DAYTON, Ohio – The Northern Kentucky University women's basketball team put on a strong second-half performance, but in the end dropped a 66-61 decision to Wright State in Horizon League play on Saturday afternoon.
 
Christine Roush led NKU's scoring effort with 16 points, including 13 in the second half, while Shar'Rae Davis added 11 points. Kasey Uetrecht set a new career high with 14 rebounds to go with eight points. The Norse continued their ball-control defense, forcing 15 turnovers and converting them into 17 points.
 
Kim Demmings paced the Wright State scoring effort with 22 points, while Richelle van der Keijl scored 16 points and added 14 rebounds. After shooting 45 percent in the first half, the Raiders were held to just 24.2 percent from the field in the second half.
 
Wright State (13-3, 3-0 Horizon) raced out to a 12-0 lead in the first six minutes of the contest and claimed a 24-8 lead after 10 minutes. After Glick broke the ice for the Norse with a trey, the Raiders used an up-tempo offense to push an 8-2 run.
 
The Norse (9-5, 1-2 Horizon) found their shooting touch in the second quarter, closing out the period on a 10-2 run to cut the Raider lead to 17 points at the half, 44-27. Uetrecht, Franson and Roush knocked down consecutive buckets to spur the rally.
 
Momentum continued to roll NKU's way out of the locker room, as the Norse pushed another 10-2 run to open the third quarter, keyed by a pair of buckets from Davis, cutting the lead to single digits at 46-37 with 5:30 to go. The Norse kept pace through the remainder of the quarter, with Davis closing the scoring with another trey to make it a 54-45 game entering the fourth.
 
The Norse caught fire in the final quarter, holding the Raiders without a basket for the first four minutes to cut the lead to three at 54-51. Demmings and Roush traded threes before a Molly Glick jumper cut the lead to one at 57-56. NKU could not find the go-ahead basket, however, and Wright State scored the final five points to make the final margin.
 
NKU returns to the road next week for a pair of Horizon League contests, beginning on Thursday as the Norse take on Oakland. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. from the Athletics Center 'O'rena in Rochester, Michigan.
 
NORSE NOTES

• Christine Roush scored in double figures for the 13^th time this season. She is averaging 16.1 points per game to lead the Norse.
• NKU outscored Wright State 28-21 in the second half and held Wright State to just 28.6 shooting (4-for-14) from the floor in the fourth quarter.
• The Norse forced 15 or more turnovers for the seventh consecutive game and 13^th time overall.
• Uetrecht reached double figures in rebounds for the second time in four games and is now averaging 5.7 boards per game.