Sat., Feb. 9 - Nashville, Tenn.
Allen Arena (5,028)
NKU (9-11, 6-5 A-Sun) at Lipscomb (2-19, 1-10), 7:30 p.m.
Series Record: NKU leads, 1-0
Last Meeting: NKU 66, LU 33 (1-12-13)
NORSE PLAY AT LIPSCOMB ON SATURDAY
NKU aims for season sweep of LU at 7:30 p.m.
NORSE NOTES (FIVE STARTERS & ONE)
1• NKU is 9-11 overall (6-5 in the A-Sun) after rallying for a 77-76 win at East Tennessee State on Monday.
2•
Melody Doss connected on a jumper in the closing seconds to give NKU a 77-76 lead. It marked the second time this season Doss made a shot late in the game to lift the Norse to a victory.
3• NKU trailed by as many as 14 points in the first half and still faced a 76-71 deficit with less than a minute to play.
Tiara Hopper, though, scored two quick baskets to cut the ETSU lead to 76-75 with 19 seconds left.
4• The Norse are now 8-0 when leading at halftime.
5• NKU is 1-0 all-time against Lipscomb.
+1• NKU is aiming for its third A-Sun season sweep, having already beaten USC Upstate and ETSU twice.
WHAT A COMEBACK!: NKU's come-from-behind 77-76 victory at East Tennessee State on Monday night secured a season sweep over the Buccaneers. The Norse trailed by as many as 14 points in the first half and still faced a 76-71 deficit with less than a minute to play.
Tiara Hopper, though, scored two quick baskets to cut the ETSU lead to 76-75 with 19 seconds left on the clock.
NKU's
Kayla Thacker then stole the inbounds pass, giving the Norse a chance to win.
Rianna Gayheart drove the lane, found
Melody Doss open near the foul line, and the sophomore buried a jumper to give NKU a 77-76 advantage with four seconds remaining.
ETSU had a final shot, but Serena Clark's short jumper was off target, giving NKU an improbable come-from-behind win. Hopper led NKU with 21 points, and Doss scored a career-high 15 points.
NEED BIG SHOT? TOSS TO DOSS: It marked the second time this season Doss has hit a shot late in the game to lift NKU to a victory. Her basket at the buzzer gave the Norse a 66-64 win over Youngstown State on Nov. 27. In that game, NKU rallied from rallied from an eight-point deficit (63-55) with 3:33 remaining to stun the previously unbeaten Penguins.
FABULOUS FROSH: NKU freshman guard
Rianna Gayheart earned A-Sun Newcomer of the Week honors for the second time this season after averaging 13.5 points per game as the Norse swept an A-Sun road trip with victories at USC Upstate and East Tennessee State. She finished with 16 points for the Norse in the victory at USC Upstate.
Gayheart then scored 11 points in the comeback win at East Tennessee State on Monday night. Gayheart also set up teammate
Melody Doss for the winning shot in the final seconds by driving the lane and kicking the ball out to an open Doss.
LOOKING FOR 30: NKU has a streak of 29 consecutive winning seasons, all while a member of Division II. The Norse, in their first year of Division I, need five victories to extend that streak to 30 straight. Since an 0-4 start, NKU has posted a 9-7 mark.
THE COACH: NKU's
Dawn Plitzuweit is 126-50 as a head coach. Plitzuweit collected 117 wins in five seasons at Grand Valley State and led the Lakers to the 2006 NCAA Division II national championship.
THE LAST TIME AGAINST LIPSCOMB: Earlier this season on Jan. 12 in Highland Heights, Ky., NKU allowed Lipscomb to shoot just 20.8 percent from the field and cruised to a 66-33 win in The Bank of Kentucky Center. The Norse bolted put to a 37-22 lead at the break and completely dominated play in the second half.
Kayla Thacker and
Ellen Holton each scored 13 points to lead NKU, which shot 44.8 percent from the field.
Rianna Gayheart and
Melody Doss added nine points apiece, while
Kaitlyn Gerrety and
Christine Roush both finished with seven points. Roush also dished out a game-high five assists and was one of three Norse to grab five rebounds.
Lipscomb showed no fear of putting up 3-point attempts, as the Bisons finished 4-for-27 from behind the arc. NKU really clamped down in the second half as Lipscomb was 1-for-13 from long range.
The Norse finished with a 21-2 advantage in points off turnovers and a 33-14 edge in bench points. It marked the first meeting between NKU and Lipscomb in women's basketball. Hannah Phillips led the Bisons with eight points.
MARK YOUR CALENDARS - THINK PINK/COACHES VS. CANCER
Stetson at NKU, Feb. 16th
4:30 p.m. (WBB) & 7 p.m. (MBB)
NKU invites you to take part in the annual “Think Pink” game by wearing pink and supporting breast cancer awareness. The entire night is dedicated to cancer survivors and to raise awareness for breast and colon cancer. The first 200 NKU Students will receive a FREE Coaches vs. Cancer T-shirt.
