Northern Kentucky University Athletics

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ASHLAND, Ohio – A season-ending loss is never any fun. But when the defeat also signals the end of an era, it's especially difficult.

Northern Kentucky University saw an era of excellence in women's basketball come to an end Friday night during a 75-65 loss to Quincy in the opening round of the NCAA Division II Midwest Regional. The Norse (21-7) watched Quincy's Ali Schwagmeyer score 30 points - 20 in the second half - and bowed out in their final Division II game.

NKU begins reclassification to Division I status next season and will compete in the Atlantic Sun Conference. The Norse, however, will not be eligible for the NCAA Tournament during the next four years, making Friday night's loss even more difficult.

Since beginning play as a member of NCAA Division II during the 1981-82 season, NKU captured six regional championships and won two national titles. The Norse finished with a 27-19 all-time record in the NCAA Division II Tournament.

“I will always have a special place in my heart for Division II, the GLVC and the Midwest Region,” NKU head coach Nancy Winstel said. “I feel lucky that we won two national championships while in Division II, because most coaches don't get that opportunity.”

The final chapter was written Friday night, with an unhappy ending penned by Quincy's superior size and offensive rebounding.

The Lady Hawks (22-7) grabbed 10 offensive rebounds in the second half, six of those by Schwagmeyer, to knock off NKU. The Norse owned a 55-51 lead midway in the second half, but Quincy responded with an 18-5 run to gain a 69-60 advantage.

Schwagmeyer scored eight points during the decisive run for the Lady Hawks. Quincy employed a zone defense against NKU for much of the second half, and the Norse finished 6-for-21 from 3-point range.

Casse Mogan scored 20 points and grabbed eight rebounds in her final game for NKU. Mogan finished her career with 1,579 points, which is No. 4 in school history.

“She is one of the great players in the history of our program, and Casse did so many things in addition to scoring,” Winstel said.

Kelsey Simpson added 11 points for the Norse, while Ellen Holton scored 10. NKU shot 44.8 percent from the field, but Quincy finished with a 38-30 edge on the glass with 10 second-half offensive rebounds.

Quincy will meet top-seeded Ashland (29-1) in a semifinal game Saturday night. Ashland defeated Maryville on Friday in a first-round contest.