HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – Northern Kentucky women's basketball hits the road for one last time during this regular season, as the Norse travel north to take on Horizon League leader Youngstown State on Friday, Feb. 18 at 7 p.m. (ET).
 
Game Information
Northern Kentucky Norse (17-6 Overall, 11-5 Horizon League)
Youngstown State Penguins (21-4 Overall, 15-3 Horizon League)
Friday, Feb. 18 – 7:00 PM (ET)
Youngstown, Ohio | Beeghly Center (6,500)
TV: ESPN+
Stats: Live Stats
NKU WBB Digital Program - Week 14
 
NORSE Breakdown
•  The Norse are set to hit the road for one last time this regular season, as NKU will face Youngstown State first on Friday, and wrap up with Robert Morris on Sunday.
•  Grayson Rose is ranked for 16th overall in the nation in total blocks with 55. She is also ranked 16th in the country in blocks per game at 2.39. She has been a force on the glass this season, ranking 44th in the nation in total rebounds with 216. She ranks 52nd overall in boards per game with at 9.3 as well.
•  Lindsey Duvall currently ranks third overall in the Horizon League in scoring average with 17.3 points per game. Duvall is first in the conference in total points however, with 399. She is also sixth overall in rebounding in the conference at 7.2 boards per game.
•  Freshman Khamari Mitchell-Steen currently ranks second overall in the Horizon League in total steals with 45.
• NKU currently sits at 17-6 overall with a 11-5 record in Horizon League play. This is the best all-time start in the NCAA Division l era for the Norse, and the best Horizon League start for Northern Kentucky as well.
• Rose is third overall in the Horizon League in rebounding with 9.4 boards per game, and leads in the conference in total rebounds with 216. She additionally leads the conference in blocked shots with 55, and leads in block shots per game at 2.4 this season.
• Duvall's incredible streak of scoring in double-digits in every single game she has worn a Northern Kentucky uniform was snapped at UIC (Feb. 1) earlier this week. Her impressive streak lasted 37 consecutive games.
• Kailee Davis was named the Nike Horizon League Freshman of the Week during the week of Jan. 10-16.
• Turner was named the Nike Horizon League Player of the Week during the week of Nov. 20-28.
• Duvall was named the Nike Horizon League Player of the Week during the week of Dec. 6-12 and during the week for Dec. 27-Jan. 2.
• 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
Northern Kentucky was defeated in their last matchup by the number two team in the Horizon League currently, IUPUI by a final score of 78-53. Turner posted a solid game against the Jaguars with 17 points on 7-for-14 shooting from the floor, along with tallying one steal and one assist. This was Turner's 18th game of the season hitting double-digit scoring as well. IUPUI hit multiple periods of impressive shooting throughout the game, finishing at 30-for-52 overall (57.7 percent) compared to NKU who shot 35.6 percent overall. 

Scouting the Penguins
Youngstown State enters the week as the Horizon League's top team with a conference record of 15-3 overall. This will be the first meeting between the Penguins and the Norse this season as well. Leading YSU offensively this season is Lilly Ritz with 17.1 points per game. Ritz also leads the Penguins in rebounding with 9.7 boards per game as well. YSU additionally has two more scorers averaging double figures with Chelsea Olson at 10.8 ppg and Malia Magestro at 10.2 ppg.

Series Stuff
The Norse currently lead the Penguins in the all-time series 7-5 overall. YSU does hold the advantage when playing in Youngstown, Ohio with a 4-2 record against NKU. Northern Kentucky has also won the last three meetings between these two programs, including most recently on Feb. 20, 2020 at 59-55.