HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. - The Northern Kentucky University women’s basketball team will open the 2005-06 season against Wilberforce (Ohio) on Nov. 16 in Regents Hall.

NKU, which finished 16-12 last season, also plays host to Northwood (Mich.) on Nov. 22. The Norse will then travel to Detroit, Mich., for a Nov. 26 game at Wayne State.

NKU begins Great Lakes Valley Conference play Dec. 1 against league newcomer Rockhurst (Mo.) at 5:30 p.m. in Regents Hall. Rockhurst, Drury and Missouri-Rolla each begin their first year as members of the GLVC in 2005-06.

Drury, which was the 2004 NCAA Division II national runner-up, will visit Regents Hall on Dec. 3. The Lady Panthers welcome back three starters and seven of their top nine players from a 29-2 team that was ranked No. 1 nationally in Division II for much of last season.

The Norse will play host to the Sunday Challenger Classic Dec. 19-20 in Regents Hall. NKU meets West Virginia Wesleyan on Dec. 19, and the Norse will face Hillsdale (Mich.) on Dec. 20 in the round robin event.

NKU plays host to Brescia on Dec. 29, and NAIA powerhouse Georgetown (Ky.) will visit Regents Hall on Jan. 24 to meet the Norse in a non-conference showdown. The Lady Tigers defeated NKU in Regents Hall last season en route to a 27-7 record.

NKU will resume GLVC play Feb. 2 with a road game at Southern Illinois at Edwardsville. The Norse face defending GLVC champion Quincy on the road Feb. 4 in the only regular-season meeting between the two teams.

The GLVC will be split into two divisions this season, with NKU competing in the East. The GLVC East division includes NKU, Bellarmine, Kentucky Wesleyan, Lewis, Wisconsin-Parkside, Indianapolis and Saint Joseph’s.

The GLVC West division will be comprised of Southern Indiana, Southern Illinois at Edwardsville, Missouri-St. Louis, Missouri-Rolla, Quincy, Rockhurst and Drury.

NKU’s final home game will be Feb. 11 against Saint Joseph’s. The Norse end the regular season with road games at Bellarmine, Kentucky Wesleyan, Wisconsin-Parkside and Lewis.

The GLVC Tournament will be held March 2-5 in Roberts Stadium at Evansville, Ind. The top three teams in each division and two wild cards will qualify for the eight-team event.

NKU, which had its six-year streak of advancing to the NCAA Division II Tournament snapped last season, returns three starters in 2005-06. NKU will feature junior center Karmen Graham, who averaged 11.2 points per game last season. Graham also shot 46.8 percent from the field and 80 percent from the free-throw line.

The Norse also welcome back junior guard Karyn Creager, who averaged 9.7 ppg and shot 88.5 percent from the free-throw line. Also returning to the NKU lineup is junior forward Brittany Winner, who averaged 6.8 ppg and 3.6 rebounds.

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