HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. - Nikki Perkins scored 10 points in the final eight minutes of the game Friday night as the Northern Kentucky University women’s basketball team rallied for a 61-54 win over the University of Indianapolis in Regents Hall.
Perkins capped a 26-12 NKU run with a three-point shot at the 2:57 mark that gave the Norse a 55-54 lead. It was the second three-pointer by Perkins during the Norse spurt.
Elizabeth Burrows broke free for a layup off an inbounds pass with 55 seconds left to give the Norse a 57-54 lead, and she added two free throws with 23 seconds remaining to extend NKU’s advantage to 59-54.
Perkins, who finished with 14 points, iced the game with six seconds left by sinking two free throws. NKU - which rallied from a 14-point deficit in the second half - held Indianapolis scoreless the final 4:03 of the game to pull out the victory.
NKU, ranked No. 24 nationally in the NCAA Division II poll, won its fifth straight game and improved to 8-3 overall, 3-2 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference. Indianapolis, which is ranked No. 15 nationally, dropped to 9-3 overall, 3-2 in the GLVC.
Indianapolis built a 31-21 halftime lead behind the play of Megan Dossen, who scored eight of her team’s first 10 points. The Greyhounds led by as many as 14 points before halftime as NKU struggled against the Indianapolis full-court pressure and committed 12 turnovers.
NKU, however, limited Indianapolis to just 29.4 percent shooting in the second half and had just six turnovers during the final 20 minutes. The Norse also shot 55.2 percent from the field after halftime and hit four three-point shots to key the comeback.
Sharell Snardon scored 10 of her 12 points in the second half, and she also grabbed a game-high 14 rebounds. It was Snardon’s seventh double-double of the season and the 12th of her career.
Jessica Brock added 11 points and five rebounds for the Norse, and Burrows finished with nine points. Connie Myers scored eight points and had five rebounds.
Dossen led Indianapolis with a game-high 20 points, but she was the only Greyhound to score in double figures.
NKU will play host to Kentucky Wesleyan College next Thursday at 5:30 p.m. in Regents Hall.
|
Sharell Snardon |