Box score (Photos courtesy of Kennesaw State sports information)
KENNESAW, Ga. – Northern Kentucky University used a 24-2 run in the first half to rally from an early 10-point deficit, and the Norse held on for a 55-49 win over Kennesaw State on Monday night.
Kayla Thacker scored six of her 13 points in the final two minutes and grabbed a game-high 12 rebounds for Northern Kentucky, which improved to 13-12 overall, 10-6 in the Atlantic Sun Conference.
Ellen Holton added 13 points for the Norse, who have won five consecutive road games and are 6-1 this month.
Kennesaw State started the game by making seven of its first 10 shots from the field to build a 17-7 lead. Kristina Wells scored seven points for the Owls during that early spurt.
Northern Kentucky responded with a 24-2 run – including 16 unanswered points during one stretch – to take a 31-19 lead late in the first half. Freshman guard
Christine Roush scored eight points, including a pair of 3-pointers, to spark the Norse run.
Freshman guard
Rianna Gayheart came off the bench and also keyed the first-half spurt with six points, four rebounds and two assists. Kennesaw State missed 13 consecutive shots from the field after jumping out to the early lead.
Sametria Gideon's basket just before halftime finally ended the drought for the Owls, who also committed nine turnovers during the opening 20 minutes.
Kennesaw State battled back in the second half and cut the Norse lead to one point three times, the last at 45-44 on a basket by Wells. Gayheart countered that by driving down the lane for a layup to extend the Norse advantage to 47-44.
Thacker converted a pair of free throws with 1:50 left in the game to extend the Norse lead to 49-44. After Kennesaw State cut the lead back to three points, Thacker grabbed an offensive rebound and scored with 55 seconds remaining to give the Norse a 51-46 edge.
Thacker sealed the win by making a pair of free throws with 17.6 seconds left on the clock and finished 9-for-10 at the charity stripe.
Holton passed Brandi Rayburn (719 points) for 45th place on the Norse's all-time scoring list in the first half and now has 731 career points. The senior center was 6-for-11 from the field, added two blocks and grabbed six rebounds.
Gayheart finished with 11 points for the Norse, who remained perfect (11-0) when leading at halftime this season. Wells led Kennesaw State (7-21 overall, 3-13 A-Sun) with 19 points, and Gideon added 13 points.
Northern Kentucky shot just 36.5 percent from the field, many of those misses being close-in attempts, but the Norse finished with a 38-28 advantage on the glass. Kennesaw State made 40 percent from the field.
Northern Kentucky plays host to North Florida at 5 p.m. Thursday in The Bank of Kentucky Center. The Norse conclude the season Saturday when Jacksonville visits Highland Heights, Ky., at 5:30 p.m.
The Norse need one victory to clinch their 30th consecutive winning season. Northern Kentucky secured a winning season in A-Sun play with the triumph Monday night.
