EVANSVILLE, Ind. – Northern Kentucky Norse Women's Basketball tough early slate on Saturday, taking on their third reigning conference champion in four games as they battled against Southern Indiana on Saturday. The matchup has a storied history, as both schools were former GLVC foes, but the Screaming Eagles dominated early, jumping out to a 19-point lead in the third quarter. The Norse were able to battle back and cut it to one, led by Kamora Morgan's 18 second-half points, but NKU was unable to convert on a last-second chance as USI took home a 75-73 win. 

THE FACTS
FINAL SCORE: Northern Kentucky – 73, Southern Indiana – 75
LOCATION: Liberty Arena - Evansville, Ind. 
RECORDS: NKU: 2-4, USI 5-1
 
BOX SCORE BREAKDOWN
- Freshman guard Kamora Morgan broke out in the second half, going on a tear for 18 points with 13 in the fourth quarter alone, finishing with 21, a new career-high. Morgan went 8-12 on the day and 2-4 from three, while also adding five rebounds. 
- Macey Blevins scored in double digits in her fourth straight game, scoring 13 points. The senior filled out the stat sheet, recording six rebounds, three assists, two steals, and a block. 
- Halle Idowu scored eight points on a perfect 4-4 shooting night. 
- Jaci Jones' six assists was a game-high, as she also scored six points. 
 
NORSE NOTES
- The Screaming Eagles had some dominant defense to start, only giving up 11 first-quarter points to the Norse. The Norse only made one field goal after the 6:58 mark in the period, but Macey Blevins ended the drought by sinking a baseline floater to cut the USI lead to five. 
- The Norse hung around in the second, but Southern Indiana was able to extend their lead in the period, taking an eight-point lead at halftime. 
- Southern Indiana's offense was clicking in the third, as a 15-5 run gave them an 18-point lead halfway through the quarter. NKU was able to battle back a little bit but still faced a 16-point deficit entering the fourth. 
- Northern Kentucky had an incredible fourth quarter, led by 13 points from freshman Kamora Morgan. Down by 16 with seven to go, the Norse went on a 12-2 run to make it a game by the four-minute mark. The Norse and Screaming Eagles traded baskets, then Morgan hit a three to cut it to three before a turnover gave the Norse a great chance in under a minute. Abby Wolterman rebounded Blevins' miss and put in a layup, cutting it to one. USI hit their free throws, then another second-chance layup reduced it to one again with just six seconds to go. Southern Indiana then missed a free throw, and Kalissa Lacy was fouled on a three-point attempt with two seconds to go, with a chance to put the game on ice. However, Lacy missed her first two free throws, and Morgan's turnaround prayer with zeros on the clock was not answered. USI eked out a two-point victory, but the Norse showed a lot of fight in this fourth quarter against a great Screaming Eagle squad. 

NEXT UP
Northern Kentucky Women's Basketball will take on Bradley on Wednesday, November 27 in Peoria. Following that, they'll play Eastern Kentucky the following Saturday, part of a doubleheader at Truist Arena, as the men follow with a game against Bellarmine. 

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