NKU’s Angela Healy

HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. - The Northern Kentucky University women’s basketball team will play host to the Sunday Challenger Classic Dec. 19-20 in Regents Hall.

Virginia Union will meet Hillsdale (Mich.) in the opening game at 5:30 p.m. Dec. 19. NKU plays West Virginia Wesleyan at 7:30 p.m.

On Dec. 20, Virginia Union faces West Virginia Wesleyan at 5:30 p.m., followed by the NKU/Hillsdale contest at 7:30 p.m. This year’s Sunday Challenger Classic features predetermined opponents in a round-robin format for the first time.

Virginia Union is currently 2-4, and Hillsdale owns an 8-1 record. Hillsdale will also play a road game at Indianapolis before participating in the Sunday Challenger Classic.

West Virginia Wesleyan is currently 1-5, while NKU is 5-2.

NORSE TOUGH IN CLUTCH AT INDY: Karmen Graham scored 16 points, including a key basket in the final minute of the game, as NKU posted a 58-56 win at Indianapolis on Dec. 10.

Graham also grabbed a game-high 10 rebounds as NKU improved to 2-2 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference. Brittany Winner added 14 points and four assists for the Norse, who limited Indianapolis to 9-for-24 shooting (37.5 percent) from the field in the second half.

Graham’s basket with 34 seconds remaining gave NKU a 56-52 lead. Indianapolis fouled Karyn Creager with 21 seconds remaining, and she made one of two free throws to extend the Norse advantage to 57-54. Mandy Geryak’s layup with nine seconds remaining cut the NKU lead to 57-56, and Indianapolis fouled Betsey Clark with 6.4 seconds left on the clock.

Clark missed the first free throw, but she converted the second attempt to give NKU a 58-56 lead. Indianapolis had an opportunity to send the game into overtime, but Geryak’s jumper missed at the buzzer.

REJECTION SPECIALISTS: NKU leads the GLVC in blocked shots at 5.71 bpg. Angela Healy is fifth in the GLVC with 1.43 bpg, and Cassie Brannen is seventh at 1.14 bpg. Katie Butler is 12th at 0.86 bpg.

NO EASY BASKETS: NKU ranks No. 1 in the GLVC in scoring defense at 51.7 ppg. The Norse rank No. 2 as a team in field-goal percentage defense at .342.

LAST YEAR’S SUNDAY CHALLENGER CLASSIC: On Dec. 21, 2004, NKU rallied from a 21-5 deficit to post a 67-61 win over Fort Valley State in the consolation game of the Sunday Challenger Classic.

Connie Myers scored 19 of her 22 points in the second half, including an inside basket that made her the 21st player in Norse women’s basketball history to join the 1,000-point club. The senior forward dominated the post in the second half and finished the game 7-for-14 from the field and 8-for-12 at the line.

Karmen Graham, who kept NKU close in the first half with 11 points, finished with 23 points and 10 rebounds. Graham was 7-for-10 from the floor, and she was 8-for-9 from the line.

In the first round, NKU dropped a 74-65 decision to Shaw (N.C.). Shaw won the Sunday Challenger Classic by defeating Glenville State in the championship game, 64-48.

Sunday Challenger Classic

Mon., Dec. 19
Highland Heights, Ky. - Regents Hall (1,685)
Virginia Union (2-4) vs. Hillsdale (8-1), 5:30 p.m.
West Virginia Wesleyan (1-5) vs. NKU (5-2), 7:30 p.m.
NKU/WVWC Series Record: First meeting

Tues., Dec. 20
Virginia Union vs. West Virginia Wesleyan, 5:30 p.m.
Hillsdale vs. NKU, 7:30 p.m.
NKU/Hillsdale Series Record: NKU leads, 1-0
Last Meeting: NKU 82, HC 80 2 overtimes (12-2-95)