Betsey Clark drives past Drury’s defense

HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. - Too many turnovers against the pressure defense of Drury spelled the end of Northern Kentucky University’s four-game winning streak Saturday afternoon.

Drury, ranked No. 2 nationally in the Division II poll, forced 30 turnovers - 22 in the first half - to knock off NKU, 56-45, in a battle of unbeaten teams in Regents Hall. It marked the first-ever meeting between the two perennial powers in women’s basketball.

Drury, considered by many as the favorite to win the NCAA Division II national championship, used its full-court pressure to build a double-digit lead in the first half and survived an NKU rally to improve to 6-0 overall, 2-0 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference.

NKU dropped to 4-1 overall, 1-1 in the GLVC.

“I think Drury is very, very, very good. Defensively, they just keep coming at you. Offensively, they just keep coming at you. We haven’t played anybody like that,” NKU head coach Nancy Winstel said. “It seemed like every time we were in a position to make a run, they would make a play, and I think that’s the mark of a great team.

“I was disappointed with us in the fact that we didn’t do some things, and we turned the ball over entirely too much. But I do think you have to give Drury credit.”

Molly Carter scored 14 points and had four steals to lead Drury, which is favored to win the GLVC West. Allison Regier added 11 points and sparked the defense with six steals.

After a pair of baskets by freshman Cassie Brannen gave NKU a 10-7 lead, Drury responded with a 17-2 run to take a 24-12 advantage. The Norse committed 11 turnovers during the Drury spurt.

Brittany Winner had seven points

Amanda Newton scored six points during the run for Drury, which took a 28-20 lead into halftime despite being outrebounded by a 20-9 margin. NKU, however, turned the ball over 22 times in the first half.

“I think that we couldn’t get into our half-court (offense), and that really hurt us,” NKU junior post player Karmen Graham said. “I don’t know how many turnovers we finished with, but we had 22 in the first half, and it’s hard to win a game when you keep throwing the ball away.”

Drury increased its lead to 38-27 with 13:29 left in the game on a layup by Kara Rutledge. NKU rallied and cut the deficit to 38-36 when Brittany Winner made a 3-pointer with 7:24 remaining.

Drury countered with a 10-2 run to build a 48-38 lead and made five free throws in the final minute to seal the win. NKU held Drury to 31.6 percent shooting from the field, but the 30 turnovers were too much to overcome.

The Norse won the rebounding battle by a 36-31 margin, but NKU made just 37.8 percent of its shots from the field, including 25 percent in the second half.

Graham scored a game-high 15 points and grabbed nine rebounds for NKU. Winner and Nicole Chiodi each added seven points for the Norse.

Newton, the preseason pick as National Player of the Year by Division II Bulletin, was held to eight points on 4-for-13 shooting from the field. Newton entered the game averaging 19.4 points, but she did not score in the second half Saturday.

“I think that (containing Newton) was one of our goals at the beginning of the game,” Graham said.

NKU will play a GLVC road game at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at Saint Joseph’s. The Norse will also meet Indianapolis on the road next Saturday at 1 p.m.

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