HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – Northern Kentucky women's basketball tips off in its only game of the week on Saturday, Feb. 17 at 2 p.m. at Wright State. The game will be broadcast on ESPN3 with streaming available on computers, tablets, smart phones and streaming devices through WatchESPN and the ESPN App.
LAST TIME OUT: NKU picked up its third-straight win with a 64-60 battle against Detroit Mercy on Feb. 10. Down by four points at the half,
Jazmyne Geist dropped eight points for the Norse in the opening minutes of the third quarter to swing the lead and pave the way for the victory. Geist finished with a career-high 14 points and also led the team with seven rebounds, while
Taryn Taugher and
Mikayla Terry both chipped in 12 points apiece. With a 6-8 Horizon League record, the Norse have guaranteed a better mark in League play than a season ago when the team finished 5-13.
FEBRUARY FEVER: Northern Kentucky has been playing some of its most consistently strong basketball in the month of February. In the four games played this month, NKU has kept all of its opponents to 60 points or fewer and amassed a 3-1 mark. One Norse in particular who has stolen the spotlight is senior
Mikayla Terry. NKU's point guard has been averaging 8.0 points, 4.5 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game in February, with an impressive 3.0 assist-to-turnover ratio.
SCOUTING WRIGHT STATE: The Raiders enter the weekend at 9-5, good for fourth in the Horizon League standings. Wright State continues to be led by Horizon League Preseason Player of the Year, Chelsea Welch, who is leading the league at 21.5 points per game in addition to 4.5 assists per game. Welch is ranked among the nation's top players in several statistical categories, including 12th in scoring, second in made free throws (168) and 14th in field goal attempts. The Raiders also rely on the down-low presence of Symone Simmons, who averages more than a block a game and is second in the Horizon League with 8.2 rebounds a game.
As a team, the Raiders lead the Horizon League in scoring offense at 74.7 points per game and are one of the best teams in the nation in protecting the ball with a 1.18 assist-to-turnover ratio and a 6.50 turnover margin, the latter of which is ranked 11th nationally. The team also makes sure it gets to the line often, ranking 17th nationally in free throw attempts and converts those at a .707 clip.
NKU leads the all-time series with Wright State, 12-7, but the Norse have not won a matchup since transitioning to Division I. The Norse came close to recording their first Division I win over the Raiders earlier this season, when Wright State edged NKU in overtime, 68-63.
ROOKIES IN THE RANKS: NKU has had some key performances from its freshman class, which has come in to contribute right away. Two rookies help lead the team in rebounding (
Kailey Coffey - 6.4 rpg;
Grace White - 4.1 rpg) to keep the Norse at a +3.1 rebounding margin over opponents, a number that ranks fifth in the Horizon League. Coffey has the 12th-highest rebounding average in the Horizon League, and sits at seventh in the League with 2.5 offensive boards a game Since entering League play, Coffey has been averaging 9.6 points per game at a .495 clip, a shooting percentage that ranks among the League's top performers. Both Coffey and White have been honored as the Horizon League Freshman of the Week during the season, making NKU the only institution this year to have two different rookies honored.
