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INDIANAPOLIS - Cassie Brannen is getting really good at this rejecting routine. So good, in fact, that the Northern Kentucky University sophomore blocked a school-record 12 shots Saturday night during a 58-53 win at Indianapolis. Brannen's 12 rejections easily surpassed the previous record of seven blocks, shared jointly by Kristin Polosky and Janet Brungs. The 6-foot-1 Brannen also added 12 points and seven rebounds as NKU wrapped up its 20-win season by rallying from a 28-21 halftime deficit. "I thought our energy level in the second half was day and night compared to the first half," NKU head coach Nancy Winstel said. "We opened up the second half with a big run and took the lead. We picked up our defense so much better in the second half, and we took command of the game. "Cassie Brannen did a great job of defending Amanda Norris, and Brittany Winner did a heck of a job in the second half of guarding Karla Mast. Nicole Chiodi really played well, and Karmen Graham did a great job for us and his some big shots." NKU, ranked 24th nationally in the NCAA Division II poll, used a 9-0 run to begin the second half to take a 30-28 lead. After Indianapolis battled back to regain a 36-30 lead, NKU went on a 14-4 spurt to take control of the game. Karyn Creager, who scored her 1,000th career point Saturday, capped the run with a 3-pointer that gave NKU a 44-40 lead. Creager later buried another 3-pointer to give NKU a 55-45 advantage, and the Norse held on and improved to 20-6 overall, 14-5 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference. Creager, a native of Leipsic, Ohio, became the 23rd member of NKU's 1,000-point club in the second half when she drained a 3-pointer. "Karyn made some big shots in the second half, and it was great to see her score her 1,000th point," Winstel said. "Every time Indianapolis went to a zone, we scored. We did a good job of executing the offense in the second half, and we were very aggressive." Winner scored 14 points, grabbed seven rebounds and blocked two shots for NKU, which finished with a school-record 15 blocks. The Norse held Indianapolis (16-11, 9-10 GLVC) to 27.8 percent shooting from the field in the second half. "The first time we played Indianapolis, Cassie didn't guard Norris. I started thinking she might do a good job on her, so I decided to put Cassie on her in this game," Winstel said. "I thought she might create some problems for Norris, and she did a great job with the blocks. I don't think I have ever seen a player block 12 shots in a game." NKU begins play at the GLVC Tournament Friday at 2:30 p.m. (Central time) against Missouri-Rolla. NKU is the No. 2 seed from the East Division, while Missouri-Rolla - which defeated Quincy on the road Saturday - is the No. 3 seed from the West Division. The GLVC Tournament will be held in Roberts Stadium at Evansville, Ind. The NKU/Missouri-Rolla survivor meets the Drury/Kentucky Wesleyan winner at 8:30 p.m. (Central time) Saturday in the GLVC Tournament semifinals. NKU, ranked No. 3 in the latest NCAA Division II Great Lakes Region poll, is the defending GLVC Tournament champion.
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