Feb. 25, 2002

NKU TO MEET SJC ON WEDNESDAY

Top-seeded Norse (21-5) meet Pumas in GLVC Tournament

HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. - The Northern Kentucky University women’s basketball team is 21-5 after posting a 75-58 win over Quincy (Ill.) University on Saturday. That win clinched the Great Lakes Valley Conference regular-season title for the Norse and gave them the No. 1 seed in the upcoming GLVC Tournament. NKU will face No. 8 seed Saint Joseph’s College at 9:30 p.m. (EST) this Wednesday night in Roberts Stadium at Evansville, Ind. The NKU/SJC winner will meet the Bellarmine University/Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville winner in the semifinals at 3:30 p.m. (EST) Friday. The GLVC championship game is scheduled for 5 p.m. (EST) on Saturday. NKU is ranked No. 3 in the latest NCAA II Great Lakes Region ratings, and the top six teams in that poll will qualify for the NCAA Division II Tournament in March. The Norse have an outside chance at earning the No. 1 seed and right to host the NCAA Division II Great Lakes Regional March 7-9, but they must win the GLVC Tournament to be in position to be No. 1 in the Great Lakes Region. Michelle Cottrell scored 22 points in her final regular-season home game Saturday to lead NKU past Quincy. Cottrell made 8 of 11 shots from the field in that game. NKU built a 30-19 halftime lead by holding Quincy to just 27.3 percent shooting from the field. Cottrell, NKU’s all-time career scoring leader with 2,078 career points, scored 16 in the first half. Bridget Flanagan added 14 points for the Norse, and Suzie Smith finished with 12 points. Dana Schubeler scored 11 points and finished with five rebounds. NKU won the rebounding battle by a 42-36 margin and held Quincy to 11.1 percent shooting from three-point range. GLVC TOURNAMENT HISTORY: NKU owns a 9-2 all-time record in the GLVC Tournament, and the Norse have won two GLVC Tournament championships. NKU is 8-1 all-time at Roberts Stadium during GLVC Tournament play, with the only loss coming against Southern Indiana in last season’s GLVC Tournament championship game. A year ago, NKU defeated Quincy and Southern Illinois at Edwardsville before losing to Southern Indiana in the championship game. Two years ago, NKU defeated IPFW, Bellarmine and Indianapolis to capture the GLVC title. Three years ago, the Norse defeated Kentucky Wesleyan, Southern Indiana and Bellarmine en route to the GLVC Tournament championship. In 1997-98, NKU defeated Bellarmine in the first round in Regents Hall. The Norse lost to Southern Indiana at the PAC Arena in the GLVC semifinals. ABOUT SAINT JOSEPH’S: The Pumas are 9-17 after defeating Lewis University, 72-63, on Saturday. Sophomore forward Heather Allen averages 17.3 points per game to lead Saint Joseph’s. Sophomore guard Michelle Wegner is scoring 10.3 ppg. THE LAST TIME AGAINST SAINT JOSEPH’S: Earlier this season on Feb. 7, Dana Schubeler scored a career-high 25 points as NKU defeated Saint Joseph’s, 92-70, at Scharf Alumni Fieldhouse at Rensselaer, Ind. Schubeler scored 13 points in the first half as NKU built a 49-30 lead. She made 12 of 16 shots from the field and also had five rebounds in that game. Amy Mobley added 18 points, including 16 points in the second half. Kristin Polosky scored 14 points, Bridget Flanagan finished with 13 points and Jessica Brock added a career-high 11 points for the Norse. NKU shot 55.4 percent from the field and won the rebounding battle by a 42-30 margin. STREAK AGAINST SAINT JOSEPH’S: NKU now owns 16 consecutive victories over Saint Joseph’s during the past eight years. 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. Saint Joseph’s head coach Lynn Plett, who has been on the sidelines for the 16 straight losses, is 0-16 against NKU. NCAA PAIRINGS ANNOUNCED NEXT SUNDAY NIGHT: The NCAA Division II Tournament pairings will be announced next Sunday (March 3) at 10 p.m. The NKU women expect a bid and could earn the No. 1 seed if they win the GLVC Tournament, and if Lake Superior State University - currently the No. 1 team in the NCAA II Great Lakes Region poll - does not win the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Tournament title. NKU hosted the NCAA II Great Lakes Regional in both 1999 and 2000 and captured the championship both years. CLICK HERE FOR GLVC TOURNAMENT BRACKET