Box score
WILMINGTON, N.C. – Kevla Atkins scored 28 points and grabbed eight rebounds to lead North Carolina Wilmington to a 65-62 victory over Northern Kentucky University at the Trask Coliseum on Saturday afternoon.
Atkins finished the day 9-for-17 from the field and went 8-for-8 from the free-throw line. She also added four assists and three steals for UNCW. Brie Mobley added 13 points, six assists and two steals, while Ryan Flowers grabbed a game-high 13 rebounds for the Seahawks, who improved to 1-2 with the victory.
Melody Doss, the reigning Atlantic Sun Conference Player of the Week, made a strong case for repeat honors. She followed her career-high 29-point performance on Wednesday night by scoring 24 points on 10-for-18 shooting with three assists and two blocked shots for NKU (2-1).
Rianna Gayheart poured in 16 points, including 11 in the second half.
With the scored tied at 34 in the second half after trading leads since 9:42 mark in the first, the Seahawks used an 11-3 run to forge a 45-37 advantage behind seven points from Atkins with 9:47 remaining in the game. Doss followed with a 3-point field goal to interrupt the run, but UNCW limited NKU to points from just the free-throw line for almost six minutes and would eventually stretch its lead to 12 (59-47).
Kayla Thacker's 3-pointer with two minutes left to play began the NKU comeback and cut the lead to 61-54 before Gayheart took control of the offense for the Norse. After an offensive foul by UNCW, Gayheart hit a layup while being fouled and converted the free throw to complete the conventional three-point play to bring NKU to within four (61-57).
The Norse defense stepped up and forced a Seahawks turnover, and Gayheart's layup with 1:20 left on the clock to cut the deficit to two. Atkins missed a jumper on the other end of the court, but she grabbed her own rebound and hit a jumper to extend the lead to 63-59 with nine seconds remaining.
Gayheart wasted little time and drained a 3-pointer to bring the Norse to within one at 63-62, and the Norse were forced to foul to regain possession. Atkins stepped to the line and hit both attempts. Gayheart attempted a 3-point field goal at the buzzer but could not connect.
The Seahawks finished with a 44-27 advantage in rebounds and held the Norse to 39.3 percent shooting from the floor on the day.
Johanna McMillan finished the day with nine points, all on 3-point field goals, for the Seahawks.
Thacker added nine points and led the Norse with seven rebounds, while
Christine Roush scored seven.
With the win, UNCW evened the all-time series at 1-1. Last season, NKU cruised to a 71-55 victory over UNCW at The Bank of Kentucky Center.
NKU plays at Youngstown State on Wednesday at 5:15 p.m. before returning home on Saturday as the Norse welcome Western Kentucky to The Bank of Kentucky Center. Live stats and audio for both games will be available at www.nkunorse.com.
