HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – Northern Kentucky women's basketball continues its nonconference lineup with a trek to Northern Ohio for a matchup against Akron on Tuesday, Dec. 1. Tip-off is slated for 6 p.m.
 
Game Information
Northern Kentucky University Norse (0-1 Overall, 0-0 Horizon League)
University of Akron Zips (1-0 Overall, 0-0 MAC)
Tuesday, Dec. 1 – 6:00 p.m. (ET)
Akron, Ohio | James A. Rhodes Arena (5,500)
TV: ESPN3 with Michael Reghi (PxP) and Jacki Windon (Color)
Stats: Live Stats
 


Fast Break Points 
• NKU opened the 2020-21 season with a gritty road performance at Cincinnati, ultimately falling to the Bearcats 73-67 in overtime.
• The last overtime game played by the Norse was a 61-53 win over UIC on Jan. 21, 2018 at BB&T Arena. That game was part of a four-game stretch where NKU played two overtime contests, with the first being a 68-63 setback to Wright State on Jan. 13.
• NKU continues its nonconference slate with a matchup at Akron on Tuesday, Dec. 1.
• NKU is 1-3 all-time against Akron, with the lone win coming in the 1982-83 season and an 0-3 mark in the DI era.
• NKU is coming off of its first 20-win season during the DI era. The Norse went 6-5 in the nonconference before posting a 12-6 mark in League play and going 2-1 in its Horizon League Championship semifinals appearance.
• NKU steamrolled both Detroit Mercy and Milwaukee in the opening two rounds of the Horizon League Championship. The Norse held two leads in the final minute, but ultimately fell short of Green Bay by one point in the semifinals.
• The Norse return quite a bit of experience, losing only three players from last year's squad. NKU welcomes back approximately 76 percent of its minutes played and 73 percent of its scoring.
• The Norse were picked to finish fourth in the Horizon League Preseason Coaches Poll.
• Junior guard Ally Niece, who is coming off a sophomore campaign in which she was named to both the all-tournament and all-league second teams, earned a spot on the All-Horizon League Preseason First Team.
• Niece averaged a team-best 13.1 points and 3.7 assists per game last year, and she finished the season with four 20-point outings in the team's final six games.
• Niece opened the 2020-21 campaign with a 17-point showing at Cincinnati.
• Senior forward Kailey Coffey has played in 93 games with 92 starts during a Norse career that has also seen her move into 13th all-time at NKU with 677 rebounds.
• Junior forward Emmy Souder started all 32 games as a sophomore. She was third on the team in scoring at 8.8 ppg and second in rebounding at 5.4 rpg.
• She was one of three Norse to register double-figures in scoring against Cincinnati, pouring in 10 points while also adding seven rebounds.
• Sophomore guard Ivy Turner joined Souder and Molly Glick as the three Norse to start every game. Turner contributed 8.3 ppg for NKU and was second on the team with 66 dimes.
• The Norse also return a fourth top-five scorer from last year's team in sophomore guard Carissa Garcia. Garcia added 7.3 ppg and opened with eight points at UC.
• Five newcomers join the squad this season, including Louisville transfer junior guard Lindsey Duvall as well as freshmen guard Kennedy Igo, center Emma Palmer, center Christyan Reid and  guard/wing Ellie Taylor.
• Duvall was active and efficient in her first game as a Norse, tallying 13 points on 4-for-6 shooting from the floor and 5-of-6 at the line.
 
Last Time Out
Northern Kentucky took a 26-17 advantage into intermission thanks to stifling defense that held the Bearcats to 7-of-23 shooting, including just 1-for-9 from 3-point range, and limiting AAC preseason co-player of the year IImar'I Thomas to just six points. The Norse held a seven-point advantage through three quarters, but the Bearcats evened the score by the end of regulation. UC then opened up overtime with a 10-1 run before the Norse closed within a basket, 67-70, with nine seconds left. The Bearcats sealed the game with the final three points to claim a 73-67 win. Niece led NKU with 17 points, while Duvall contributed 13 points in her Norse debut. Souder had 10 points and seven rebounds. Kailey Coffey had a team-best eight rebounds.
 
Scouting Akron
Akron is 1-0 on the season after knocking off Bluefield State, 95-61, on Saturday. All 12 Zips that saw action scored, and each played between 7:30-23 minutes in the game. Jordyn Dawson had a game-best 19 points and 12 rebounds, while Lonasia Brewer and Colleen Neitzel contributed 16 and 10 points, respectively. Dawson was named to the preseason all-MAC team and Akron was picked to finish 10th. The Zips had what would have been their season-opener against Ohio State canceled.
 
Series Stuff
Northern Kentucky trails in the all-time series, 1-3. After winning the first meeting between the two schools in NKU's DII era (1982-83), the Norse have dropped all three contests as a DI program. The two teams last met on Nov. 18, 2018, with Akron claiming a 77-60 win. Emmy Souder led NKU with 16 points and six rebounds in that game.
 
Nonconference Additions
NKU also formally announces two additional nonconference matchups. The Norse will host Bowling Green on Thursday, Dec. 3, at noon and travel to Ohio State on Sunday, Dec. 6. Stay tuned to NKUNorse.com or follow @NKUNorseWBB on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to stay up to date on Northern Kentucky women's basketball.