Jan. 1, 2002

NKU TO MEET QUINCY, SIUE

Norse (8-2) attempt to snap two-game losing streak

HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. - The Northern Kentucky University women’s basketball team is 8-2 after suffering a 70-65 loss at Ferris State University last Saturday in Big Rapids, Mich. The Norse are 5-0 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference and will play a road game at Quincy (Ill.) University at 6:15 p.m. this Thursday. NKU will also travel to meet Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville at 2 p.m. Saturday. Both games will be broadcast live on WTSJ (AM 1050). TRYING TO STOP THE STREAK: NKU enters Thursday’s contest against Quincy with a two-game losing streak. The Norse have not lost three straight games since the 1996-97 season, when NKU suffered consecutive defeats to IPFW, Southern Indiana and SIUE. FERRIS STATE RECAP: Debbie Killips scored 18 points and hit the go-ahead basket with less than a minute remaining Saturday to lead Ferris State past NKU. Killips’ basket gave Ferris State a 65-63 lead with 54 seconds remaining. The Bulldogs then made five free throws in the final 32 seconds to hand NKU its second consecutive defeat. NKU had a chance to tie the game in the closing seconds, but Suzie Smith’s three-point attempt was off target. Lucy DeMartin then made a pair of free throws to give the Bulldogs a 70-65 lead, and Ferris State defeated NKU for the first time in five meetings. NKU’s Michelle Cottrell picked up her 43rd career double-double with 25 points and 11 rebounds. The Norse, however, made just 35.3 percent of their shots from the field. OFF THE MARK: During the past two games, NKU has made just 30.1 percent of its shots from the field. The Norse also have shot just 12.5 percent (4 of 32) from three-point range the past two games. For the season, NKU has made 49 of 137 (35.8 percent) of its attempts from three-point range. NKU is also shooting just 66.8 percent from the free throw line this season. The Norse rank 10th in the GLVC in that category. CLOSING IN ON 2,000 POINTS: NKU senior forward Michelle Cottrell, the Norse’s all-time career scoring leader with 1,911 points, averages 20.1 points per game and 11.3 rebounds. Cottrell has also made 61.5 percent of her shots from the field and has seven double-doubles this season. Cottrell also leads NKU with 16 steals and in minutes played with 318. WINSTEL NEARS 400 VICTORIES: NKU head coach Nancy Winstel has 395 career wins with the Norse. She is looking to become the first basketball coach in NKU history to reach the 400-victory milestone. ABOUT QUINCY: The Hawks are 7-4 after dropping a 75-62 decision at Truman State University last week. Quincy is 3-2 in the GLVC. Quincy is led by Jill Unnerstall, who averages 15.1 points and 8.2 rebounds. Unnerstall also has made 80 percent of her free throws and is shooting 44.7 percent from the field. Lisa Farrell is scoring 14.3 ppg, and Tiffany Kelver averages 10.4 ppg. THE LAST TIME AGAINST QUINCY: On Feb 28, 2001, in the first round of the GLVC Tournament at Evansville, Ind., Michelle Cottrell scored 16 points and grabbed nine rebounds as NKU posted a 69-50 win over Quincy in Roberts Stadium. NKU leads the all-time series with Quincy, 11-1. A YEAR AGO AT QUINCY: On Jan. 25, 2001, Jill Unnerstall and Tiffany Kelver both hit two free throws in the final 40 seconds as Quincy upset NKU, 72-69, at Quincy, Ill. Unnerstall made a pair of free throws with 40 seconds remaining in the game to give Quincy a 70-69 lead. After NKU’s Bridget Flanagan missed a three-point shot, Kelver was fouled and made two free throws to give Quincy a 72-69 advantage. NKU had two chances to tie the game in the final 10 seconds, but both attempts missed and Quincy defeated the Norse for the first time in history. NKU built a 40-33 halftime lead, but Quincy limited the Norse to just 31 percent shooting from the field in the second half and made 52.4 percent of its own attempts.