HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. - The Northern Kentucky University women’s basketball team is 8-3 overall after posting an 80-65 win at Saint Joseph’s College last Saturday. The Norse improved to 4-2 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference and are in third place in the league standings.
NKU will play host to Lewis University at 5:30 p.m. Thursday in Regents Hall, and the Norse will meet Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville at 1 p.m. Saturday in Regents Hall.
NKU split its two-game road trip last week, as the Norse also dropped a 69-50 decision at the University of Indianapolis on Thursday. Prior to last Thursday, NKU owned a 14-game winning streak against Indianapolis.
In the win at Saint Joseph’s on Saturday, Amy Mobley scored 19 points and grabbed 15 rebounds to lead the Norse. Mobley, a senior forward and a graduate of Harrison (Ohio) High School, also added five assists, four blocked shots and two steals.
Bridget Flanagan and Kristin Polosky each added 15 points for NKU, which beat Saint Joseph’s for the 18th consecutive time.
NKU has not lost to Saint Joseph’s since the 1993-94 season, when the Pumas posted a 72-67 victory against the Norse at Rensselaer, Ind.
NKU shot 52.2 percent from the field during the first half to build a 32-26 lead at intermission. The Norse held Saint Joseph’s to 32.3 percent shooting from the field before halftime, and the Pumas made just 3 of 12 from three-point range in the first half.
Jessica Brock added 11 points off the bench for NKU, which won the rebounding battle by a 40-37 margin.
FLANAGAN NEARS 1,000 POINTS: NKU senior guard Bridget Flanagan enters Thursday with 969 career points. Flanagan, who averages 12.5 ppg, is trying to become the second NKU player to enter the 1,000-point club this season.
On Dec. 30, teammate Amy Mobley scored her 1,000th career point during a victory against Wayne (Mich.) State University.
MYERS KEEPS ROLLING: NKU sophomore post player Connie Myers extended her streak of games scoring in double figures to eight on Saturday with 14 points against Saint Joseph’s. Myers, who averages a team-leading 15.7 points per game, is shooting 61.3 percent from the field.
ABOUT LEWIS: The Flyers are 7-6 overall, 3-3 in the GLVC. Lewis is currently in sixth place in the GLVC standings.
Junior forward Bryanne Callahan averages 14.2 ppg and 7.8 rpg to lead Lewis. Callahan is also shooting 81.1 percent from the free throw line. Senior forward Faith Smith is scoring 11.9 ppg, and senior guard Kari Wong averages 10.4 ppg.
THE LAST TIME AGAINST LEWIS: On Feb. 2, 2002, Bridget Flanagan scored 19 points as NKU defeated Lewis, 70-54, in Regents Hall. Kristin Polosky added 17 points and six rebounds for NKU, which built a 40-20 halftime lead by holding Lewis to just 26.9 percent shooting from the field. NKU forced the Flyers into 25 turnovers and coasted to the win.
Amy Mobley added 16 points and four assists for NKU, which is 31-3 all-time against Lewis. The Norse own a 16-1 record against the Flyers in Regents Hall and have defeated Lewis eight consecutive times dating back to the 1997-98 season.
In their first meeting of last season at Romeoville, Ill., Michelle Cottrell scored 20 points and grabbed 11 rebounds as NKU defeated Lewis, 74-43, at the Neil Carey Arena.
NKU held a 26-20 halftime lead, and the Norse used a 14-2 run to begin the second half to break open a close game. Flanagan scored eight of her 16 points and made two three-point shots to key the NKU spurt.
NKU shot 59.3 percent from the field in the second half, and the Norse finished with a 36-27 rebound advantage. Emily Phillips came off the bench and added eight points for NKU.
ABOUT SIUE: The Cougars, who will play at Bellarmine University on Thursday, own a 6-5 overall record. SIUE is led by senior forward Ruth Kipping, who averages 21.9 ppg and 8.1 rebounds per contest. Kipping is also shooting 57.4 percent from the field.
THE LAST TIME AGAINST SIUE: On Jan. 31, 2002, Kristin Polosky scored a career-high 23 points as NKU defeated SIUE, 67-60, in Regents Hall. Amy Mobley added 16 points and eight rebounds for the Norse, and Suzie Smith scored 12 points.
NKU now owns seven consecutive wins against SIUE and leads the all-time series, 13-6. SIUE’s last win against NKU came on Dec. 5, 1998, when the Cougars pulled out a 62-61 victory at Edwardsville, Ill.
Bridget Flanagan