Dec. 19, 2000

NKU TO HOST NAIA POWER SAINT FRANCIS

Norse look to extend nation’s longest win streak to 32

HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. - The Northern Kentucky University women’s basketball team is 7-0 after posting a 66-44 win over the University of Indianapolis on Dec. 5 in Regents Hall. The Norse, the defending NCAA Division II national champions, are ranked No. 1 nationally in the Division II poll. NKU will play host to the University of Saint Francis (Ind.) Wednesday night (Dec. 20) at 7 p.m. in Regents Hall. Saint Francis (12-1) is ranked No. 1 nationally in the NAIA II poll. NKU and Saint Francis have never met in women’s basketball. NKU is led by junior forward Michelle Cottrell, who averages 20.0 points per game and 7.6 rebounds per contest. Cottrell is also shooting 67.7 percent from the field and 85.2 percent from the free throw line. Cottrell enters Wednesday’s game with 1,327 career points, which ranks No. 8 in Norse women’s basketball history. Cottrell needs just 13 points to move into seventh place on the NKU all-time scoring list. Christie Freppon currently is No. 7 on the list with 1,339 career points. Senior guard Heather Livingstone averages 13.9 ppg and has made 45 percent (9 of 20) of her three-point attempts. Senior guard Michele Tuchfarber averages 11.1 ppg and leads NKU in three-point shooting (11 of 22, 50 percent). Tuchfarber enters tonight’s game with 1,305 career points, which ranks No. 10 on the NKU all-time scoring list. THE STREAK CONTINUES: NKU has now won 31 consecutive games dating back to last season. The Norse have not lost since Jan. 8, 2000, when Bellarmine posted a 76-72 win against NKU in Regents Hall. The 31-game winning streak is the longest in the nation. WIDE MARGINS: NKU currently is beating its opponents by an average of 27.3 points per game. NKU averages 82.4 points and is limiting the opposition to just 55.1 ppg. The Norse are also holding the opponents to just 37 percent shooting from the field. GLVC RANKINGS: NKU’s Michelle Cottrell ranks No. 3 in the GLVC in scoring (20.0 ppg), No. 5 in rebounding (7.6 rpg) and No. 3 in field goal percentage (67.7 percent). Heather Livingstone ranks No. 3 in assists per game (5.0 apg) and No. 5 in free throw percentage (91.4 percent). Michele Tuchfarber is No. 8 in three-point percentage (50 percent) and No. 4 in steals (2.71 spg). As a team, NKU ranks No. 1 in free throw percentage (77.3 percent), No. 2 in field goal percentage defense (37 percent), and No. 1 in scoring defense (55.1 ppg). The Norse are also No. 2 in three-point shooting percentage (42.4 percent). ABOUT SAINT FRANCIS: The Cougars are members of the NAIA II, and last season they posted a 32-2 record en route to the NAIA II Final Four. Saint Francis is currently 12-1 and ranked No. 1 in the NAIA II national poll. The Cougars will play at Spalding on Tuesday night before visiting NKU on Wednesday. Amy Parrett averages 12.7 ppg and leads the Cougars in scoring. Megan Eckert is scoring 12.6 ppg for Saint Francis, and Jennie Thomas averages 12.2 ppg. Thomas also leads the team in rebounding at 5.0 rpg.