HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. - Betsey Clark came off the bench and scored eight points to key a 30-6 run in the second half as the Northern Kentucky University women’s basketball team defeated Saint Joseph’s College, 68-59, Saturday afternoon in Regents Hall.
Saint Joseph’s held a 34-30 lead with 18:36 remaining in the game after a basket by Courtney Rosenbaum. NKU, however, used a 19-4 run to build a 49-38 advantage when Clark hit a short jumper with 9:51 left.
Elizabeth Burrows and Sarah Woods connected on consecutive three-point shots from the left corner during the NKU spurt. Nikki Perkins capped the 30-6 run with a three-pointer to give the Norse a 60-40 lead with 4:40 remaining, and NKU defeated Saint Joseph’s for the 20th consecutive time.
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. The Norse improved to 12-5 overall, 7-4 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference.
Perkins scored 14 points to lead NKU, which is ranked No. 22 nationally in the NCAA Division II poll. Sharell Snardon added 13 points and seven rebounds for the Norse, who shot 58.3 percent from the field in the second half to roll to the victory.
NKU owned a 28-23 lead late in the first half after Karyn Creager converted two free throws, but Saint Joseph’s Heather Allen - who finished with a game-high 25 points - scored five points in the final 41 seconds as the Pumas forged a 28-28 tie at the break.
Saint Joseph’s outscored NKU 6-2 to begin the second half to take a 34-30 lead, but the Norse responded with their game-deciding 30-6 run.
NKU is ranked No. 4 in this week’s NCAA Division II Great Lakes Region poll. The top eight teams in the Great Lakes Region poll will qualify for the NCAA Division II Tournament in March.
NKU will play host to Bellarmine University at 5:30 p.m. next Saturday in Regents Hall.
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Betsey Clark |