Northern Kentucky women’s basketball hosts Cleveland State in the front end of a Monday night doubleheader on Jan. 15. Tip-off is slated for 5 p.m. ET and the game will be broadcast on ESPN3 with live streaming available on computers, tablets, smart phones and streaming devices through WatchESPN and the ESPN App.
Northern Kentucky (4-12, 2-3 HL) vs. Cleveland State (11-6, 3-3 HL)
Monday, Jan. 15- 5 p.m. ET
Highland Heights, Ky. – BB&T Arena
Live Stats | ESPN3 Broadcast
LAST TIME OUT: NKU went up against one of the nation’s top scoring offenses and kept pace with Wright State through four quarters, but ultimately fell to the No. 2 Horizon League preseason favorite in overtime, 68-63. Kailey Coffey tied her career high of 17 points, going 8-for-12 from the field, while Molly Glick added 15 points, five rebounds and five assists. The Norse shot 48.1 percent from the field in the setback and held the Raiders to 37.3 percent, but ultimately surrendered too many free throw opportunities that allowed Wright State to secure a win.
SCOUTING CLEVELAND STATE: The Vikings are currently in the middle of the Horizon League pack with a 3-3 record and are 11-6 overall. Cleveland State relies heavily on a trio of experienced upperclassmen in scoring, with junior Ashanti Abshaw leading the way with 19.3 points per game, which is second in the League. Abshaw is also one of the best defenders in the Horizon and in the nation, pacing the Horizon League and ranking 39th with 2.76 steals per game. Senior point guard Khayla Livingston is CSU’s primary weapon from long range with a League-leading 2.53 3-pointers per game at a .417 clip, contributing 14.5 ppg along with dishing out 4.3 assists per contest. Senior forward Olivia Voskuhl rounds out the trio with 12.7 ppg, and does so at a .461 clip while pulling down a team-high 7.1 rebounds a game.
NKU is 3-3 all-time against the Vikings, but CSU claimed both meetings last season. When the Norse played at home on Jan. 5, 2017, Cleveland State narrowly edged NKU, 58-54.
ROOKIES IN THE RANKS: NKU has had some key performances from its freshman class, which has come in to contribute right away. Two rookies help lead the team in rebounding (Kailey Coffey – 6.2 rpg; Grace White – 4.7 rpg) to keep the Norse at a +4.0 rebounding margin over opponents, a number that ranks fifth in the Horizon League. Coffey has the 12th-highest rebounding average in the Horizon League, and sits at sixth in the League with 2.6 offensive rpg. Since entering League play, Coffey has been averaging 10.2 points at a .515 clip, a shooting percentage that ranks among the League’s top performers. Samari Mowbray has also contributed heavily on both the offensive and defensive end, averaging 9.2 ppg at a .433 clip, and is nabbing 1.6 steals per game.
TOP STATS: In addition to ranking fifth in the Horizon League in rebound margin (+4.0), the Norse are in the top-five of several statistical categories. In terms of defense, NKU ranks second in field goal percentage defense (.374) and fourth in scoring defense (60.1) and rebounding defense (32.9).
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Chloe Smith
Assistant Athletic Communications Director
Northern Kentucky University
