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HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. - During the past four days, the Northern Kentucky University women’s basketball team has beaten two of the nation’s best NAIA programs. And the latest NKU victory, Saturday’s 75-63 conquest of previously unbeaten Ohio Dominican, should make the upcoming exam week more pleasant for the Norse players and coaches. NKU (5-1) certainly passed a tough test in Regents Hall on Saturday against Ohio Dominican (9-1), which entered the game ranked No. 9 in the NAIA Division II national poll. The Norse effectively shot the ball from long range and displayed why they are ranked 17th nationally in the NCAA Division II poll. Four days earlier, NKU posted a 72-58 win over NAIA Division I foe Georgetown (Ky.), which was ranked No. 19 nationally. “Ohio Dominican is a very good team. They were unbeaten going into this game, and they have some very talented players,” NKU head coach Nancy Winstel said. “I felt we started out a little slow, and then we started executing really well.” Jessie Slack netted 14 of her 17 points in the first half to lead NKU. The junior guard hit a pair of jumpers early in the game to help the Norse build an 8-2 lead. She later buried a pair of 3-pointers as NKU jumped out to a 38-22 advantage with 5:17 left in the half. “We had a 16-point lead, and we were doing some things really well,” Winstel said. “Then we stopped executing, and the game became a little closer.” Danyelle Echoles and Rachel Lantry both drained a pair of 3-pointers in the first half as NKU settled for a 40-32 lead at the break. Lantry finished with a career-high 11 points and added three assists, while Echoles also scored 11 points and grabbed four rebounds. “I thought Danyelle Echoles and Rachel Lantry did a great job, and that’s good for them because they work very hard in doing everything they can to help out,” Winstel said. “I also thought Jessie Slack played very well in spots and hit some big shots.” NKU led by as many as 17 points in the second half and held Ohio Dominican to just 39.3 percent shooting from the field. The Norse finished 9-for-18 from 3-point range and battled the Panthers to a 35-all draw in the rebounding department. Cassie Brannen added 14 points and two blocked shots for NKU. Angela Healy scored 10 points and grabbed 10 rebounds for her third double-double of the season. Healy now has 852 career points, and the senior center from Highlands High School is looking to become the 24th player in Norse women’s basketball history to join the 1,000-point club. Nicole Chiodi was the sixth Norse in double figures with 10 points, and the senior guard dished out a team-leading four assists. Krissy Haines led Ohio Dominican with 22 points and 10 rebounds. “I believe we have the talent to be pretty good, but we sure haven’t put it together yet, and we are still trying,” Winstel said. NKU will next be in action Dec. 17 in the Travel America Classic in Regents Hall. The Norse meet Fayetteville State at 7:30 p.m. that evening. NKU will also play St. Andrews (N.C.) on Dec. 18 to conclude that two-day event.
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