Lady Norse win Third Straight in Rout of Jags

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Photo courtesy of Northern Kentucky Athletics

The NKU Lady Norse looked to build on their modest two-game win streak as they welcomed in IU-Indianapolis (4-12 overall, 3-4 Horizon League), winners of their last 2-games for a mid-afternoon matchup. 

NKU was coming off a 72-58 win over Robert Morris earlier in the week and had every intention to keep things progressing in a positive direction. 

An underlying storyline to the game was current Lady Norse players Abby Wolterman and Jaci Jones who transferred during the offseason from IU-Indy and were playing against their former teammates for the first time. 

Wolterman wasted no time getting things started for NKU as she scored the Norse’s first 6 points and NKU never looked back beating the Jaguars 80-63.

The Lady Norse led 11-5 at the end of the first quarter and stretched that lead to 37-17 as both teams headed to the break. 

For the half, NKU shot 41% from the field (15-36) and 54% from behind the arc (6-11).  The Norse outscored IU-Indy in the paint 16-6.

Macey Blevins led NKU with 13 points and 5 rebounds and Wolterman pitched in 11 points. Mya Meredith grabbed 8 rebounds. 

NKU continued the offensive onslaught into the second half and led 60-36 at end of third quarter.  The final frame was a little different as IU-Indy outscored NKU 27-20 to make the margin a little more respectable, but in the end, the Norse did what was needed and extended their current win streak to three games.

The Good

The Lady Norse were led in scoring by Halle Idowu who scored 19 points, 13 of those in the second half.  Idowu added 9 rebounds. 

Blevins chipped in 16 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists.  Abby Wolterman scored 11 points and Mya Meredith scored 7 points while grabbing a game high 10 rebounds.

Jaci Jones dished out 8 assists on the night.

NKU shot 46% from the field for the game and 47% from behind the arc.

They outscored IU-Indy 13-5 in second chance points.

Jeff Hans on the Norse win; “Thought we did a really good job coming out from the start.  Wasn’t pretty the first quarter by any means but our defensive effort was good for most of the game.  What an effort by the entire team.”

Hans was asked if he is seeing the recent effort by his team as a sign of the team finally gelling after putting all the pieces together, “I hope so.  You talk about the 7-game losing streak at the beginning of the year, you get some time over break to put some new stuff in.  It’s a process.  We are putting things together and executing.  We are figuring out each other’s game.  They are trusting each other more.”

The Bad

Blevins went down with an apparent ankle injury attempting to take a charge late in the fourth quarter and was taken straight to the locker room.  She returned to the bench a short time later, but had her ankle wrapped in ice.  The injury is believed to be a reaggravation of the ankle injury that kept her out of three games earlier in the season. 

Takeaway

NKU is beginning to gel.  A team put together in the offseason made up of a combination of returning players and additions via the portal, they are beginning to show the potential they have in the conference. 

Wolterman was asked what she sees as a player as things that are allowing this team to finally gel; “having winter break we used it to our advantage.  We did a lot of team bonding, went to lunch together, watched other college games together.  Time together is paying off.”

Up Next: NKU begins a two-game road trip as they head to Youngstown State on Wednesday in hopes of avenging a 56-47 home loss to the Penguins back in December.  The Norse conclude the trip at Fort Wayne next Saturday.

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