FINDLAY, Ohio - Julie Zeeff scored 22 points and hit the winning shot with 13 seconds remaining Friday night as the Grand Valley State University women’s basketball team defeated Northern Kentucky University, 63-62, in the first round of the University of Findlay Tip-Off Tournament.
Amy Mobley gave NKU (0-1) a 62-61 lead with 39 seconds left with a conventional three-point play, but Zeeff converted a layup while being fouled as the Lakers (1-0) gained a 63-62 advantage. Zeeff missed the free throw, and the Norse had a final chance to win the game in the closing seconds.
Bridget Flanagan’s three-point attempt was off the mark, however, and Grand Valley State escaped with the one-point victory.
Connie Myers scored 14 points and grabbed eight rebounds for NKU, which is ranked No. 6 nationally in the WBCA’s NCAA Division II preseason poll. Sharell Snardon added 13 points and eight rebounds in her NKU debut.
NKU made just 40.7 percent of its shots from the field, and the Norse committed 22 turnovers. Grand Valley State shot 41.3 percent from the field and won despite making just 8 of 16 free throws.
The Norse will meet Findlay at 3 p.m. Saturday in the finale of the round-robin event. The NKU/Findlay radio broadcast can be heard live on WTSJ (AM 1050) this Saturday at 3 p.m.
Sharell Snardon