The Northern Kentucky women’s basketball team (8-11 overall, 5-3 Horizon League) put its five-game winning streak on the line as they welcomed in Milwaukee (6-12 overall, 2-5 HL) to Truist Arena after a brief two-game road trip. The Norse had rattled off their string of wins after returning from the Christmas holiday, as a direct result of a more cohesive type of play and rebounding the basketball. Coach Jeff Hans and his team hoped that same success would continue.
While it wasn’t the prettiest display, the Norse did what they had to do down the stretch and held on for a 63-55 win and a sixth straight victory.
Both teams started the game frigid from the field, missing a combined six shots, before a deep three from Mya Meredith opened the scoring for the Norse, giving them a quick 3-0 lead.
Meredith – recognized prior to the game for eclipsing the 1,000-point milestone – would then proceed to score seven of NKU’s first nine points to give the home team an early four-point lead, heading to the first media timeout leading 9-5.
NKU wasted little time out of the timeout, scoring on their next four possessions to extend their lead to 17-5, before a driving layup by Milwaukee’s Grace Lomen put an end to the run. The opening frame would close with the Norse leading 21-11.
The second quarter began with the Norse picking up right where they left off, including a quick seven points, compliments of back-to-back layups by freshman Jamaya Thomas and a deep three from Mia Jordan, forcing a Milwaukee timeout with NKU ahead 28-13.
The Panthers would not go away, however. Out of the timeout, they proceeded to go on a 10-3 run to pull within eight, before a Meredith tip pushed the Norse lead back to double digits. A pair of free throws by reigning freshman of the week Karina Bystry extended the NKU lead to twelve, as both teams headed to the locker rooms with the Norse leading 37-25.
Meredith scored nine points, along with six rebounds, to lead NKU. Taysha Rushton added seven points and Thomas chipped in five.
For the half, the Norse shot 31% from the field (10-for-32) and 21% (3-for-14) from behind the arc. NKU outscored Milwaukee 13-4 in points off turnovers, and 10-0 in second chance points.
The Norse found a lid on the basket to begin the second half, going scoreless for nearly five minutes, until a running jumper by Bystry ended the drought with 5:44 remaining in the third quarter, and NKU leading 39-27.
Milwaukee would respond by scoring the next five points to cut into the Norse lead, but a quick steal at midcourt by Bystry led to an and-one on the other end pushed the advantage back to ten, with 3:41 remaining in the third quarter.
A Rushton layup and a deep three from Bystry pushed the Northern lead to 14 to close out the third quarter with the Norse leading 48-34.
Milwaukee would get no closer than six points late in the fourth quarter, and a pair of Bystry free throws would put the cap on a sixth straight win for the Norse, a 63-55 victory.
NKU was led by Bystry’s 20 points and six rebounds. Rushton and Meredith each scored 11 points and senior Abby Wolterman added six points to go with a game high ten rebounds.
Coaches Corner
Hans on the win:
“It’s good to be back home after a couple of road wins at Youngstown [State] and Robert Morris. Appreciate the fans coming out. Proud of our team. Thought the effort was good all night, maybe not the execution and the finishing, but you fight through it and survive and advance.”
On holding the Panthers two leading scorers, Jorey Buwalda and Grace Lomen, to well below their season averages:
“They complement each other so well, I thought Abby did a great job early on Buwalda, just making it difficult on her inside and Karina had Lomen all night, and did a good job of not allowing her to get to those elbow jump shots. In the end though, it was a total team effort.”
Wolterman on her ten-rebound night, and what her mindset has been during the streak:
“I am not afraid to be physical when I’m going up for a rebound, and I try to do a good job of recognizing who is shooting the ball and if they shot their last shot short or long, and when I crash the board I think I am going to get the ball.”
Bystry on her early struggles in the first half, and her mindset in the second half:
“My goal was to stay under control, just find my shot, and keep attacking.”
Next Up
NKU looks to continue its hot streak by winning a seventh straight, as they head back on road for a short trip up I-75 to take on rival Wright State at 2:00 PM on Saturday, January 17th.
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