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HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky.  – The Northern Kentucky women's basketball team capped off a phenomenal regular season picking up their 20th win of the year by defeating Detroit Mercy inside BB&T Arena 67-44. The Norse finished the year at 20-7 overall and 14-6 in the Horizon League and have locked up the fifth overall seed in the conference tournament. The Titans drop to 1-28 overall and 1-21 in Horizon League action. 
 

STATS LEADERS

• Grayson Rose celebrated senior day in the best possible way, totaling a game-high 15 points to lead NKU. Rose knocked down four three-pointers along with grabbing three rebounds and totaling three steals in the winning effort. 
• Trinity Thompson had a huge game as the freshman totaled a double-double with 12 points and a game-high 13 rebounds. 
• Joelle Johnson also turned in a 12 point scoring performance for the Norse. Johnson totaled three rebounds and one steal as well. 
   

FIRST HALF SUMMARY

• Rose led the Norse to open the game with five points, connecting on a wide open three to see NKU up 7-6.
• Both squads hit a skid midway through the period, going scoreless for over two minutes each. 
• Despite UDM's six first quarter turnovers they led the Norse after one, 16-13. The Titans did shoot 58 percent from the floor in the first period as well. 
• These two programs continued trading buckets throughout the second quarter, as NKU led 19-18 with just under four minutes to go.
• A crucial three-pointer from Turner helped fuel the Norse to a 24-18 lead at the media timeout in the second quarter. 
• The Norse found their groove late in the second quarter with a 19-3 overall run that lasted just over 12 minutes. 
• NKU's defense stepped up in a huge way to hold Detroit Mercy to just two points on 1-for-13 (7.7 percent) shooting from the field. 

SECOND HALF SUMMARY

• Northern Kentucky kept riding that first half momentum, posting a 10-2 scoring run to begin the third quarter. 
• The three-point shooting of Rose helped ignite the Norse into a huge scoring run, leading UDM 42-20 midway through the third. 
• NKU built a 6-0 scoring run to begin the fourth quarter, anchored by the scoring of Thompson, Duvall and Rose. 
• The Norse controlled the remainder of this contest, holding Detroit to just 24 points overall through the last three quarters of play. 
• Down the stretch, NKU held Detroit to just 1-of-8 shooting from beyond the arc over the final four minutes. 
   

GAME NOTES

• Today's conference win gives Northern Kentucky 14 total Horizon League victories, the most-ever for the women's program since joining the conference. NKU totaled 12 wins just a few years ago during the 2019-20 season. 
• Northern Kentucky's 20th regular season victory ties the Norse NCAA Division I era record for most wins in a year. 
• Rose's three rebounds tonight sees her move up to sixth all-time in NKU history with 813 total for her career. 
• Thompson's double-double of 12 points and 13 rebounds is the first of her career. The freshman saw a ton of career-high marks hit today which included points (12), minutes (16), FG made (6), FG attempted (10), rebounds (13), blocks (2) and steals (1).
• Johnson saw numerous career-highs in a Norse uniform during this game as well including total points (12), minutes (14), FG made (5), FG attempted (7), 3PT made (2) and steals (1).
   

UP NEXT
Northern Kentucky now looks ahead to the Horizon League Tournament where the Norse will be the number five seed. The Norse will face number 12 seed Detroit Mercy on Tuesday, March 1 in Highland Heights, Ky. inside BB&T Arena with game time set for 7 p.m. (ET).