The NKU Lady Norse welcomed in Robert Morris for the last game of their three-game homestand and looked to get to even in conference after dropping their conference opener to Green Bay on Thursday. The last time these two teams met, RMU ended NKU’s season with a 70-57 victory on the Horizon League quarterfinals.
The Lady Norse looked to avenge that loss, but their comeback fell short late in the game, and they dropped a nailbiter 60-58 to fall to 0-2 in conference and 3-8 overall.
The game certainly did not start out the way either team wanted as nearly three minutes burned off the clock before RMU’s Myriam Traore drilled a deep three from the corner to open the scoring. NKU’s Mia Jordan responded on the other end for the Norse, but a quick 5-0 run by RMU pushed the Colonial lead to 8-2 before heading to the first media timeout extending their lead to 10-2.
Noelle Hubert quickly pulled NKU to within five with a three from the wing, but RMU pushed the ball up the court and got the ball once again to Traore who drained another three from the wing to keep the NKU deficit at eight.
The Norse continued to struggle to score for the next four minutes, only managing seven points before a runner in the lane by RMU’s Noa Givan pushed the Colonial lead to 21-9 at the end of the first quarter.
NKU got the scoring started in the second quarter on a Jamaya Thomas jumper in the lane, cutting the RMU lead to 21-11. Both teams would trade baskets before heading to the television timeout and RMU holding a 26-15 lead.
Coming out of the timeout both teams struggled to find the bottom of the net, going three minutes with neither team scoring a point. A Maddie Moody jumper in the lane with 1:30 remaining in the half ended the scoring drought and pulled NKU to within 28-17.
Moody was not finished as she scored on a put back of a Mia Jordan miss right before time expired and NKU headed to the locker room trailing by single digits for the first time since early in the game 30-21.
Moody led the Norse in scoring at the half, scoring six points while also pulling down seven rebounds. Kamora Morgan and Mia Jordan each chipped in four points. For the half, NKU struggled once again – like what happened to them against Green Bay – shooting 27% (7-30) from the field and 18% (2-11) from behind the arc.
The Lady Norse opened the second half looking like a completely different team than what the NKU faithful had seen the first twenty minutes – attacking the basket on consecutive possessions and locking in on the defensive end forcing a number of empty possessions for the Colonials.
Abby Wolterman converted an up and under with 5:42 remaining to pull the Norse to within seven. A steal by Hubert of an inbound pass after two made free throws by Taysha Rushton resulted in a dish out to a wide-open Rushton who knocked down a deep three from the wing and the Norse were right back in it, trailing 34-30 with 5:17 remaining in the third quarter and forcing an RMU timeout.
An empty Colonial possession out of the timeout started a Norse fast break and a Moody runner in the lane to pull NKU to withing 34-32. Another RMU lost possession and a pair of Moody free throws allowed NKU to pull even – as result of a 13-4 run to open the second half.
NKU earned their first lead of the game 38-37 on a Thomas drop step bucket with forty-three seconds left in the quarter. An alternate possession tie up put the Norse in position for one last shot to end the quarter and NKU took advantage as freshman Karina Bystry hit a baseline runner for her first points of the game and a 40-37 lead heading to the final ten minutes.
The fourth quarter began with RMU’s Aislin Malcom scoring six quick points to put the Colonials back on top at 43-42 a minute and a half into the final frame. Both teams would trade missed baskets before a tip in by Mya Meredith put NKU back on top.
A pair of Jada Lee free throws pushed RMU up 45-44 with 7:17 remaining but that lead was once again short lived as NKU’s Bystry hit a jumper in the lane for a 46-45 Norse lead.
The next two minutes saw both teams turn the ball over multiple times to go along with missed shots. Another pair of Malcolm free throws and a Traore jumper broke that trend as the contest headed to the final media timeout and RMU leading 49-46.
Back-to-back missed shots by NKU out of the timeout opened the door for a Bailey Kuhns tip on the opposite end and RMU was up 51-46 with 3:47 remaining.
Moments later, a Moody turnover at the top of the key allowed for Traore to go in uncontested for a layup and the Colonial lead was up to seven with just under three minutes to play.
Rushton was fouled by Kuhns on a three-point attempt with 2:09 left in the game. It was Kuhns’ fifth foul and put Rushton on the line for a chance to pull NKU to within five. Rushton did her part by knocking down all three shots and the RMU lead was now 54-49.
Another Rushton jumper thirty seconds later cut the lead to three, but NKU was forced to foul and Aislon Malcom calmly stepped to the line and knocked down both free throws.
A pair of Lee free throws pushed the RMU lead to six before a Hubert three on an assist from Kylee Hunt, cut the RMU lead back to three with just thirty-five seconds remaining. Two more free throws by Eva Levingston pushed it back to 60-55.
On the ensuing Norse possession, Traore committed the cardinal sin by fouling Meredith on a three-point attempt from the corner. Meredith drained all three and the RMU lead was two with fifteen seconds remaining.
Levingston had an opportunity to close it out for RMU, but she missed both free throw attempts and NKU rebounded the second miss and immediately called a timeout to set up one final play.
Out of the timeout, NKU ran a play to get Bystry an open look, but her shot was contested and bounced off the side of the rim and was run down by Wolterman who was quickly swarmed and unable to get off another shot, sending the RMU players running towards their bench in celebration.
NKU was led by Rushton with fourteen points and four rebounds. Moody finished with 10 points and nine rebounds. Meredith chipped in seven points to go with five rebounds.
The Lady Norse finished the game shooting 30% (18-60) from the field and 21% (4-19) from behind the arc. The NKU bench outscored the Colonial bench 31-6 and the Norse led in second chance points 13-8.
Coaches Corner:
“Tough one today at home to end the three game homestand. I thought we were pretty well prepared for it, but they came out early and put it to us and got that 12-point lead in the first quarter and we found ourselves digging out from there. I have to do a better job to make sure we execute and get off to a better start.”
On the difference with his team between first half and second half:
“First half we just could never get into a flow and that is a credit to their defense. Comes down to execution and making tough plays. We simplified what we were doing in the second half and executed much better, and we got that big run in the third quarter. We need to take what we did well and take that up to Ohio State on Thursday and then on to Cleveland State and then back home before Christmas to get some momentum going into Christmas because after that it is all league play. We need to make plays for ourselves.”
On Moody and her early season success:
“She is one that can go and make big plays. Today was a quiet ten and nine. I thought she struggled today honestly at times. She makes a lot of winning plays for you that helps us be successful. She just needs to continue to grow and mature like she has been and understand that she is doing a great job and that she will be a major piece for us moving forward.”
Up Next:
NKU jumps back into the non-conference portion of their schedule as they head up I-71 to Columbus to take on 23rd ranked Ohio State on December 11th.
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