HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – The Northern Kentucky women's basketball team fought off Horizon League opponent Oakland in a 69-60 win on Thursday night at BB&T arena. The win moves NKU to 10-9 on the year and 4-4 in Horizon League play. Oakland is now 8-11 on the season and 3-5 in conference play.
STATS LEADERS
- Ally Niece had 22 points, tying her career high set last season on March 2, 2019 against Detroit Mercy. Niece went a remarkable 9-of-14 (64.3 percent) from the floor and also added five assists and four rebounds to her name.
- Molly Glick nearly had a double-double with 10 points and a career-high nine rebounds
- Carissa Garcia and Taylor Clos both added nine points to the box score. Garcia shot 4-of-5 (80 percent) from the field.
- Emmy Souder was one shy from her career high in rebounds, acquiring nine on the night.
FIRST HALF SUMMARY
- Both the Norse and Golden Grizzlies scored on their first possessions, but then struggled to get their shots to fall in the opening minutes of the game. Souder put NKU on the board at the free throw line but another basket was not scored for the Norse for almost four minutes until Niece scored off a jumper.
- Ivy Turner and Souder both contributed two points to close out the quarter, tightening Oakland's lead to just three points.
- In the opening play of the second quarter, Souder snagged an offensive rebound and dished it out to Garcia, who knocked down a 3-pointer, tying the game up at 14.
- The Norse fought back to take the lead with 6:13 remaining in the second quarter off a jumper from Niece, after the Golden Grizzlies gained the lead in the first minute of the game. Oakland's biggest lead of the half was seven points, coming at just over half a minute left in the first quarter.
- A jump shot by Garcia sparked an 11-3 run for NKU. The Norse scored 18 points in the second quarter while holding the Grizzlies to 13 points.
- Oakland tied the game with a three, but Niece grabbed her own rebound and laid it in as time expired in the half, putting the Norse up 29-27 at the break.
SECOND HALF SUMMARY
- NKU forced Oakland to call a timeout after the Norse scored five unanswered points to begin the new half.
- The Norse finished out the third quarter strong, going 7-0 on scoring, giving NKU its largest lead yet and putting the Norse up 47-38 heading into the final 10 minutes.
- NKU's defense held Oakland to its lowest scoring quarter in the third, allowing only 11 points. The GoldenGrizzlies went just 3-of-14 (21.4 percent) from the floor.
- Niece came out with guns blazing in the second half, notching 13 points for the Norse.
- Both NKU and Oakland recorded 22 points in the final quarter. The Norse went an impressive 10-of-12 (83.3 percent) from the floor and 2-of-3 (66.7 percent) from behind the arc.
- The Norse outrebounded the Golden Grizzlies, 18-9.
GAME NOTES
- Northern Kentucky shot 45.0 percent from the floor while Oakland shot 40.7 percent.
- This is the 11th matchup of the season for Niece where she scored double figures.
- Glick reached a career high in rebounds, securing nine, surpassing her eight which she has recorded five times in her career.
- The Norse owned the boards, snatching 40 compared to the Golden Grizzlies' 28.
- NKU put in work close to the basket, coming out with 36 points in the paint.
UP NEXT
The Norse continue their five-game homestand on Saturday, Jan. 25 at 2:00 p.m. against Detroit Mercy. The game will be carried on ESPN3 and NKU will hold an all-sports clinic following the contest, which will be free to anyone age 12 and under.
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