HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. - The Northern Kentucky University women's basketball team plays its final road game of the season Monday night at Kennesaw State. The tip is set for 7 p.m.
Northern Kentucky is 12-12 overall following a 69-60 victory at Mercer on Saturday. The Norse are 9-6 in the Atlantic Sun Conference.
Kennesaw State is 7-20 overall, 3-12 in the Atlantic Sun Conference. Northern Kentucky is 1-0 all-time against Kennesaw State, a 65-49 win on Jan. 26 in Highland Heights, Ky.
STREAK SPOILERS: Northern Kentucky snapped Mercer's 12-game winning streak on Saturday and also eliminated any slight hope the Bears entertained of catching Florida Gulf Coast in the A-Sun standings.
It also marked the second time in a week Northern Kentucky knocked off an A-Sun contender with 18 wins, as the Norse defeated Stetson on Feb. 16 in Highland Heights, Ky.
DOMINATING THE INSIDE: Tiara Hopper tied her career-high point total by scoring 22 against Mercer, despite the fact the Bears have 6-foot-5 shot-blocker Teanna Robinson on the inside. The senior forward scored 11 points during a game-changing 13-4 run in the second half that propelled Northern Kentucky to its victory in Hawkins Arena.
Hopper ignited the run with Mercer holding a 32-29 lead early in the second half. She netted four inside baskets and added three free throws as the Norse took a 42-36 advantage with 12:02 remaining in the game.
Hopper has scored in double figures the past five games and has made 25 free throws in 34 attempts during that stretch. She also scored 22 points against Loyola (Ill.) and Mercer earlier this season. Hopper has scored in double figures 14 times this season, with four games of at least 20 points. She leads the Norse in scoring (11.5 points per game), rebounds (5.7 rpg) and field-goal percentage (.447).
MOVING UP THE LIST: Senior center
Ellen Holton enters Monday with 718 career points, which is 46th in Norse history. Brandi Rayburn is No. 45 with 719 career points, while Heather Livingstone is No. 44 with 745 points.
CENTURY MARK LOOMS: Jaimie Hamlet enters Monday with 99 career 3-point field goals, which is tied for No. 8 in school history with Heather Livingstone. Amy Mobley (104) is seventh.
Hamlet also has scored 530 career points, which is 67th all-time in Norse history.
CLOSE THE DEAL: Northern Kentucky has a streak of 29 consecutive winning seasons. The Norse need two victories in their final three games to extend that streak to 30 straight. Since an 0-4 start, Northern Kentucky has posted a 12-8 record. The Norse have also won sox of the past eight games, including four road victories.
THE LAST TIME AGAINST KENNESAW STATE: On Jan. 26,
Kayla Thacker scored 16 points while teammates
Tiara Hopper and
Christine Roush each added 11 as Northern Kentucky rolled to a 65-49 win over Kennesaw State.
Hopper also grabbed seven rebounds.
Rianna Gayheart dished out a game-high six assists for the Norse, who jumped out to a 37-11 halftime lead after holding Kennesaw State to 19.2 percent shooting from the field.
Kennesaw State 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.
