MILWAUKEE, Wis. – The Northern Kentucky University women's basketball team put four players in double figures, but could not stave off a late rally as Milwaukee claimed a 78-71 victory in Horizon League action on Thursday night.
 
Christine Roush led the way for NKU (16-10, 8-7 Horizon), just a rebound short of a double-double with 19 points and nine boards. Molly Franson added 14 points, including 8-of-10 from the free-throw line, while Rianna Gayheart chipped in 13 points and Courtney Roush scored 10.
 
Milwaukee (16-10, 10-5 Horizon) was led by Sierra Ford-Washington, who posted 24 points on 6-of-13 shooting from the field. Steph Kostowicz picked up a double-double with 19 points and 10 rebounds, while Sydney Howard connected on three triples, scoring 15 on the night.
 
The Norse and Panthers stayed close through the first six minutes of the game, tied at 13-13, until three-straight possessions ended in turnovers for NKU, allowing Milwaukee to create a measure of separation and take a 22-16 lead at the end of the first quarter.
 
NKU battled back in the second quarter, cutting the deficit as close as one point at 28-27 with 3:22 to go until half, but Milwaukee pushed the lead back to five, using a pair of trips to the free-throw line to extend their advantage to 36-31 at the break.
 
Milwaukee connected on four of its first five shots from the field in the third quarter, but NKU still kept pace, seeing the Panthers shot for shot. A shooting drought saw just one field goal between the teams in the final six minutes of the period, as Milwaukee carried an eight-point advantage into the final stanza.
 
An 11-3 run in the early part of the fourth quarter sealed the game for the Panthers, who got five of those points from the free-throw line, extending the lead to as many as 13 at 62-49 with 5:39 to go. The Norse fashioned a comeback as Gayheart scored 10 of her 13 points in the final stanza, including a clutch steal and three-pointer with 33 seconds left to make it a seven-point game at 74-67. NKU would get no closer, as the Panthers took care of business at the free-throw line to reach a 78-71 final.
 
The Norse will look to get back to their winning ways on Saturday when they play their final regular-season road game at Green Bay. Tipoff is set for 1 p.m. Central (2 p.m. Eastern) with the action carried live on ESPN3.
 
 
NORSE NOTES

• Molly Franson's 8-for-10 performance from the free-throw line matched a career high from Nov. 28, 2014, when she matched the effort against Grand Canyon.
• Rianna Gayheart's 13-point effort was the most she's scored in Horizon League play this season, and her highest point total since going for 14 points against Kentucky on Dec. 2.
• The Norse forced 21 Milwaukee turnovers on the game, scoring 18 points off those miscues.