HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – After tying a career high in her last game against Kentucky, junior Sarah Kinch eclipsed her career mark with 19 points on Saturday night to help the Northern Kentucky University women's basketball team defeat IPFW, 77-64, at BB&T Arena.
 
Christine Roush and Shar'Rae Davis joined Kinch in reaching double figures. Roush posted 16 points and a career-high four blocks to help the Norse post nine swats on the night.
 
Davis registered 12 points in her first seven minutes of action en route to 14 total points on the night and her first double-double of the season. She led the Norse with 12 rebounds including eight on the defensive end to help NKU win the rebounding battle 41-31.
 
NKU (6-2) held the Mastodons (3-5) to 33.9 percent shooting from the floor after a strong defensive performance.
 
A pair of double-figure runs in the first half helped the Norse get out to a 41-26 advantage at halftime that they would not let up.
 
After trading buckets to open the game, the Norse took off on a 13-2 run sparked by a triple from Sarah Kinch at the 4:12 mark. Davis capped off the run and the quarter with six uninterrupted points. The Norse defense held IPFW to a single field goal over the final 5:47 of the first half to lead 22-13 entering the second period.
 
A pair of treys from Davis in the second quarter helped the Norse score eight-straight points that led to a 10-2 run. The run helped the Norse extend their lead to 30-16 with 7:13 remaining in the half.
 
The Norse defense continued to dominate, holding the Mastodons to three field goals in the second quarter. NKU took a 41-26 lead to the locker room at the intermission.
 
The third quarter saw four different Norse contribute to an 11-2 run over a five minute span to hand NKU a 58-33 advantage with 1:57 remaining.
 
IPFW fought back with a 9-0 run to open the fourth quarter, but the Norse did not allow the Mastodons to come within 12 points throughout the remainder of the contest.
 
NKU will take a week off before continuing its home stand against West Virginia State on Sunday, Dec. 13. The game will be played at the front end of a double-header at BB&T Arena, followed by a match-up between the NKU men's basketball team and Norfolk State at 7 p.m.
 
NORSE NOTES:

• The NKU bench has outscored opponents' reserves 79-33 over the last two games after outscoring IPFW's reserves 42-14 on Saturday.
• Kinch has scored 35 points in the last two games after tying her career mark against UK and eclipsing it against IPFW.
• The game was head coach Dawn Plitzuweit's 100th game at NKU as well as Christine Roush's 100th game as a Norse.