Cleveland, Ohio – Northern Kentucky Norse Women's Basketball opened its conference season with a tough test at Cleveland State. The Vikings, reigning regular season Horizon League champions, smothered the Norse early on defense, but the Norse were able to stay in the game until late in the fourth. Cleveland State pulled away late despite a solid effort from the Norse, earning a 13-point victory. 

THE FACTS
FINAL SCORE: Northern Kentucky – 54, Cleveland State – 67
LOCATION: Wolstein Center - Cleveland, Ohio
RECORDS: NKU: 2-7 (0-1), CSU 6-2 (1-0)
 
BOX SCORE BREAKDOWN
- Freshman guard Kamora Morgan had a stellar game on both ends of the court. The two-time Horizon League Freshman of the Week scored 21 points, pouring it in at all three levels. She also added four rebounds, an assist, and a steal, all while playing great defense as the primary defender on the Horizon League's leading scorer, Mickayla Perdue. 
- Jaci Jones continued to be a steady playmaker for the Norse, with five assists and just one turnover. She also added six rebounds, three steals, and five points. 
- Noelle Hubert provided some shotmaking off the bench for the Norse, scoring nine points on 3-8 shooting from downtown. 
- A rough shooting night was the story of the game for Northern Kentucky. The Norse shot 29.1% from the field, including a first quarter that didn't see the Norse score a field goal until there was just 35 seconds left. 
 
NORSE NOTES
- A slow first quarter saw the Norse score eight points in the period, but solid half-court defense on the perimeter kept them in it. They limited the Cleveland State offense to 15 points in each of the first two periods, going down by eight at the half. 
- Morgan took over late, scoring nine points in the fourth and six straight late to get the Norse within 12, all on tough shots. 
- The Northern Kentucky offense was stifled by Cleveland State's size and defense near the basket, as the Norse shot 29% in the paint.

NEXT UP
Northern Kentucky hosts Youngstown State on Saturday as the conference home opener will tip off at 1 PM ET. 

FOLLOW NKU NORSE WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
Get in the game and follow Northern Kentucky's NCAA Division I women's college basketball team through @NKUNorseWBB on Twitter, @NKUNorseWBB on Instagram, nkunorsewbb on Facebook and subscribe to the NKU Norse Youtube channel.