Northern Kentucky University Athletics

Atlantic Sun Weekly Release | Game 1 Notes

Sat., Nov. 9
Highland Heights, Ky. – The Bank of Kentucky Center
NKU (15-13 last season) vs. Cincinnati (12-18)
Series Record: Tied 8-8
Last Meeting: UC 49, NKU 31

HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – The Northern Kentucky University women's basketball team begins its second season as an NCAA Division I program Saturday night by welcoming the University of Cincinnati to The Bank of Kentucky Center at 7 p.m.

Live stats, video and audio for the game will be available at www.nkunorse.com.

NKU posted a 15-13 overall record last season and earned a berth in the Women's Basketball Invitational, where the Norse fell to the College of Charleston, 72-70, to end the season.  NKU recorded its 30th consecutive winning season last year and finished with a 12-6 record in its first campaign as an Atlantic Sun Conference member.  The Norse return six letterwinners and two starters from last season.

Last season, Cincinnati finished 12-18 overall and 4-12 in its final year as a member of the Big East Conference.  The Bearcats will compete in the newly formed American Athletic Conference this season.

THE LAST TIME AGAINST CINCINNATI:  On Nov. 9, 2012, Cincinnati rallied from an early 14-6 deficit and handed NKU a 49-31 loss in Fifth Third Arena. Dayeesha Hollins scored 17 points and collected four steals as Cincinnati won its season opener.

Tiffany Turner and Jeanise Randolph each grabbed nine rebounds for Cincinnati, which evened the all-time series with NKU at eight wins apiece. The two programs had not played in the regular season since No. 29, 1986, when NKU pulled out a 64-63 victory against Cincinnati.

The Bearcats held the Norse scoreless the final 7:25 of the first half to turn a 16-13 deficit into a 24-16 lead at the break.

The Norse stopped the scoring drought at the 16:45 mark of the second half when Tiara Hopper converted an inside basket, cutting the Cincinnati lead to 25-18. Hopper followed that with another score while being fouled, and NKU trailed by just five points (25-20) with 15 minutes remaining in the game.

Cincinnati, however, scored the next 12 points to build a 37-20 advantage and take control of the game. Hollins keyed the Bearcat spurt with eight points.

Hopper scored eight points and grabbed six rebounds to lead NKU. Christine Roush scored NKU's first point as a Division I program by making the second of two free throws just 17 seconds into the game. Jaimie Hamlet the Norse's netted the first Division I basket by floating in a runner at the 17:49 mark of the first half.

TURNING 40: This marks the 40th season of competition for the Norse women's basketball program. NKU is 824-320 all-time since beginning play during the 1974-75 season. The Norse won Division II national championships in 2000 and '08.

FOR OPENERS: NKU is 28-11 all-time in season-opening games. The Norse had won seven consecutive openers before dropping a 49-31 decision at Cincinnati last season.  When opening the season at home, NKU holds a 17-6 record, including a perfect mark in the three games played at The Bank of Kentucky Center.

NKU VS. THE AMERICAN ATHLETIC:  NKU has played three members of the American Athletic Conference, which operated as the Big East Conference from 1979 to 2013.  The Norse hold a 21-19 combined record against Central Florida, Cincinnati and Louisville.

LOST PRODUCTION:  When NKU takes the court against Cincinnati on Saturday, the Norse must replace Tiara Hopper, who received second-team all-conference honors last season.  Hopper averaged 10.7 points and a team-high 6.0 rebounds per game.  She also added 26 steals and shot 42.6 percent from the field.  As a senior, Hopper collected three double-doubles and grabbed a career-high 17 rebounds in her final game, a 76-71 overtime win against Jacksonville.

NKU also lost Ellen Holton and Jaimie Hamlet to graduation.  Holton, who earned All-Great Lakes Valley Conference honors as a junior, averaged 9.5 points and led the team with 24 blocked shots.  Hamlet finished her four-year career eighth all-time in Norse history with 100 3-pointers.

PRESEASON HONORS:  Senior guard Kayla Thacker was named to the Atlantic Sun Conference preseason All-Conference team.  Thacker led the team last season in scoring (11.0 points per game), steals (46), 3-pointers made (43), free throws made (81) and minutes played (36.7 per game), which also topped the A-Sun.  She ranked second on the team with 5.9 rebounds per game and 22 blocks during the 2012-13 season.

