Jan. 1, 2001

NKU PLAYS HOST TO SIUE ON THURSDAY

No. 1 Norse (9-0) attempt to extend win streak to 34

HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. - The Northern Kentucky University women’s basketball team is 9-0 after defeating Ferris State University, 89-72, last Saturday in Regents Hall. The Norse, the defending NCAA Division II national champions, are ranked No. 1 nationally in the Division II poll. NKU will play host to Great Lakes Valley Conference rival Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville at 5:30 p.m. Thursday. The Norse will also travel to Evansville, Ind., Saturday night at 6:15 p.m. to meet unbeaten University of Southern Indiana (9-0, 3-0 GLVC). NKU enters Thursday’s contest against SIUE with a 33-game winning streak, which is the longest in the nation. The Norse have not lost since Jan. 8, 2000, when Bellarmine posted a 76-72 win against NKU in Regents Hall. The all-time record for consecutive victories in Division II women’s basketball is held by North Dakota State University, which won 49 straight games during a two-year span (1993-94 and 1994-95 seasons). If NKU goes unbeaten in the regular season, the Norse will break the consecutive victory record on Feb. 24 against Quincy University in Regents Hall. UNHAPPY NEW YEAR: For the past two seasons, NKU has started off the new year with losses. Two seasons ago, Missouri-St. Louis stunned NKU in Regents Hall, 76-67, in the first game after the New Year’s break. Last season on Jan. 8, Bellarmine rallied from a 19-point deficit in the first half to knock off NKU in Regents Hall, 76-72, also the first game after the New Year’s break. Since that loss to Bellarmine, NKU has won 33 straight games. GLVC TOUGH: NKU has gone 48-3 in its last 51 games against GLVC opponents. The only GLVC teams to beat NKU during the past three years are SIUE, Missouri-St. Louis and Bellarmine. The loss to SIUE was at the Vadalabene Center two years ago by a 62-61 score. NKU lost to both Missouri-St. Louis (two years ago) and Bellarmine (last season) in Regents Hall. NKU’s road record against GLVC opponents during the last two seasons is 20-1, and the Norse have won 19 straight GLVC road games going into Saturday’s contest against Southern Indiana. MOVING UP THE LIST: NKU junior forward Michelle Cottrell now ranks No. 7 on the Norse’s all-time scoring list with 1,370 career points. Cottrell needs just 24 points to pass Melissa Wood (1,393 points) and move into sixth place on the all-time list. Cottrell is NKU’s all-time leader in free throws made with 376, and she is No. 1 all-time in field goal percentage (59.5 percent). She also ranks No. 9 in career rebounds (689) at NKU. NKU senior guard Michele Tuchfarber enters Thursday’s game against SIUE with 1,335 career points, which ranks No. 8 on the Norse’s all-time scoring list. Tuchfarber is NKU’s all-time career leader in three-pointers made with 138. FOR THE RECORD: The best start by an NKU women’s basketball team came during the 1987-88 season, when the Norse began the campaign with 18 consecutive wins. ABOUT SIUE: The Cougars are 5-3 overall, 1-2 in the GLVC. SIUE has won two straight games going into Thursday’s contest against NKU. SIUE is led by senior guard Misi Clark, who averages 19.9 ppg and 6.8 rebounds. Clark, who was named GLVC Player of the Week this past Monday, is shooting 44.5 percent from the field and also has a team-leading 31 assists. Senior center Sarah Cook averages 10.2 ppg and 4.9 rebounds for the Cougars. THE LAST TIME AGAINST SIUE: On Feb. 24, 2000, at Edwardsville, Ill., Michelle Cottrell scored 16 points and grabbed 11 rebounds as NKU defeated SIUE, 63-58, at the Vadalabene Center. Amy Mobley added 12 points for NKU. In the first meeting of last season in Regents Hall, NKU escaped with a 59-56 win. SIUE’s Misi Clark was fouled while attempting a potential game-tying three-pointer at the buzzer. Clark, however, missed all three free throws that could have tied the game after time expired. Cottrell led NKU with 16 points and 15 rebounds. BATTLE OF THE UNBEATEN ON SATURDAY: NKU and Southern Indiana will meet Saturday at 6:15 p.m. in Evansville, Ind., and the game could feature two unbeaten teams. Southern Indiana (9-0, 3-0 GLVC) will play a road game at the University of Indianapolis on Thursday, while NKU plays host to SIUE. NKU defeated USI twice last season, and the Norse own five consecutive victories against the Lady Eagles.