HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – The Northern Kentucky women's basketball team heads into conference play fresh off a win against the Wofford Terriers. The Norse captured the win Friday night at BB&T Arena with a score of 80-72 and move to 6-5 overall while Wofford drops to 6-7. The Norse end the nonconference portion of the schedule having won six of their last seven games, with the only loss being to then-No. 2 Louisville.
STATS LEADERS
- Ally Niece was two points shy of tying her career high with 20 points on the night. Niece went 7-of-13 (53.8 percent) from the field and 4-of-7 (57.1 percent) from beyond the arc. She added eight rebounds and four assists.
- Carissa Garcia was impressive with a 70 percent shooting percentage against the Terriers, going 7-of-10 from the field and 3-of-4 (75 percent) from 3-point range. Her total 17 points were one point off of tying her career high.
- Molly Glick wasn't too far off with 16 points and adding two triples of her own.
- Kailey Coffey marked the fourth Norse in double digits in the scoring column with a total of 10 points. She just missed a double-double with nine rebounds.
- Emmy Souder led all rebounders, tying her career high with 10 boards.
FIRST HALF SUMMARY
- The Norse responded to the Terriers' lead at the end of the first quarter and outscored Wofford, 22-15, in the final 10 minutes of the first half. NKU took the permanent lead for the game at the 6:20 mark in the second quarter.
- A 13-0 run sparked by a Niece 3-pointer catapulted the Norse into the holding lead of the game.
- Garcia led all scorers in the first half off of 6-of-8 (75.0 percent) shooting from the field adding up to 14 points. She was perfect from long range on two attempts.
SECOND HALF SUMMARY
- The Norse were able to extend and maintain the lead in the third quarter by outscoring Wofford, 22-15. NKU was assisted by 60 percent shooting from the field and 50 percent shooting from long range.
- NKU was outscored in the final quarter of the game, but winning the rebounding battle, 16-12, helped secure the win.
- Northern Kentucky finished the game shooting above the 50 percent mark from the field, ending the night going 29-of-56 (51.8 percent).
- The Norse kept the Terriers away from the foul line by only allowing five free throws.
GAME NOTES
- The Norse scored 80 points for the first time since NKU took on the Murray State Racers on Nov. 18, 2017.
- Northern Kentucky shot 51.8 percent from the field, marking the first time this season that the Norse have posted a shooting percentage above 50.0 percent. NKU drained 29-of-56 shots from the floor, including 9-for-21 from 3-point territory (42.9 percent).
- Four Norse were in double figures. Niece, Garcia, Glick and Coffey added a combined 64 of the total 80 points scored by NKU.
- Niece, Garcia and Glick were all above the 15-point benchmark. The last time three Norse claimed this feat was on Dec. 20, 2017 when the Norse took on Green Bay. Although Green Bay was nationally ranked at No. 19/20, the Norse completed the upset, 62-54.
- NKU topped Wofford in the rebounding battle, 46-35.
UP NEXT
The Norse begin Horizon League play taking on the Phoenix of Green Bay in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The league opener is set for Saturday, Dec. 28 at 1 p.m. CT/2 p.m. ET and will be broadcast on ESPN3.
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