The Northern Kentucky University women’s basketball team closes out its seven-game home stand on Friday when the Norse welcome in UIC for a Horizon League showdown. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. with the action covered live on ESPN3.
Game Setup
UIC Flames (9-3, 0-1 Horizon League)
Northern Kentucky University Norse (8-4, 0-1 Horizon League)
Jan. 1, 2016 – 7 p.m.
BB&T Arena (9,400) – Highland Heights, Ky.
TV: ESPN3 // Andrew Kappes (ESPN3) and Kaitlyn Gerrety (Analyst)
Series History: First meeting
Last time out: A 22-point, seven-rebound effort from Rebecca Lyttle led the Norse as they came up one point short against Valparaiso on Wednesday, with NKU falling 61-60 in the Horizon League opener for both teams. Christine Roush added 15 points and seven boards while Kasey Uetrecht chipped in with eight points.
NKU will try to rebound from a loss to Valparaiso when it returns to action Friday night (NKU Athletics Photo)
Valpo got a career effort from Meredith Hamlet, who led the Crusaders with 29 points on 10-of-11 shooting from the field, including five three-pointers.
About UIC: The Flames are also seeking their first Horizon League victory after a 73-62 loss at Wright State on Wednesday evening. Melita Emanuel-Carr led the way with a 19-point effort while Horizon League Preseason Player of the Year Ruvanna Campbell picked up her eighth double-double of the season with 14 points and 16 boards.
Campbell stands as the League’s top rebounder and second-leading scorer, averaging a double-double a night at 17.7 points and 13.2 rebounds. Kendyl Nunn has been a super sub for the Flames, posting 12.8 points per game off the bench. In addition to her scoring, Emanuel-Carr is averaging almost four assists per contest as well.
The Series: For the third-consecutive game, NKU will take on a team for the first time in UIC. UIC is the fourth of seven new opponents for the Norse with Detroit, Milwaukee and Green Bay remaining on that list.
Rolling on Twenties: Rebecca Lyttle has seen a scoring surge after missing three games with injury earlier this season. After failing to score, but grabbing six boards, in her return game against IU-Kokomo, the redshirt-junior went on to post a career-high 23 points against Akron, followed by a 22-point effort against Valparaiso, making her the first player this season to post back-to-back 20-point games.
The last player with such a prolific scoring stretch was Christine Roush, who last season had three-straight 20 points games to wrap up the month of January. Roush scored 28 points against North Florida on Jan. 22, followed by a 22-point game against Jacksonville two days later. She closed out the stretch on Jan. 29 with 24 points against Stetson.
Fast Break Points
• Northern Kentucky has dropped back-to-back games for the first time since the end of the 2014-15 season.
• Three of NKU’s four losses this season have come by three points or less. NKU is 1-3 in games decided by less than five points.
• NKU’s 24 free-throw attempts against Valparaiso were one short of a season high, set against Tennessee Tech on Nov. 27.
• The Norse continue to rank second in the League in FG shooting (45.4%) and lead the League in FT shooting (77.5%).
• NKU’s free-throw prowess has the Norse ranked sixth nationally in the category.
• NKU’s 23 forced turnovers against Valpo were the second-highest this season, and the most since forcing 33 against IU-Kokomo.
• NKU’s turnover margin of +5.1 leads the Horizon League and ranks 23rd among Division I programs.
• The Norse are 6-3 at home this season, including a 4-2 mark on the current home stand.
• F Rebecca Lyttle has posted back-to-back games of 20+ points, the first to do so since G Christine Roush had three, Jan. 22-29, 2015.
• Lyttle is one of the League’s top rebounders, ranking third overall (9.4 per game) and second on the offensive glass (4.1 per game).
• Roush leads the Horizon League and ranks 11th nationally in free-throw percentage at 90.9 percent.
• F Kasey Uetrecht continues to stand among the top thieves in Division I, averaging 2.1 steals per game to rank 138th in the nation.
• G Rianna Gayheart once again leads the Horizon League in Assist/Turnover ratio at 2.3, good for 40th in the national rankings.
• F Courtney Roush is averaging 6.8 points per game to lead a reserve unit that is averaging 26.4 points per game on the year.
From NKU Athletics
