Northern Kentucky’s women’s basketball team earned its first Horizon League victory on Friday, defeating UIC 55-53, after a clutch performance from Kasey Uetrecht sealed the win in the final seconds.
Uetrecht netted each of NKU’s final six points, including a triple with 5.8 seconds remaining that proved to be the game-winner. The sophomore scored 11 second-half points, including eight in the final quarter to total a team-high 14 points on the night.
Uetrecht also added eight rebounds and career-high four assists.
Kasey Uetrecht netted each of NKU’s final six points, including a triple with 5.8 seconds remaining that proved to be the game-winner (NKU Athletics Photo)
Christine Roush followed with 11 points and five rebounds while Molly Glick and Molly Franson posted nine points apiece.
Ruvanna Campbell paced the UIC offense with a double-double on 18 points and 14 rebounds.
Both teams got out to a slow start as the Norse (9-4, 1-1 Horizon League) held the Flames (9-4, 0-2 Horizon League) to a five-minute scoring drought in the first quarter but struggled to find the net on their end. NKU took a narrow 9-8 advantage at the 1:27 mark.
In the second frame, NKU recovered from a five-point deficit with a 7-0 run that included triples from Uetrecht and Rianna Gayheart for an 18-16 edge with 7:26 left in the half.
With the Norse leading 21-20, the Flames triggered the eighth lead change of the game and got out to a 26-23 halftime lead.
The squads traded buckets upon returning to the floor. Uetrecht knotted the game at 30-30 on a triple to help push NKU to its game-high 39-35 lead at the end of the third quarter.
After Roush broke a 43-43 tie with a pair of free throws, UIC scored five-straight for a three-point lead with just under four minutes to play.
The squads were locked in a tie with a minute and a half on the clock before Uetrecht stepped in to finish business.
The Norse return to action when they play their first road game in over a month on Saturday, Jan. 9. NKU will tip off against Wright State at 2 p.m.
NORSE NOTES
· No team led by more than five points throughout an affair that saw 15 lead changes.
· NKU posted 12 assists on 18 field goals.
· The game was NKU’s third-straight to be decided by two points or less. The Norse improve to 2-3 in games decided by less than five points.
· NKU went 5-3 throughout the seven-game home stand. The squad improves to 7-3 at BB&T Arena.
From NKU Athletics
