HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – Northern Kentucky women's basketball avenged an earlier loss to Oakland, overcoming a first-quarter slump to defeat the Golden Grizzlies by a 66-59 count. With the win, NKU moves to 7-17 overall and 5-8 in Horizon League play, jumping Oakland in the league standings. Oakland falls to 11-12 (4-8 HL).
STAT LEADERS
- Molly Glick led all scorers with 19 points and also led the Norse with seven rebounds. She went 4-for-8 from beyond the arc, marking the fifth-straight game that she has sunk at least three 3-pointers in a game.
- Samari Mowbray added 10 points, four rebounds and three assists.
- Taryn Taugher was the third Norse in double figures with 10 points and also had two steals.
- Mikayla Terry and Kailey Coffey were just off double digits with eight points each. Terry led NKU in assists, with five, and added two steals. Coffey had three assists and six rebounds.
FIRST HALF SUMMARY
- Oakland used a 9-0 run in the first quarter to take a 16-9 lead after 10 minutes of action.
- The Norse battled back, and consecutive three-point baskets by Mowbray and Molly got NKU to within three points, 18-15, early in the second quarter.
- The Golden Grizzlies proceeded to go on an 8-0 run to take a 26-15 lead.
- NKU closed the second quarter on an 11-0 run to tie the game at 26-26. Taugher, Coffey and Mowbray each scored three points during the spurt.
- The Norse shot 8-of-23 (34.8%) from the floor and 5-of-11 (45.5%) from the three-point line.
- Oakland went 11-of-26 (42.3%) on field goals and 3-of-10 (30.0%) on attempts from beyond the arc.
- NKU forced 15 Oakland turnovers in the half.
SECOND HALF SUMMARY
- Taugher gave NKU its first lead of the game with a baseline jumper with 6:26 remaining in the third quarter. The bucket came in the midst of a 9-0 Norse run.
- Northern Kentucky extended its lead to 11, 42-33, on Taugher's trey that came from right in front of the Norse bench.
- The Norse led 42-35 after three quarters of play after outscoring the Golden Grizzlies, 16-9, in the stanza.
- Stifling defense helped NKU to the advantage, as it held Oakland to just 2-of-13 shooting (15 percent) in the quarter. Northern Kentucky converted 5-of-15 (33 percent).
- The fourth quarter was the most offensive of the four, with both teams recording 24 points. NKU shot 66.7 percent and the Golden Grizzlies connected at a .563 clip, which gave the Norse the seven-point advantage.
NORSE NOTES
- The all-time series against Oakland is now deadlocked at 3-3. Additionally, the teams split the regular-season series.
- NKU has won back-to-back games in the Horizon League for the second time this season.
- The Norse have kept their last three opponents under 60 points, with NKU going 2-1 in that span.
- Oakland and NKU shot comparably from the field, with the Norse just a shade above the Golden Grizzlies at 40.4 percent. The Norse were also 40.9 percent from 3-point range, while Oakland was 40.0 percent from beyond the arc.
- NKU assisted on 15-of-19 field goals.
- The Norse made more free throws than the Golden Grizzlies even attempted. NKU went 19-for-24 (79.2%), while the Golden Grizzlies were 7-for-11 from the charity stripe.
- After NKU took the lead in the third quarter, Oakland never reclaimed the lead.
UP NEXT
- The Norse remain at home to host Detroit Mercy during NKU's homecoming festivities. Tip-off against the Titans is scheduled for 1 p.m. ET on Saturday, Feb. 10. The game will be broadcast on ESPN3 with streaming available on computers, tablets, smart phones and streaming devices through WatchESPN and the ESPN App.
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