HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – The Northern Kentucky women's basketball program, with a bench of just seven student-athletes, played one of the Horizon League favorites in Cleveland State all the way to the final whistle as the Norse dropped a 72-60 decision in the Norse's conference opener inside Truist Arena on Saturday afternoon.
 
THE FACTS
FINAL SCORE: Northern Kentucky – 60, Cleveland State – 72
LOCATION: Truist Arena – Highland Heights, Kentucky
RECORDS: NKU: 1-5 (0-1 HL) – CSU: 7-1 (2-0 HL)
 
BOX SCORE BREAKDOWN
- Allison Basye: 18 points, four rebounds
- Carter McCray: 15 points, one board, one assist, one block and one steal
- Macey Blevins: 10 points, eight helpers, three rebounds
- Noelle Hubert: 9 points, two boards, one assist, one steal
- Khamari Mitchell-Steen: 5 points, four rebounds, two assists, two steals
 
NORSE NOTES
- Basye set a career best in points, minutes played (38), made field goals (seven) and made three-pointers (four). The Chillicothe, Ohio native is now averaging 16.5 points and 5.5 rebounds over her last two contests.
- McCray was efficient once again from the field as her 15 points came off a 6-of-7 shooting performance. The standout freshman center has gone for double-digit points in five of NKU's six games so far this season.
- Blevins just missed out on a double-double with 10 points and a game and season-best eight assists to go with three rebounds. It was her fourth game of the season with 10-plus points.
- Hubert added nine points off a career-best three three-pointers.
- It was a tale of two halves as Cleveland State won the first two quarters by a 39-18 margin, but Northern Kentucky answered back in the second with a 42-33 edge. NKU got it as close as a 10-point game in the fourth quarter, but the CSU lead was too much to overcome as the Vikings escaped with the 72-60 win.
 
POST GAME PRESSER
 

NEXT UP
The Norse hit the road for a big time matchup against the Big Ten's Illinois on Wednesday, December 6 at the State Farm Center. Tip is set for 7 PM ET and the game will be played in front of a national audience on Big Ten Network Plus.
 
 
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