Dec. 17, 2001

NKU TO HOST RECORDER CLASSIC

Cottrell goes for NKU career scoring record this week

HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. - The Northern Kentucky University women’s basketball team, which is unbeaten (7-0) and ranked No. 1 nationally in the NCAA Division II poll, will host the second annual Community Recorder Classic this Thursday and Friday (Dec. 20-21) in Regents Hall. In the opening game of the tournament at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, perennial NCAA Division II power Delta State University (3-2) will meet Florida Southern College (6-2). NKU will play the University of Alabama-Huntsville (5-3) at 7:45 p.m. The consolation game is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Friday, followed by the championship at 7:45 p.m. COTTRELL COULD BREAK RECORD THIS WEEK: NKU senior forward Michelle Cottrell, a graduate of Boone County High School, needs just 33 points to become the Norse’s all-time career scoring leader. Cottrell enters the Community Recorder Classic with 1,851 career points and is averaging 20.1 points per game. If she maintains her average, Cottrell should break the NKU all-time record of 1,883 points (set by Peggy Vincent) in Friday’s championship game. 41ST DOUBLE-DOUBLE FOR COTTRELL: Michelle Cottrell picked up her 41st career double-double on Dec. 8 with 19 points and 18 rebounds against Southern Indiana. Cottrell also earned GLVC Player of the Week for the third time this season after averaging 19.5 points, 16.0 rebounds and shooting 60 percent from the field. HOME STREAK CONTINUES: NKU has won 30 consecutive home games - the nation’s longest home win streak in the NCAA Division II ranks - entering the Community Recorder Classic. The Norse have not lost at home since Jan. 8, 2000, when Bellarmine posted a 76-72 win against NKU in Regents Hall. WINSTEL NEARS 400 VICTORIES: NKU head coach Nancy Winstel now has 394 career wins with the Norse. She is looking to become the first basketball coach in NKU history to reach 400 victories. FLANAGAN HAS CAREER GAME: NKU’s Bridget Flanagan scored a career-high 25 points on Dec. 8 as the Norse defeated Southern Indiana, 81-71, in Regents Hall. Flanagan, a graduate of Mercy High School in Cincinnati, made seven three-pointers to lead the Norse past Southern Indiana. She enters the Community Recorder Classic averaging 15.9 points per game, which ranks No. 7 in the GLVC. Flanagan is No. 4 in the GLVC in three-point shooting percentage (.489). WHERE THEY RANK IN THE GLVC: NKU’s Michelle Cottrell ranks No. 1 in the GLVC in rebounding (12.0 rpg), No. 2 in both scoring (20.1 ppg) and field goal percentage (.699). As a team, NKU is No. 1 in both field goal percentage (.509) and scoring margin (+16.4 ppg). ABOUT ALABAMA-HUNTSVILLE: The Lady Chargers are 5-3 after suffering a 74-65 loss at Kentucky Wesleyan College last Friday at Owensboro, Ky. Alabama-Huntsville is a member of the Gulf South Conference. The Lady Chargers feature senior guard Kim Young, who averages 21.1 ppg. Young has also made 19 of 59 three-point attempts. She is the only player on the Alabama-Huntsville roster scoring in double figures. Junior guard LaKendra Hogg is No. 2 on the team in scoring at 8.0 ppg. ABOUT DELTA STATE: The Lady Statesmen, who advanced to the NCAA Division II Elite Eight a year ago, are 3-2 entering the tournament. Delta State is led by junior center Katrina King, who averages 14.6 ppg and 7.0 rebounds per contest. ABOUT FLORIDA SOUTHERN: The Lady Moccasins are 6-2 after posting a 70-65 win over Northwood (Mich.) University on Sunday. FSC is led by freshman center Lucresia West, who averages 23.9 ppg and 11.0 rebounds per game. A YEAR AGO IN THE COMMUNITY RECORDER CLASSIC: Michelle Cottrell scored 26 points as NKU defeated Christian Brothers (Tenn.) University, 84-51, in the championship game of the inaugural Community Recorder Classic in Regents Hall. NKU built a 44-24 halftime lead by shooting 53.3 percent from the field. Heather Livingstone (14 points, six assists), Michele Tuchfarber (13 points, three steals) and Amy Mobley (six points, three assists, two blocked shots) joined Cottrell on the All-Tournament Team from NKU.