YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – The Northern Kentucky University women's basketball team made it two in a row on the road as five players reached double figures in an 88-77 win over Youngstown State on Saturday afternoon at the Beeghly Center.
 
Courtney Roush led the Norse with 20 points on 6-of-9 shooting and a perfect 7-for-7 mark from the free-throw line. Shar'Rae Davis followed up with 16 points while Kasey Uetrecht put down 14 points.
 
Christine Roush had 13 points, going 6-of-8 from the field, and Sarah Kinch finished a rebound shy of a double-double with 11 points and nine boards. As a team, the Norse shot 58 percent (29-for-50) from the field and 50 percent (9-of-18) from beyond the arc. The win improved NKU's record to 12-8 overall and 4-5 halfway through the Horizon League schedule.
 
An early 10-0 run keyed by back-to-back treys from Sarah Kinch and Kasey Uetrecht gave NKU a five-point lead at 17-12 witih 4:39 to go in the first quarter. YSU responded with back-to-back threes of their own to retake the lead, but Courtney Roush's first two points, coming from the free-throw line, gave NKU a 19-18 lead with 3:02 left in the quarter that they would not relinquish. The Norse continued to pour on the offense, as Shar'Rae Davis came on to score eight points in the opening period to post a 30-25 lead after the first.
 
Davis continued her offensive surge, scoring 12 consecutive Norse points as the game entered the second quarter. NKU's lead grew to as many as 11 points after Uetrecht knocked down a pair of free throws with 28 seconds to go until halftime, but a buzzer-beating shot from Indiya Benjamin cut the halftime lead to single digits at 50-41.
 
Courtney Roush continued her offensive output in the third quarter, scoring seven points in the frame, including NKU's first five points of the half, as the Norse poured on the pressure. Youngstown State was able to keep pace, as Sarah Cash added eight points for the Penguins in the period, and the nine-point Norse advantage held through the third quarter.
 
An 8-2 run by Youngstown State cut the Norse advantage to as low as six points at 81-75 with 2:18 to play, but NKU was able to get the lead back to double figures after Davis knocked down a key jumper with 1:32 to play and the Norse hit their free throws down the stretch, taking home an 88-77 win.
 
Cash led Youngstown State (14-6, 5-4 Horizon) with 18 points and 11 rebounds, while Janae Jackson added 18 as well.
 
NKU now turns its eyes to the Windy City as the Norse get set to take on UIC to begin the second half of the League schedule. Thursday's tipoff from the UIC Pavilion is set for 8 p.m. Eastern, 7 p.m. Central.
 
NORSE NOTES
 

• NKU's 30 points in the first quarter and 50 points in the first half both equaled season highs. NKU has scored 30 points in a quarter in back-to-back games.
• Courtney Roush scored 42 points over the course of the weekend, setting a new career high on Thursday and nearly matching that mark again against Youngstown State.
• NKU's 88 points are the most scored against a Horizon League opponent this season, besting Saturday's total of 83 points against Cleveland State.