BREAKOUT PERFORMANCE: Freshman
Rianna Gayheart enjoyed her finest game as a college player with 18 points, eight assists, five rebounds and four steals against Missouri State. She scored 11 points in the second half, including a 3-pointer that gave NKU a 55-46 lead with 7:46 left in the game.
For the season, Gayheart averages 5.8 points per game and is tied for the team lead with 12 assists. She is also tied for first in the Atlantic Sun Conference in 3-point shooting at .500.
SOLID SOPH: NKU sophomore forward
Melody Doss poured in a career-high 14 points at Missouri State. She also added five rebounds and two steals. Earlier in the week, Doss hit a shot at the buzzer to give NKU a 66-64 win over previously unbeaten Youngstown State. That was the Norse's first-ever Division I victory.
DEFENSE RULES: NKU is No. 2 in the Atlantic Sun Conference in field-goal percentage defense at .373. The Norse are No. 1 in 3-point shooting defense, holding opponents to just 23.8 percent from behind the arc. NKU is 10th in rebounding margin at -7.7.
FIRST MEETING: NKU and Ball State have never met on the basketball court. The Cardinals are members of the Mid-American Conference and own a 3-6 record after outlasting Detroit in overtime, 73-64, on Thursday night in Muncie, Ind.
Ball State trailed by eight (57-49) with 1:25 left in the game Thursday night, but the Cardinals used an 8-0 run to force overtime.
Earlier this season, NKU met Mid-American Conference member Miami (Ohio) and dropped a 63-52 decision in Oxford, Ohio.
