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HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. –
Kayla Thacker scored 16 points while teammates
Tiara Hopper and
Christine Roush each added 11 as the Northern Kentucky University women's basketball team rolled to a 65-49 victory over Kennesaw State at The Bank of Kentucky Center on Saturday.
Hopper also grabbed seven rebounds for NKU, which improved to 7-10 overall, 4-4 in the Atlantic Sun Conference.
Rianna Gayheart dished out a game-high six assists for the Norse.
NKU held an 11-7 advantage with 13:39 remaining in the first half and used a 25-5 run to close out the half to take a 37-11 lead at the break. Thacker hit a 3-point shot to spark the run, and
Jaimie Hamlet capped it with a conventional three-point play.
The Norse limited the Owls to 19.2 percent shooting from the field and 11.1 percent from behind the arc in the first half.
Kennesaw State (4-16 overall, 0-8 A-Sun) battled back in the second half by knocking down six shots from 3-point range. NKU, however, used a 16-2 edge in points off turnovers and a 28-14 advantage in points in the paint to collect the victory in the first meeting between the two programs in women's basketball.
“I thought our kids came out of the gate and played great defensively, and we put ourselves in a position to build on,” NKU head coach
Dawn Plitzuweit said. “We didn't quite have the same intensity, and at the same time Kennesaw made some shots in the second half that they missed in the first half. But, I thought that our kids did a great job from the very beginning of the game today.”
The Norse forced 16 turnovers while only committing six of their own. NKU collected seven steals, including three from
Melody Doss, and shot 38.7 percent from the floor. The two teams finished even in the rebounding battle at 38-all.
NKU is now 58-8 all-time in the Bank of Kentucky Center, including a 6-1 mark this season. The Norse have not dropped an A-Sun contest at home this season.
Ellen Holton added nine points for NKU, which is 7-0 this season when leading at the half.
Jaimie Hamlet and Doss each finished with eight points for the Norse.
Sametria Gideon scored 10 of her team-high 12 points in the second half to lead the Owls. She also grabbed a game-high 14 rebounds. Ashley Holliday added 12 points, while Chelsea Mason scored 11 for Kennesaw State.
NKU returns to action on Monday night as the Norse welcome Mercer to The Bank of Kentucky Center at 7 p.m.
