Cassie Brannen attempts a jumper

HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. - As a result of the Great Lakes Valley Conference’s expansion to 14 schools, basketball was split into divisional play this season.

Northern Kentucky University and Lewis, two of the top women’s basketball programs in the league, both ended up in the GLVC East as part of a seven-team divisional alignment. That makes each game between the two schools even more meaningful, especially if first place in the GLVC East is at stake.

That is exactly what was on the line Thursday night when Lewis visited Regents Hall. The Flyers entered the game in sole possession of first place in the GLVC East with a 6-1 conference record, one-half game ahead of NKU.

But after posting a 62-51 victory over Lewis, NKU is now alone in first place in the GLVC East with a 7-2 mark. The Norse (13-3 overall) have also won seven consecutive games at a most opportune time.

“We just beat a good team at home, and it was something that we needed to show that we could do because we’ve been getting better,” NKU head coach Nancy Winstel said. “Our kids played well. I thought in the first half, in some ways, we were unstoppable. Then, once again, we stopped executing.”

Karmen Graham and Angela Healy each scored 12 points to lead NKU, which held its opponent under 60 points for the 16th consecutive game. The Norse limited Lewis (10-6 overall, 6-2 GLVC) to 36.7 percent shooting from the field and finished with a 37-30 edge in rebounding.

NKU built a 15-point lead in the first half behind the play of Graham, Cassie Brannen and Betsey Clark. Brannen came off the bench to score six points and haul in six rebounds before halftime. Clark added five points in a reserve role in the first half.

Karmen Graham looks for an opening

“There was a time there that I thought we were going to take it to them,” Winstel said of the 15-point lead. “I don’t know if we just got tired, but it’s hard to keep that intensity for an entire game. We knew that they were going to come running back.”

Graham - who extended her streak of scoring in double figures to 10 consecutive games - hit a basket with 2:17 left before the half to give NKU a 37-22 lead. Lewis scored the final three points of the half to trail 37-25 at the break.

Lewis chipped away at the Norse lead in the second half and pulled within four points (53-49) with 1:52 left on a basket by Darcee Schmidt. NKU, however, sealed the victory by sinking nine of its final 10 attempts from the free-throw line.

The Norse were 15-for-20 from the line in the second half and won despite making just five field goals during the final 20 minutes.

“I think in the first half we played really well,” said Graham, who entered the game as the GLVC’s leading scorer at 16.1 points per game. “We had some ups and downs in the second half, but we were able to pull away and win.”

Brannen finished with eight points, nine rebounds and two blocked shots for NKU, while teammate Brittany Winner added nine points. Karyn Creager scored eight points, grabbed five rebounds and dished out a team-leading four assists.

NKU committed just 11 turnovers the entire game, and taking care of the basketball meant a great deal against the defensive pressure of Lewis.

“When you’re able to do that against a team that defends…that’s a major step in the right direction,” Winstel said of finishing with 11 turnovers. “We have to be thrilled about that because it’s the first time that we’ve ever come anywhere near that total. That’s focus and taking care of the ball.”

Schmidt led Lewis with 19 points, and Mary Moskal added 15 points. Moskal grabbed a game-high 10 rebounds for Lewis. The Flyers entered the game ranked third in the latest NCAA Division II Great Lakes Region poll, while NKU was fifth.

NKU now leads the all-time series with Lewis, 36-5. The two teams split last season, with each winning at home.

The Norse will play host to Wisconsin-Parkside at 1 p.m. Saturday in Regents Hall.

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