---Karen Brackman attempts a shot during NKU’s 79-54 win over Saint Joseph’s on Saturday. Brackman finished with eight points, three steals and two assists as NKU won its sixth straight game.

By Mike Anderson, NKU Sports Information

HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. - When Cassie Brannen excels, her team does as well. That was the case again Saturday night when Northern Kentucky University asserted its defensive supremacy en route to a 79-54 rout over Saint Joseph's in Regents Hall.

Brannen, a sophomore from Cincinnati, proved to be the difference-maker for the Norse. She scored 17 points, shooting 7-of-7 from the field and 3-for-3 at the free-throw line. Brannen also grabbed seven rebounds to lead NKU, which extended its winning streak to six and improved to 13-5 overall, 7-4 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference.

The Norse are 5-0 on this season when Brannen scores in double figures. That statistic took NKU head coach Nancy Winstel by surprise.

“I wasn't aware of it, but I do believe it because she's so important to everything we do,” Winstel of the Mount Notre Dame High School graduate. “I think Cassie is one of the best kept secrets in the GLVC. “If you look at the games in which we've had big wins, Cassie has had a big game.”

Angela Healy added 14 points, five rebounds and four assists, while Katie Butler came off the bench and added 10 points and had three of NKU's 11 blocked shots. The Norse received 37 points from their bench and ran away from the visitors in front of a loud Homecoming crowd in Regents Hall.

“It's good to get everyone in,” said Brannen of her teammates. “These girls work really hard in practice, and it just goes to show how strong this team is.”

Winstel also praised her reserves for their performance Saturday night. But she also said their contributions to the success of the program is never seen by the fans.

“Our subs help us every day, they make us better. Today was a chance for me to say thanks to them and give them some quality playing time,” Winstel said. "They don’t get their names in the paper very often. They don’t get a whole lot of pats on the back. They want to play and they work every day.

"I thought they all took advantage of it, especially Betsey (Clark) and Keri (Finnell). Betsey has been working really hard in practice, and so has Keri."

---Cassie Brannen goes up for two of her 17 points Saturday. Brannen finished 7-for-7 from the field and also added seven rebounds.

By the end of the game, every Norse player had registered at least 10 minutes on the floor. NKU's defense was punishing in the first half, holding Saint Joseph's to just 20.8 percent shooting. The Norse shot 65.4 percent from the field and made both of their attempts from 3-point range.

Finnell scored a career-high nine points, while Karen Brackman finished with eight points and had three steals. The NKU bench took over just before the halftime break, as Finnell scored the final seven points of the first half.

Things stayed close in the game's first four minutes, but the Norse blew it wide open with a 38-8 run to lead by 30 (42-12) at intermission. Saint Joseph’s attempted to press NKU, but it did little to stop the Norse in the first half.

Breaking the press is nothing new for Winstel's squad. “I don't think teams are pressing us because of our game, but because of the way they play. Saint Joseph’s press wasn't really a trapping press, but they don't press a lot.”

The Norse shot 65.4 percent from the field during the first half and held Saint Joseph’s to 20.8 percent shooting. The 12 points allowed in the first half was a low-water mark for NKU, which is now 10-0 when holding opposing teams to their defensive average of 59.3 points or less.

Saint Joseph's (4-14, 1-9 GLVC) sliced the NKU lead to 21 points in the second half but never really threatened. Allison Hughes scored 15 of her team-high 18 after the break, and was the only Puma in double figures.

NKU will have to be ready for the press once again when they travel to Springfield, Mo., Thursday night to take on Drury in a rematch of last season's GLVC Tournament championship game.

“Drury is a pressing team and a running team,” said Winstel as she looked ahead to next week. “They're probably throwing in that tape from Evansville from last year, so I'm sure that Nyla (Milleson) is fired up to play us.”

Brannen added: “Drury probably will press us, but we'll be working on it in practice this week. I think we'll be ready for it.”

NKU will also travel to Rockhurst next Saturday before returning home for four games. The Norse are ranked sixth in the NCAA Division II Great Lakes Region poll.

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