HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. - Connie Myers scored 17 of her 23 points in the second half Saturday night as the Northern Kentucky University women’s basketball team defeated Fayetteville (N.C.) State University, 82-67, in the championship game of the Community Recorder Classic in Regents Hall.
After Fayetteville State closed to within 35-33 early in the second half on a basket by Monica Mason, Myers keyed a 15-0 NKU run by scoring eight points. She powered her way for three straight inside baskets, and Nikki Perkins capped the Norse spurt with a three-pointer to give NKU a 50-33 lead.
NKU led by a many as 20 points in the second half, and the Norse (6-3) captured the Community Recorder Classic championship for the third time in four years. Perkins finished with 20 points and four assists for the Norse, who are ranked No. 21 nationally in the NCAA Division II poll.
Myers grabbed 11 rebounds for NKU, and she made 11-of-15 free throws. She also added four steals and a blocked shot.
NKU bolted out to a 22-7 lead early in the game as Jessica Brock hit a trio of three-point shots. Fayetteville State, however, used its full-court pressure to force NKU into 17 first-half turnovers and closed the margin to 35-31 at halftime.
NKU solved the full-court pressure in the second half and made 59.3 percent of its shots from the field during the final 20 minutes. Sharell Snardon scored 12 of her 14 points in the second half, and she finished with 10 rebounds to record her sixth double-double of the season.
Brock added nine points, eight rebounds, six assists and two blocked shots for NKU, and Elizabeth Burrows had seven points, five assists and five rebounds. NKU held Fayetteville State (3-4) to just 29.1 percent shooting from the field and won the rebounding battle by a 52-34 margin.
Mason led Fayetteville State with 15 points and four assists.
Myers, Snardon, Perkins and Brock were named to the All-Tournament Team, with Myers the top vote-getter.
NKU will play at Wayne (Mich.) State University at 5:30 p.m. on Dec. 29.
COMMUNITY
RECORDER CLASSIC
ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
Tiffany Providence, Kendall
Emily McCord, Missouri-Rolla
Andrea Durante, Missouri-Rolla
Jessica Brock, NKU
Monica Mason, Fayetteville State
Nicole Patterson, Fayetteville State
Nikki Perkins, NKU
Angela Perry, Fayetteville State
Sharell Snardon, NKU
Connie Myers, NKU
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Connie Myers |