Karmen Graham

EVANSVILLE, Ind. - Going into Thursday, none of the current players on the Northern Kentucky University women’s basketball team had ever won a game in the Great Lakes Valley Conference Tournament.

The NKU coaching staff made sure the players knew that fact earlier in the week, so motivation was not a problem in the first round against Missouri-St. Louis in Roberts Stadium.

NKU responded with a 72-62 victory over Missouri-St. Louis, the Norse’s first win in the GLVC Tournament since the opening round of 2003. NKU improved to 24-4 overall and advanced to Saturday’s GLVC semifinal game against Quincy at 1 p.m (EST).

Four NKU players scored in double figures, led by Karmen Graham’s 20 points. Graham was 12-for-13 at the free-throw line and added two steals. The 6-foot-1 junior forward also was named first team All-GLVC on Thursday.

“I think that we were aggressive and tried to take the ball in, and I know we were fouled a lot today,” Graham said. “I think that making our free throws really helped us.”

NKU, in fact, used 27-for-37 shooting from the line to coast past Missouri-St. Louis. That helped offset a 44-27 Riverwomen advantage in rebounding.

“I don’t think we were nervous as much as (the players) didn’t want me to yell at them,” NKU head coach Nancy Winstel said jokingly. “Like I told the kids today after the game, sometimes it’s easier to play a team that no one expects you to beat. (Missouri-St. Louis) had everything to gain and nothing to lose. Their kids played so hard and were well-coached.”

NKU jumped out to a 22-9 lead in the first half of the game as Karyn Creager scored nine early points. Creager drained a pair of 3-point shots, and she also added a conventional three-point play.

NKU held the Riverwomen to just 34.6 percent shooting from the field in the first half. Graham took over in the second half and scored 16 points.

“Graham was such a warrior because not only did we need her offense, but we needed her to guard (Jennifer) Martin,” Winstel said. “Martin is a handful, but Karmen and our defense did a nice job with her.”

NKU held Martin - Missouri-St. Louis’ leading scorer - to 13 points before she fouled out.

“Karmen is always a go-to player for us, and she really works hard all of the time,” said NKU junior forward Brittany Winner, who led the Norse with eight rebounds. “She’s able to create a lot with her aggressiveness, and she just kept taking it to them. She had a couple of three-point plays for us early in the second half, and I think that really helped us turn around the game.”

Katie Butler came off the bench and scored 12 points for the Norse, who held Missouri-St. Louis (16-12) to 35.8 percent shooting from the field. Butler scored eight points in the first half as NKU built a 35-28 lead at the break.

“Katie Butler is having a great second half of the year. And defensively, she is so much better than she was earlier in the year,” Winstel said. “She’s not afraid to shoot the ball, and she is a very good player off the bench. She’s as important to our team as anyone.”

The winner of the GLVC Tournament receives an automatic berth to the NCAA Division II Tournament. The 64-team NCAA Division II Tournament field will be announced at 10 p.m. March 5.

NKU upped its lead in the all-time series with Missouri-St. Louis to 16-2.

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