Norse women shoot 57.7 percent from field, roll to 77-60 win over Saint Francis (Ind.)

HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – Northern Kentucky University demonstrated Saturday afternoon there is at least one women’s basketball team in the Great Lakes Valley Conference that can beat NAIA powerhouse Saint Francis (Ind.).

Jaimie Hamlet attempts a shot against Saint Francis on Saturday. Hamlet scored 13 points as NKU posted a 77-60 win over the Lady Cougars.
NKU shot a blistering 67.9 percent from the field in the second half and rolled to a 77-60 victory over Saint Francis in The Bank of Kentucky Center. The Norse scored the first nine points of the second half to extend a 32-30 advantage into a 41-30 lead and cruised to their seventh consecutive win.

Casse Mogan scored 24 points to lead NKU. Mogan, a junior guard from Circleville, Ohio, finished 11-for-15 from the field as the Norse improved to 8-2. Mogan, who scored in double figures for the ninth straight game, added four rebounds and three assists. She now has 767 career points, which is 42nd in NKU history.

NKU became the first GLVC team this season to knock off Saint Francis (9-3), which is ranked No. 8 nationally in the NAIA II poll. Going into Saturday’s game, Saint Francis had beaten Southern Indiana, Bellarmine and Indianapolis. In fact, the Lady Cougars handed Indianapolis a 73-50 defeat on Thursday night in Nicoson Hall.


NKU's Sadie Bowling drives for a layup.
“Saint Francis is an outstanding team, and we knew going in we were going to have to play very well if we were going to win,” NKU head coach Nancy Winstel said. “In the second half, I thought everyone stepped up and helped us get the win. We shot the ball very well, but our players also dug in defensively against a very good offensive team.”

Jaimie Hamlet added 13 points for NKU, while teammate Sadie Bowling scored 11 points. Kendra Caldwell grabbed 12 rebounds and scored eight points for the Norse, who shot 57.7 percent from the field for the game.

At one point in the second half, NKU made 10 consecutive field-goal attempts. The Norse won the rebounding battle by a 37-27 margin.

Stephanie Hodges finished with seven points and a game-high four assists for NKU. Kelsey Simpson added eight points – all in the second half - and two blocked shots. The Norse held Saint Francis to 26.9 percent shooting from the field in the second half and 33.9 percent for the game.

Kayla Mullins and Julie Seiss each scored 17 points to lead Saint Francis. NKU is now 3-0 all-time against the Lady Cougars.

“This is a big win for us, especially going into finals and the Christmas break,” Winstel said. “I was proud of how we responded. We kept our composure when we trailed by six points in the first half and made a good run to take the lead at the break. Saint Francis has some big-time players who transferred in from Division I schools, and they are going to win a lot of games.”

NKU will not play a game for the next three weeks. The Norse resume play Jan. 2 with a GLVC road game at Quincy.