HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – Northern Kentucky women's basketball returns home this week for a pair of Horizon League contests beginning with the Vikings of Cleveland State on Friday, Dec. 3 at 7 p.m.

GAME INFORMATION
Northern Kentucky University Norse (4-2 Overall, 1-1 Horizon League)
Cleveland State University Vikings (6-0 Overall, 2-0 Horizon League)
Friday, Dec. 3 – 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 4
 
Purdue Fort Wayne Mastodons (3-2 Overall, 2-0 Horizon League)
Sunday, Dec. 5 – 2:00 p.m. (ET)
Highland Heights, Ky. | BB&T Arena (8,427)
TV: ESPN+
Stats: Live Stats
Digital Program: NKU Women's Basketball Weekly – Week 4

FAST BREAK POINTS
• Ivy Turner was named the Nike Horizon League Player of the Week for her efforts during the 2-0 week the Norse posted, beating Miami (Ohio) and Central Arkansas.    
• Turner turned in stellar back-to-back performances a week ago with 21 points against the RedHawks and totaling a career-high 24 points against the Sugar Bears. She also drained a career-high 13 free throws, including six consecutive during the overtime period to help seal the NKU victory. 
• Grayson Rose officially took over the number three spot in career blocked shots this past week with her total now up to 136 overall. She also jumped up to 17th overall in total rebounds in Norse history with 636.
• Khamari Mitchel-Steen continues to be a force defensively this season, as the freshman not only leads NKU in steals with 16, but the Horizon League as well.
• Lindsey Duvall netted 12 total points on the road against Central Arkansas on Saturday. Duvall has now scored in double-digits in every single game she has played for the Norse, increasing her streak to 25 straight games. 
• Cleveland State leads the current series versus the Norse, 8-4. While playing in Highland Heights CSU also holds the advantage with a 4-1 record. 
• The last meeting between NKU and the Vikings was on Feb. 6, 2020 in Cleveland where CSU defeated Northern Kentucky, 66-62. 
• Rose currently ranks eighth in the nation in total blocks with 20. She also ranks seventh in the country in blocks per game at 3.33. 
• Rose has also been a force on the glass this season, ranking 22nd in the nation in total rebounds with 67. She ranks 12th overall in rebounds per game with at 11.2 as well. 
• Duvall and Turner each received conference accolades with Duvall earning Horizon League Preseason All-League First Team and Turner getting an All-League Second Team nod. 
• The Norse were picked to finish fourth in the 2021-22 Horizon League Preseason Coaches' Poll.
• The Norse finished the 2020-21 season eighth overall in the Horizon League. NKU defeated Robert Morris in the first round of the conference tournament before falling to rival and number one seed Wright State in the quarterfinals.

LAST TIME OUT
NKU secured a come-from-behind overtime victory on the road against Central Arkansas, 63-59. Turner recorded a career-high 24 points in the winning effort at UCA. Turner also went 13-of-18 from the free throw line. Turner helped seal the win for the Norse, sinking six consecutive free throws in overtime.  Duvall kept her double-digit scoring streak alive while wearing a Norse uniform totaling 12 total points in today's game. Her streak of scoring in double-digits with NKU is up to 25 games.

SCOUTING CLEVELAND STATE
Cleveland State enters the week with a 6-0 overall record, along with a 2-0 Horizon League record as well. CSU took down nonconference opponent Long Island University in their most recent game, 87-65, at home. Leading the Vikings this season is Destiny Leo who is averaging 22.8 points per game. Leo also leads the team in assists with 13 and in steals with eight. Gabriella Smith and Amele Ngwafang each are averaging 10.6 and 10.0 points per game respectively as well.

 SCOUTING PURDUE FORT WAYNE
Purdue Fort Wayne enters the week with a 3-2 overall record, and currently 2-0 in Horizon League play. The Mastodons are coming off a 68-56 road loss to Southern Illinois-Edwardsville as PFW makes the trip to Highland Heights this weekend. Leading the way for PFW this year has been the trio of Sylare Starks, Shayla Sellers and Ryin Ott. Each are currently averaging double-digits in points per game with Starks at 14.8, Sellers at 13.5 and Ott with 13.0.

SERIES STUFF (CSU)
The Vikings currently lead the all-time series against the Norse 8-4 overall. NKU has dropped the last two match ups against Cleveland State, with the most recent on Feb. 6, 2020 in Cleveland by a final score of 66-62. When playing in Highland Heights, CSU holds a 4-1 advantage over Northern Kentucky as well. 

 SERIES STUFF (PFW)
The Norse hold a commanding 31-8 all-time record over the Mastodons enter this weekend's contest. Northern Kentucky is 16-2 when squaring off against Purdue Fort Wayne in Highland Heights and have won the last three meetings. The most recent game featured NKU beating PFW on the road in Fort Wayne, Indiana on Dec. 12, 2020 by a final score of 80-63.