After a strong offensive showing on Friday, the Northern Kentucky University women’s basketball team returns to the floor on Wednesday for a midweek matchup against IU-Kokomo. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m., with coverage on ESPN3.
The matchup
IU-Kokomo Cougars (4-6)
Northern Kentucky Norse (7-2)
Dec. 16 – 7 p.m.
BB&T Arena (9,400) – Highland Heights, Ky.
TV: ESPN3 // Andrew Kappes (PBP) and Kaitlyn Gerrety (Analyst)
Series History: First meeting
Last Time Out: The Norse used a balanced scoring attack to cruise to a 92-47 win over West Virginia State on Sunday evening. Christine Roush led the way with 21 points on 8-of-9 shooting from the floor, while Kasey Uetrecht followed up with 16. Sarah Kinch set a new career high with seven rebounds to go with 13 points, and Courtney Roush’s 14-point effort was also a career high.
About IU-Kokomo: The Cougars enter Wednesday’s contest with a 4-6 record after dropping a 64-57 decision to Brescia (Ky.) to open their conference season. Lela Crawford led IUK with 17 points and seven rebounds, while Deja Felder came just short of a triple-double, going for 11 points, nine rebounds and nine assists. On the season, Dejianna Butler leads the Cougars, averaging 12.8 points and 9.1 rebounds per night, while Felder follows up with 12.5 points and four assists each contest.
Entering Wednesday’s contest against IU-Kokomo, Christine Rousch (above) stands as one of the Horizon League’s most prolific scorers, averaging 17.3 points per game, while sister Courtney is averaging six points per contest (NKU Athletics Photo)
The Series: Wednesday will mark the second consecutive game in which NKU will be facing an opponent for the first time. NKU’s first-time meetings this year are primarily concentrated in Horizon League play, where five teams will take on the Norse for the first time ever.
Kinch Consistent: Sarah Kinch has had some consistently strong games since taking the floor against Kentucky, scoring in double-figures in three consecutive games. After tying a career high with 16 against UK, Kinch went on to set a new high-water mark with 19 against IPFW. She then posted a 13-point effort against West Virginia State to go with a career-best seven rebounds. Entering the IU-Kokomo game, Kinch is averaging 6.3 points per game on 55.6 percent shooting from the field.
Roushed: For the second time in the last four games, seniors Christine and Courtney Roush both put up double-figure scoring performances in a single game to lead to Norse victories. Against Robert Morris, Christine posted 12 points while Courtney added 10, including six in the fourth quarter, as NKU came from behind for a 72-70 win. In the West Virginia State game, Christine led the team with 21 points while Courtney put up a career-high 14 points as NKU won going away, 92-47.
Entering Wednesday’s contest against IU-Kokomo, Christine stands as one of the Horizon League’s most prolific scorers, averaging 17.3 points per game, while Courtney is averaging six points per contest.
Fast Break Points
• NKU scored 92 points in Sunday’s win over West Virginia State, marking their highest-scoring game in the Division I era.
• NKU put up its third 80+ point game this season on Sunday after posting three games of 80+ points in the last two seasons combined.
• The Norse are seeking their first Wednesday win this season, with both of their losses (at Cincinnati, vs. Kentucky) coming midweek.
• NKU is the only Horizon League team shooting over 40 percent both from the field and from long range.
• The Norse continue to lead the League in free-throw shooting (76.4 percent) and rank 17th nationally in the category.
• NKU’s bench has scored 35 or more points in each of the last three games, and 40+ points in each of the last two.
• G Christine Roush continues to play among the nation’s best, ranking fifth in free-throw shooting (93.3 percent).
• Roush has been successful on her last 19 consecutive free-throw attempts dating back to the Nov. 15 game against Indiana State.
• F Kasey Uetrecht’s 16 points on Sunday came without the benefit of a 3-point attempt, her first game this year without a long-range attempt.
• Since making her debut in the starting lineup, F/C Molly Franson has averaged 8.5 points and 3.8 assists over four games.
• G Sarah Kinch has scored in double-figures in each of the last three games, marking the first such stretch in her career.
• Kinch also set a career high with seven rebounds in Sunday’s win against West Virginia State.
• F Courtney Roush set another career high with 14 points in Sunday’s win over WVSU. The senior is now averaging six points per game.
• F Mikayla Terry’s four assists against WVSU were a career high as well. Terry ranks fourth on the team with 13 assists.
From NKU Athletics
