HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – Northern Kentucky women's basketball begins the 2021-22 season at home inside BB&T Arena Wednesday, Nov. 10, as the Norse will host Kent State at 7 p.m.

GAME INFORMATION
Northern Kentucky University Norse (0-0 Overall, 0-0 Horizon League)
Kent State Golden Flashes (0-0 Overall, 0-0 MAC)
Wednesday, Nov. 10 – 7:00 p.m. (ET)
Highland Heights, Ky. | BB&T Arena (8,427)
TV: ESPN+
Stats: Live Stats
Digital Program: NKU Women's Basketball Weekly – Week 1
Tickets: Purchase Now
 
FAST BREAK POINTS
• The Norse were picked to finish fourth in the Horizon League Preseason Coaches Poll.
• NKU finished the 2020-21 season 8-11 overall and 7-5 in the Horizon League.
• Northern Kentucky defeated Robert Morris in the opening round of the Horizon League Tournament, 68-54. The Norse fell in the quarterfinals to rival Wright State, 74-56 to end the year.
• Lindsey Duvall and Ivy Turner each continued to receive conference accolades with Duvall earning Horizon League Preseason All-League First Team and Turner getting an All-League Second Team nod.
• Duvall finished the year averaging 16.9 points per game, along with 7.8 rebounds per game to earn herself an All-Horizon League second team selection last season. She reached double figures in scoring in all 19 games, including five 20-point performances.
• Turner was rewarded for her efforts as well, earning an All-Horizon League Third Team selection after averaging 11.2 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 2.7 assists during the 2020-21 campaign. 
• Grayson Rose, a Horizon League all-defensive team honoree, finished the year third on the team in rebounding, averaging 5.7 per game, and added 7.7 points per game as well. 
• Rose currently ranks 19th all-time in Northern Kentucky women's basketball history in career rebounds at 569, fourth in total blocked shots with 116, and fourth in blocked shots averaged at 1.0 total. She is currently looking to crack the top 20 in total games played in Norse history as well, sitting at 108, with Peggy Vincent and Melody Doss tied for 19th at 116.  
• Carissa Garcia averaged 8.3 points per game for the Norse, along with shooting 35 percent from the field and was a 33 percent three-point shooter as well.
• The Norse will finish this opening home stand against Eastern Kentucky on Sunday, Nov. 14 before hitting the road for multiple matchups. NKU will began Horizon League play Nov. 18 at Green Bay and finish the weekend on Nov. 20 at Milwaukee as well. 
 
SCOUTING KENT STATE
Junior forward Nila Blackford was selected to the Preseason All-MAC Second Team. Blackford was an All-MAC Second Team performer last season when she was one of only three players in the conference to average a double-double (15.5 ppg, 10.6 rpg). Kent State is one of two programs with three all-conference players, as junior Katie Shumate and senior Lindsey Thall garnered All-MAC honorable mention accolades a season ago. The Flashes return their entire starting lineup and more than 97% of the team's scoring from the 2020-21 season.

SERIES STUFF
Kent State currently holds a 3-0 all-time lead over Northern Kentucky, with the first meeting between these two programs dating back to the 1981-82 season. The Golden Flashes most recently downed the Norse in 2018 as Kent State won a tight battle over NKU, 62-61 in Kent, Ohio. These two squads met the previous year (2017) as well, with Kent State getting the best of NKU in another close contest, 59-54.