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NKU women drop heartbreaker to Valpo in Horizon League opener


After a contentious final 1.2 seconds, the Northern Kentucky University women’s basketball team fell to Valparaiso, 61-60, in the Horizon League opener for both teams on Wednesday night.

With Valparaiso (5-7, 1-0 Horizon League) inbounding with 3.5 seconds left, the ball was deflected and loose on the floor as Rianna Gayheart and Dani Franklin collided, resulting in a foul on Franklin. The referees ruled a player-control foul, forcing NKU (8-4, 0-1) to run an inbounds play rather than take an opportunity at the free-throw line. Rebecca Lyttle’s chance rolled off the rim as time expired.

 The NKU women's basketball team dropped a heartbreaker to Valpo Wednesday night (NKU Athletics Photo)

The NKU women’s basketball team dropped a heartbreaker to Valpo Wednesday night (NKU Athletics Photo)

Lyttle finished just one point shy of a career high with 22 points along with seven rebounds. Christine Roush added 15 points, seven rebounds and four assists as well to lead NKU’s scoring. The Norse shot 36.4 percent (20-for-55) from the floor and 75 percent (18-for-24) from the free-throw line.

Lyttle was all of NKU’s offense in the opening five minutes of the contest, scoring the first six points for the Norse to keep pace with Valpo’s attack. Roush got in the book at the four-minute mark, sinking an and-one jumper to give the Norse their first lead at 9-8. Valpo continued to match pace and held a one-point advantage at the break, 15-14.

The junior continued to provide a spark for the Norse in the second quarter, ripping an offensive rebound before draining a three to again give the Norse the lead, 19-18, at the 6:28 mark. The Crusaders started to find their stroke from long range, hitting four treys late to extend the lead before Lyttle hit a pair of free throws to make it a 34-27 lead for Valpo going into halftime.

After 21 points in the first half, the Norse defense was able to keep Meredith Hamlet to just two points in the third quarter while NKU went 8-for-10 from the free-throw line to take the lead late in the period. A buzzer-beater by Franklin to close the stanza put Valpo up 50-49 leading into the final 10 minutes.

NKU continued to get their opportunities from the line in the fourth quarter but struggled to connect in the waning moments, shooting just 3-for-7 on their free-throw opportunities. Kasey Uetrecht scored six of her eight points in the final period, leading up to the game’s pivotal moment.

Hamlet scored a career-high 29 points on 10-of-11 shooting, including 5-of-6 from long range. Franklin added 10 points while Jasmyn Walker scored eight points and grabbed 10 rebounds.

NKU looks to bounce back on Friday when the Norse close out their seven-game home stand against UIC. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m., with the action carried live on ESPN3.

Norse notes

— The contest was the first in the all-time series between the Norse and the Crusaders. They will pick the series up again on Feb. 6.

— NKU falls to 2-2 in the Division I era in conference opening contests. The Norse had won games against Lipscomb and South Carolina Upstate in each of the last two seasons to open Atlantic Sun Conference play.

— Of NKU’s four losses this season, three have come by three points or less.

(From NKU Athletics)


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