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HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. - The Northern Kentucky University women’s basketball team begins defense of its NCAA Division II national championship Nov. 20 when Wayne State (Mich.) visits for the inaugural regular-season game in The Bank of Kentucky Center. NKU, which captured the NCAA Division II national championship in March at Kearney, Neb., also plays host to Mercyhurst (Pa.) on Nov. 24. The Norse begin defense of their Great Lakes Valley Conference East title on Dec. 4 with a road game at Indianapolis. Before starting the regular season, NKU will play exhibition games against Cincinnati (Nov. 1) and Louisville (Nov. 8). The Norse’s Nov. 8 contest against Louisville will be played in The Bank of Kentucky Center as part of a men’s/women’s exhibition doubleheader in the first-ever basketball games in NKU’s new facility. Louisville finished with a 26-10 record last season and dropped a 78-74 decision to North Carolina in the NCAA Division I Tournament regional semifinals. The Cardinals welcome back All-America forward Angel McCoughtry, who averaged 23.8 points and 8.9 rebounds per game last season. “We start off by playing two exhibition games against Big East schools, and everyone will tell you that’s one of the best conferences in the nation,” NKU head coach Nancy Winstel said. “Our girls really enjoyed going over and playing against UC last season in the exhibition. They beat us last year, and I expect them to be very good this season.” “Louisville will be ranked in the top 25 nationally in the preseason poll,” Winstel added. “Angel McCoughtry is an All-American for Louisville, and she is going to play in the WNBA one day. She is a great player, and they return a really good team. This is a great way to prepare for the upcoming season. You find out what a team needs to work on by playing exhibition games. As a coach, it’s a chance to see what strengths and weaknesses your team has early in the season.” NKU plays at Southern Illinois at Edwardsville on Dec. 6 in a non-conference game. SIUE, a former member of the GLVC, reclassified to NCAA Division I status after last season. NKU plays host to the Travel America Classic Dec. 12-13, and the Norse face North Carolina-Pembroke in the first round. NKU meets Carson-Newman in the finale of the two-day event. Ashland will visit The Bank of Kentucky Center on Dec. 30 to meet NKU in a key regional game. The Eagles are members of the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference and posted a 19-11 record last season. Defending GLVC Tournament champion Drury plays host to NKU on Jan. 17 in Springfield, Mo.
NKU welcomes back three starters and seven letterwinners in 2008-09. The Norse feature senior post player Cassie Brannen, who averaged 13.6 points and 5.4 rebounds per game last season. Brannen also blocked 75 shots and was named the most outstanding player of the NCAA Division II Great Lakes Region Tournament. Senior guard Jessie Slack also returns to the NKU lineup after averaging 13.3 ppg and knocking down a team-leading 68 shots from 3-point range last season. Slack made 85 percent of her free throws and added 92 assists. Senior guard Danyelle Echoles (6.9 ppg) made 45 shots from 3-point range last season and is back in 2008-09. Echoles also dished out 79 assists. Senior guard/forward Karen Brackman also returns after averaging 5.1 ppg and finishing with 74 assists last season. Junior guard Rachel Lantry, sophomore point guard Diondra Holliday and sophomore post player Kendra Caldwell all return and add experience for NKU. The Norse also brought in an impressive recruiting class for 2008-09. “We lost two great leaders in Angela Healy and Nicole Chiodi, and we are going to have to find a way to replace them,” Winstel said. “I think we have some very good players returning, and they know what it takes to win big games. "And moving into The Bank of Kentucky Center is going to be a great experience for all of us. When you look up and see the new scoreboards in that building, see the seating and what a beautiful facility it is, you can’t help but get excited about playing in it.” CLICK HERE FOR 2008-09 SCHEDULE
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