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March 9, 2002 |
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NKU EARNS TRIP TO ELITE 8 |
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Norse defeat Southern Indiana, 69-66, for trip to Minnesota |
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EVANSVILLE, Ind. - Michelle Cottrell scored 23 of her 31 points in the second half Saturday night as the Northern Kentucky University women’s basketball team captured the NCAA II Great Lakes Region championship with a 69-66 win over the University of Southern Indiana. Cottrell made 12 of 19 shots from the field as NKU improved to 26-6 and earned a berth in the NCAA Division II Elite Eight at Rochester, Minn. The Norse, who earned their third trip to the Elite Eight in the past four years, will meet South Dakota State University (27-8) on March 20 at 7 p.m. (EST). The NCAA Division II national semifinals will be held March 21, and the NCAA Division II national championship game is scheduled for March 23. On Saturday, NKU’s defense held top-seeded Southern Indiana (27-6) to just 38.5 percent shooting from the field. The Norse also controlled the tempo and led by as many as 11 points in the first half. NKU led the entire second half, but Southern Indiana eventually pulled to within one point (61-60) with 1:41 remaining on a short jumper by Casey Hughes. Suzie Smith, however, connected on a three-point shot with 1:09 remaining to give the Norse a 64-60 advantage, and Amy Mobley extended the lead to 66-60 when she made a jumper with 40 seconds left. Cottrell, who was named the Most Outstanding Player of the Great Lakes Regional, made a pair of free throws with 32 seconds to give NKU a 68-61 lead. Southern Indiana’s Africa Sherrod hit a three-pointer with 26 seconds remaining to slice the deficit to 68-64. After an NKU turnover, Jessica Stuckman hit a short jumper to bring Southern Indiana to within 68-66 with 14 seconds remaining. Cottrell was then fouled and made the second of two free throws to give NKU a 69-66 lead. Southern Indiana had a final chance to send the game into overtime, but Erin Wall’s off-balance three-point attempt fell short. NKU shot 57.7 percent from the field in the second half to hold off the Eagles, and the Norse beat the Southern Indiana full-court press with several breakaway layups off passes from Mobley. Smith added 12 points for NKU, which is ranked No. 10 nationally in the NCAA Division II poll. Stuckman scored 14 points for Southern Indiana, which is ranked No. 4 nationally. |