RENSSELAER, Ind. - Karyn Creager scored a career-high 18 points and hit a key jumper with 51 seconds remaining Thursday night as Northern Kentucky University posted a 70-67 win over Saint Joseph's College in the Richard F. Scharf Alumni Fieldhouse.
After Saint Joseph's took a 66-65 lead on two free throws by Heather Allen, Creager hit a runner in the lane to give the Norse a 67-66 lead.
“About two to three weeks ago, we decided to start Karyn (Creager) and Karmen (Graham) to let them grow up on the court,” said NKU head coach Nancy Winstel. “It really paid off today because (Creager) was hitting from everywhere.”
Jessica Brock sealed the victory by hitting two free throws with 10.4 seconds remaining in the game to put the Norse ahead 70-67. Heather Allen's desperation three-pointer at the buzzer hit the side of the rim as NKU pulled out the victory.
The Norse led by as many as 18 points in the first half and entered the break with a 39-25 advantage. Creager scored 14 of her 18 points in the first half by hitting all four of her three-point attempts.
“We played really well in the first half and I think kind of surprised them,” said Winstel.
Allen scored a game-high 20 points to lead the Puma's back in the second half. She also added 11 rebounds as the Puma's fell to 6-17 overall, 3-14 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference.
Brock added 10 points and six rebounds for the Norse (16-7 overall, 11-6 GLVC). She also hit all four of her free throw attempts. Karmen Graham added 10 points, seven rebounds and three blocks for NKU.
“It wasn't pretty, but the win keeps us alive,” said Winstel.
NKU has now defeated Saint Joseph's 21 consecutive times. NKU has not lost to Saint Joseph's since the 1993-94 season, when the Pumas posted a 72-67 victory against the Norse at Rensselaer, Ind.
NKU will conclude the two-game GLVC road trip with a 5:30 p.m. contest at Indianapolis on Saturday.
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Karyn Creager |