Cassie Brannen draws a foul

HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. - Cassie Brannen picked a great time to record her first double-double as a college basketball player, and Northern Kentucky University is still unbeaten thanks in large part to the freshman’s performance Thursday night.

Brannen scored 14 points, grabbed 13 rebounds and finished with four steals off the bench as NKU rallied to defeat visiting Rockhurst, 70-57, in the Great Lakes Valley Conference opener for both teams. The freshman post player from Mount Notre Dame High School in Cincinnati scored nine points in the second half to rally the Norse from a 29-28 halftime deficit.

“(Brannen) averaged eight or 10 points in high school, but I think she’s capable of averaging 12 or 15,” NKU head coach Nancy Winstel said. “Before it’s all said and done, I think that kid is going to be a real star for us. Tonight, we really needed her.”

NKU (4-0 overall, 1-0 GLVC) used a 15-4 run midway through the second half to turn a 45-42 deficit into a 57-49 lead on an Angela Healy jumper with 8:08 remaining in the game. The Norse drained a trio of 3-point shots during the spurt, including a trey from Betsey Clark at the 9:01 mark to give NKU a 55-49 lead.

Clark, a junior from McNicholas High School, also hit a 3-pointer in the first half and finished with six points.

Brannen, however, kept NKU in the game until the decisive run. She grabbed six offensive rebounds and continually drew fouls from the Rockhurst inside defenders with her aggressive play in the post.

Brannen finished 8-for-12 from the free-throw line, but she made five of her six charity tosses in the second half.

“She’s so athletic, and she’s long and she’s quick,” Winstel said of Brannen. “She just makes things happen. I think her and Nicole Chiodi really kept us in the game tonight.”

Katie Butler maneuvers in the post

Chiodi scored 10 points and dished out a game-high six assists for NKU, which shot 41.1 percent from the field. Healy finished with 12 points and three assists.

Brittany Winner scored 12 points and grabbed seven rebounds. Winner also connected on a pair of 3-pointers to key NKU’s second-half rally.

Katie Butler added seven points and eight rebounds in her first start for the Norse, who played without forward Karmen Graham. NKU built an early 10-point lead (20-10), but Rockhurst countered with a 14-3 run to take a 24-23 advantage with 3:02 left in the first half on a jumper by Julie Cook.

Rockhurst, making its debut as a GLVC member this season and playing a league game for the first time Thursday, dropped to 2-3 overall, 0-1 GLVC. Cook and Maegan Pulse each scored 12 points to lead the Hawks, who shot 40.4 percent from the field.

Cook and Alisha Cade each grabbed 11 rebounds for Rockhurst, which won the rebounding battle by a 40-36 margin.

“You have to give Rockhurst all the credit in the world, and they are going to battle,” Winstel said. “I’d rather play not so great and win than play great and lose. We’ll get better.”

NKU will meet national powerhouse Drury at 1 p.m. Saturday in Regents Hall. During the past two seasons, Drury has the nation’s best overall record at 65-4, and the Lady Panthers posted a 29-2 mark last year.

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