LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Audrey Cannon scored 22 points Saturday and made a pair of clutch baskets late in the game as the Bellarmine University women’s basketball team rallied to defeat Northern Kentucky University, 71-65, in Knights Hall.
NKU built a 48-43 lead with 13:33 remaining when Connie Myers converted two free throws. Bellarmine, however, used a 6-0 run to take a 49-48 advantage with 10:07 left in the game.
After Jessica Brock gave NKU a 54-53 lead with a follow-up shot, Nickie Randall hit a 10-foot jumper to put Bellarmine up for good at 55-54. With less than four minutes left, Cannon made consecutive baskets to extend the Knights advantage to 61-56.
Kristin Polosky made a pair of free throws to cut the Bellarmine lead to 61-60 with 1:56 left in the game, but Cannon and Randall each converted two free throws to stretch the advantage back to 65-60.
NKU closed to within 66-63 on a three-pointer by Elizabeth Burrows with 22 seconds remaining, but the Knights sealed the victory by making four free throws in the closing seconds.
Myers scored 18 points and grabbed seven rebounds to lead NKU, which dropped to 4-2 overall, 3-1 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference. Bridget Flanagan added 13 points, and Amy Mobley finished with 12 points and five assists.
Randall added 16 points and nine assists for Bellarmine, which improved to 5-0 overall. The Knights are 3-0 in the GLVC.
The Norse will take next week off for exams and return to action on Dec. 20, when NKU will play host to the third annual Community Recorder Classic in Regents Hall. NKU will face Concordia (N.Y.) College at 7:30 p.m. on Dec. 20.
Northwood (Mich.) University will play Carson-Newman College in the other first-round game at 5:30 p.m. on Dec. 20. The consolation and championship games will be played Dec. 21.
Connie Myers