HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – The Northern Kentucky women's basketball team started off the new year right with a 75-56 win over Youngstown State on Thursday night at BB&T Arena. The Norse move to 8-6 overall and 2-1 in the Horizon League with the win. The Penguins fall to 9-5 overall and 2-1 in Horizon League action following the loss.
STATS LEADERS
- Emmy Souder led the Norse with a stunning 19-point performance on 7-for-11 (64 percent) shooting, a career high for the sophomore.
- Kailey Coffey wasn't far behind with 15 points on the night, shooting a 7-for-12 (58 percent) clip.
- Ally Niece had 14 points and five assists in the contest, as well going a perfect 8-for-8 from the free throw line.
- Taylor Clos rounded out the double-figures parade with 11 points and six rebounds.
FIRST HALF SUMMARY
- The game opened up 7-5 in favor of NKU. Niece rang in the new year with the first Norse basket of 2020, followed by a Coffey layup and a 3-pointer from Souder.
- NKU stifled the Penguins on defense and had no problem with piling on points, as the Norse finished the quarter with an 11-4 run to make it a 19-9 lead after 10 minutes. Coffey began the game with a solid 3-for-4 clip from the floor.
- Youngstown State battled back after adjustments in the second with seven-consecutive points. Turner ended the unanswered run by making a three-pointer for the Norse with 8:19 to go in the half, keeping NKU out front, 22-16.
- With four minutes left, Turner dished to Souder, who hit a jumper in the paint. On the next possession Turner stormed down for a layup to re-extend NKU's advantage to 10 points at 32-22.
- Souder closed out the strong first-half performance by the Norse by getting the and-one and converting at the stripe.
- The Norse went into the break with a 36-26 lead. NKU shot 11-of-25 (44 percent) from the floor, as well as 3-for-5 (60 percent) from three-point land.
SECOND HALF SUMMARY
- Coffey made her presence known in the third quarter, scoring seven points in the first five minutes to keep NKU firmly in the lead at 46-36.
- Following a 3-pointer by Carissa Garcia, Youngstown State hit three shots in a row to make the game a narrow one. The Norse lead was just by five points as Clos passed over to Coffey for a layup to close out the third quarter.
- With a 51-44 advantage going into the final stretch, the Norse began the fourth quarter strong. Niece found an easy layup at the 9:13 mark and Souder brought in a bucket despite being fouled with 8:05 to go, increasing the NKU lead to 11 points.
- NKU had a 61-51 lead with 5:48 to go and pulled even further away from there. Niece went to the free throw line to convert two and Souder converted another three-point play thanks to an and-one basket.
- Niece sank another four shots at the charity stripe before heading to the bench, bringing the Norse to a 70-53 advantage.
- Souder finished her career night with another 3-pointer with 56 seconds left.
GAME NOTES
- One of the biggest factors for the Norse was their execution from the free throw line, picking up 17 points in 21 shots from the line (81 percent).
- The Norse had their best performance of the season in taking care of the ball with just eight turnovers. Before tonight's game, the best was 12 against Green Bay on December 28. NKU coupled that with 16 assists on 26 field goals, and forced Youngstown State into 16 turnovers, eight of which were by way of steals.
- NKU converted 19 points off turnovers and pushed the pace with 18 fast-break points.
- Youngstown State was held to 25.0 percent or lower from the field in three quarters of action.
- The Norse out-rebounded the Penguins, 43-40, and had a 38-32 advantage in the paint.
- The Norse are now 5-0 on the year when four players reach double figures.
UP NEXT
The Norse stay at BB&T Arena for a home matchup against Cleveland State on Saturday, Jan. 4. The game will begin at 2 p.m. ET and will be broadcast on ESPN3.
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