Dec. 14, 1999

NKU (6-0) RANKED NO. 6 IN DIVISION II POLL

Norse to meet Kentucky State on Dec. 21

HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. - The Northern Kentucky University women’s basketball team, now 6-0 and ranked No. 6 nationally in the WBCA Division II poll, will play host to Kentucky State University at 7:30 p.m. on Dec. 21 in Regents Hall.

NKU was ranked No. 5 last week, but the Norse dropped one spot despite winning twice. St. Rose (N.Y.) is No. 1 in the latest poll, followed by No. 2 North Dakota, No. 3 North Dakota State, No. 4 Michigan Tech and No. 5 Emporia State.

The Norse captured the 16th annual Perkins/NKU Classic on Dec. 11 with a 66-49 victory against Lake Superior State University. Junior guard Heather Livingstone scored 21 points to lead the Norse in the championship game. Livingstone scored eight consecutive points - including a pair of three-point shots - during the first five minutes of the second half as NKU took control of the game.

The Norse limited LSSU to just 26.7 percent shooting from the field in the second half to capture the Perkins/NKU Classic for the second straight year.

Livingstone averages 14.0 points per game, and she leads the team in both three-pointers made (17) and three-point percentage (.548). She also ranks No. 1 on the team in assists (19) and steals (15). She was named to the Perkins/NKU Classic All-Tournament Team on Saturday.

Sophomore forward Michelle Cottrell, who was named Great Lakes Valley Conference Player of the Week on Sunday, leads the team in scoring (19.8 ppg) and rebounding (9.2 rpg). Cottrell, who was named to the Perkins/NKU Classic All-Tournament Team, also is shooting 62.7 percent from the field and has four blocked shots.

Junior guard Michele Tuchfarber averages 16.0 ppg and 4.3 rebounds. Tuchfarber, who earned Perkins Classic All-Tournament honors, has dished out 13 assists and has 12 steals. Freshman forward Amy Mobley, who pulled down 10 rebounds against Lake Superior State in the Perkins/NKU Classic title game, averages 6.5 rebounds per contest. Mobley, who had a total of 21 rebounds in the two-day Perkins/NKU Classic, also averages 5.0 ppg.

Junior center Julie Cowens averages 10.5 ppg, and she has made 64.5 percent of her shots from the field. Freshman guard/forward Bridget Flanagan is scoring 6.8 ppg, and she has connected on 8 of 17 three-point attempts. Sophomore guard Suzie Smith averages 3.8 ppg, and she ranks No. 2 on the team with 14 assists.

Freshman center Kristin Polosky averages 6.2 ppg, and she has 12 steals. Junior forward Jessica Jenson averages 4.2 ppg and 3.8 rpg.