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Top seed Green Bay needs overtime, last-second shot to subdue Norse in Horizon tournament


Jen Wellnitz’s putback with 0.6 seconds remaining in the second overtime sent Green Bay to the Horizon League Championship final with an 80-78 win over Northern Kentucky on Saturday afternoon.

After trailing in the final two minutes of regulation, Shar’Rae Davis drilled a triple from the right corner to tie the game at 58-58 and force the extra session. Davis finished the game with nine points, seven of them in the second half.

The Norse (19-13) were led by Kasey Uetrecht, who picked up her second career double-double, scoring 20 points, 19 coming in the fourth quarter and overtime, and grabbing 11 rebounds (NKU Athletics Photo)

The Norse (19-13) were led by Kasey Uetrecht, who picked up her second career double-double, scoring 20 points, 19 coming in the fourth quarter and overtime, and grabbing 11 rebounds (NKU Athletics Photo)

Kaili Luken’s only field goal of the game was a three-pointer with six seconds remaining in the first overtime period, tying and extending the game at 71-71.

Mehryn Kraker scored a game-high 32 points on 13-of-23 shooting to lead Green Bay (27-4). Jessica Lindstrom added 14 points and 13 rebounds, while Allie LeClare chipped in 13 points as well.

The Norse (19-13) were led by Kasey Uetrecht, who picked up her second career double-double, scoring 20 points, 19 coming in the fourth quarter and overtime, and grabbing 11 rebounds. Rianna Gayheart sank four triples and finished with 16 points and six assists, while Christine Roush added 13 points.

Defense was the name of the game in the first half, as the Norse held Green Bay to just 14 points on 20 percent shooting through intermission. Meanwhile, the Norse shot 43.5 percent in the first half and 46.2 percent on the game.

Green Bay came alive in the second half, going 8-for-12 from the field in the third quarter to put up a 21-point effort and cut the Norse advantage to just two points at 37-35. NKU expanded the lead to as many as six points with 5:31 to go, but a 10-0 Phoenix run put Green Bay back on top, 52-48, with just 2:17 to play.

The Norse knocked down three of their final four shots in regulation to force the overtime period.

While ineligible for the NCAA Tournament in the final year of transition to Division I, the Norse will await the selection announcement for other postseason tournaments, expected on Monday. Follow @NKUNorseWBB on Twitter and Like Northern Kentucky University Women’s Basketball on Facebook for up-to-the-minute information.

NORSE NOTES

— Kasey Uetrecht now has 177 rebounds on the season, ranking third on NKU’s single-season list in the Division I era.

— Christine Roush now has 1,432 points on her career, moving her past Pam King for eighth on NKU’s all-time scoring list.

— Shar’Rae Davis and Molly Franson each posted nine points games for the Norse as well, as the NKU bench outscored the Green Bay reserves 20-12.

From NKU Athletics


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