Northern Kentucky University Athletics

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HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – Northern Kentucky University's four seniors combined to score 47 points in their final home game Thursday night as the Norse women cruised to a 74-53 victory over Bellarmine.

Senior guard Casse Mogan poured in 16 points and grabbed seven rebounds for NKU, while senior forward Sadie Bowling added 15 points and six rebounds. Mogan, who upped her career total to 1,536 points, also collected six assists and five steals.

Senior forward Stephanie Hodges and senior guard Maria Bennett both scored eight points for the Norse, who improved to 21-5 overall, 14-4 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference. It marked the final regular-season GLVC game for NKU, which is joining the Atlantic Sun Conference in 2012-13.

NKU's four seniors and their families were honored prior to the game, and then the Norse made their GLVC finale a winning memory. In an ironic twist, NKU also met Bellarmine in its first-ever GLVC contest on Dec. 17, 1985, and posted a 68-67 win over the Knights in Louisville, Ky.

NKU is now 52-27 all-time against Bellarmine, which has not won in Highland Heights, Ky., since Jan. 19, 2002. The Knights have since lost 10 straight times when playing at NKU. The Knights are 0-3 all-time in The Bank of Kentucky Center.

Junior forward Kelsey Simpson led NKU with a career-high 18 points. She also added four rebounds, four blocked shots and finished 9-for-11 from the floor.

The Norse connected on eight of their first 10 shots en route to building a 38-27 halftime lead. NKU shot 48.5 percent from the field in the first half, while Bellarmine connected on 57.1 percent of its shots. The Knights, however, turned the ball over nine times in the first half.

Up by nine points (62-53), NKU held Bellarmine scoreless the final 6:52 of the game. Simpson added two blocks during the last 3:26 for the Norse, who collected eight rejections as a team.

NKU won the rebounding battle by a 39-25 margin and forced 15 turnovers. Ellen Holton scored five points for NKU and pulled down seven rebounds. She also collected three assists and two blocked shots.

Allison Matheis led the Knights with a game-high 19 points. Kylie Brady added 15 points for Bellarmine, which fell to 13-13 overall, 7-11 in the GLVC.

NKU has clinched a first-round bye in the upcoming GLVC Tournament, which will be held in Springfield, Ill. The Norse will play in the GLVC Tournament quarterfinals March 1 at a time to be determined.

Tournament information will be announced at the conclusion of the first-round games Sunday night.