The Northern Kentucky University women’s basketball team returns home to the BB&T Arena on Thursday, when the Norse host Green Bay in Horizon League action. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m., with the action carried live on ESPN3.
Game Information
Northern Kentucky University Norse (10-6, 2-3 Horizon)
University of Wisconsin – Green Bay Phoenix (15-2, 5-0 Horizon)
Jan. 21 – 7 p.m.
BB&T Arena (9,400) – Highland Heights, Ky.
TV: ESPN3 // Andrew Kappes (PBP) and Kaitlyn Gerrety (Analyst)
Series History: First meeting
NKU is facing Green Bay for the first time, playing at home Thursday night (NKU Athletics Photo)
Last Time Out – The Norse suffered a heartbreaker at Detroit on Saturday, dropping a 66-65 decision in the Motor City. Rianna Gayheart led the Norse with 11 points and five assists, while Kasey Uetrecht added nine points and eight rebounds and Christine Roush chipped in nine points as well.
About Green Bay – The Phoenix are in the midst of a 12-game winning streak after picking up wins over Valparaiso and UIC last weekend, now standing at 15-2 overall and a perfect 5-0 mark in Horizon League play.
Green Bay keys its game off defense and outside shooting. The Phoenix allow just 52.3 points per game to lead the Horizon League and rank 11th nationally, and are hitting 8.5 three-pointers per game, which ranks 17th in the nation.
Allie LeClaire leads the Green Bay offense with 13.7 points per game, while Kaili Lukan follows up at 11.7 points per game and 53 total steals.
The Series – For the second consecutive game, NKU will take on a first-time opponent in Green Bay. The Norse are 3-2 this year against teams they have never previously faced.
Fast Break Points
• Northern Kentucky opens a set of four home games in four days between the men’s and women’s teams this weekend.
• NKU reached double-digits in made threes for the second-straight game, knocking down 10 against Detroit on Saturday.
• NKU has held its League opponents to 63.4 points per game, ranking third in the League.
• NKU’s overall turnover margin of +4.8 leads the Horizon League and ranks 22nd in the nation.
• The Norse have forced 15 or more turnovers in 15 of their 16 games this season, and have forced 88 errors in their last five games.
• The Norse rank third in the League in FG shooting (42.6%) and lead the League in FT shooting (77.2%).
• NKU’s 77.2 percent free-throw accuracy ranks 10th among all Division I programs.
• The Norse went 9-for-9 from the charity stripe against Detroit, the first time they’ve gone perfect from the line this season.
• NKU’s assist to turnover ratio of 1.05 ranks second in the Horizon League behind Oakland (1.21).
• The Norse reserves again shined against Detroit, pouring in 31 of NKU’s 65 points.
• G Christine Roush passed Melody Doss for 20th on NKU’s career scoring list on Saturday, now with 1,159 points.
• Roush leads the Horizon League and ranks eighth nationally in free-throw percentage at 90.7 percent.
• F Kasey Uetrecht has led the Norse in rebounding in five of NKU’s last six games, and now averages 6.0 boards per game.
• Uetrecht is averaging 8.0 defensive rebounds per game in League play, ranking second in the Horizon League.
• G Rianna Gayheart now stands 15th on the all-time assist list at NKU with 297 over her four years.
• Gayheart had five assists and just two turnovers against Detroit, improving her assist/turnover ratio to 1.9, ranking fifth in the Horizon League.
From NKU Athletics