YOUNG TALENT:  Of the 12 players listed on the NKU roster, eight members of the team are sophomores and freshmen.  Rianna Gayheart, who was named to the Atlantic Sun's All-Freshman team last season, Christine Roush and Courtney Roush return for their second season with the Norse, while NKU welcomes a freshman class of Morgan Blair, Kelsey Key, Sarah Kinch, Lauren White and Kelley Wiegman.

In addition to the five freshmen, junior Malika Glover, a transfer from Oakland (Mich.), will be a new face on the floor for the Norse this season.  Glover averaged 3.6 points, 1.8 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 2011-12.

FROM THE LINE:  Last season, NKU finished No. 3 in the Atlantic Sun in free throw percentage, hitting 72.5 percent of its opportunities.  Melody Doss hit 14-of-18 (.778) from the line to lead the Norse in that category.  Florida Gulf Coast led the league by connecting on 74.3 percent from the free throw line, while Jacksonville ranked second at 73.2 percent.

STRONG DEFENSE:  The Norse also finished the 2012-13 season ranked No. 3 in the Atlantic Sun in field goal defense percentage, holding opponents to 38.5 percent shooting from the field.  NKU finished fifth in the league in scoring defense by only allowing 62.3 points per game last season.

HOME COURT ADVANTAGE:  NKU finished with a 9-4 record last season at The Bank of Kentucky Center, including three of the final five games played at the Norse home court.  For the 2012-13 season, the Norse averaged 1,275 over 13 home events, which ranked third in the Atlantic Sun.  East Tennessee State averaged 1,986 to lead the conference, while Florida Gulf Coast finished second with an average attendance of 1,946.

ATLANTIC SUN CONFERENCE POLL:  The Norse were picked to finish fourth in the Atlantic Sun by both the coaches and the media.  NKU concluded the 2012-13 season fourth in the conference with a 12-6 record after winning eight of its last 10 Atlantic Sun contests.  Florida Gulf Coast was chosen as the preseason favorite in both polls with Stetson and Mercer picked second and third, respectively.

ABOUT THE HEAD COACH:  Dawn Plitzuweit is entering her second season as the head coach at NKU.  She guided the Norse to their 30th consecutive winning season and a berth to the Women's Basketball Invitational with a 15-13 record in her first season with NKU.  Overall, Plitzuweit owns a 132-52 career record after spending five seasons as the head coach at Grand Valley State University where she led the Lakers to four postseason berths, including the 2005-06 NCAA Division II national championship.

HONORING COTTRELL:  The NKU women's basketball team will honor former standout Michelle Cottrell Marston in a pregame ceremony.  This season, freshman guard Kelley Wiegman will wear Marston's No. 22 jersey with a special "M.C." patch.  This patch not only honors Marston's accomplishments but it also serves as a reminder to the players of the hard work, talent and passion that Marston displayed during her four-year career at NKU. 

Marston finished her time at NKU as the Norse's all-time leading scoring with 2,241 points, and she grabbed 1,103 rebounds, which ranks second in NKU history.  Marston was named Kodak NCAA Division II All-American three times, and she also earned Division II Bulletin National Player of the Year honors as a junior and senior.  In addition, she was named Great Lakes Valley Conference Player of the Year three times and was later named to the NCAA Division II 25th Anniversary Team.  In 2009, Marston was inducted into the David Lee Holt NKU Hall of Fame.

SATURDAY PROMOTIONS:  The first 500 fans in attendance on Saturday night will receive an NKU women's basketball schedule poster, and it is also NKU Greek Night.  Halftime will feature a trick basketball routine by Ilze Luneau of the Luneau Basketball Family.  She has appeared on The Ellen Degeneres Show, ESPN and The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.

The first Shoot-A-Round Saturday will take place after the game.  Girls in eighth grade and below and boys in sixth grade and below are invited to participate.  They will have 30 seconds to shoot from designated spots on the floor.  The participants will then have the opportunity to receive team autographs.  Additional dates for the Shoot-A-Round Saturdays include: