Northern Kentucky put together a run across the end of the third and beginning of the fourth periods, but ultimately fell short to Akron in a 70-60 decision on Tuesday night. The Norse fall to 0-2, while Akron moves to 2-0.
STATS LEADERS
- Ivy Turner poured in 15 points to lead the Norse.
- Carissa Garcia and Lindsey Duvall also reached double-figures with 11 and 10 points, respectively.
- Kailey Coffey finished with nine points and game-high nine rebounds.
TURNING POINT
- After Northern Kentucky cut an eight-point deficit down to four with 7:52 remaining, Akron answered with seven-straight points over the next 2:17 to move back ahead by 11, 62-51.
FIRST HALF SUMMARY
- NKU and Akron were tied at 13 through the first 10 minutes of action.
- The Norse held a sizable rebounding advantage, 16-9, thanks to four boards from Coffey and two each from Garcia, Ally Niece and Grayson Rose.
- Coffey had five points on 2-for-3 shooting in the first quarter.
- The offenses warmed up in the second quarter, but Akron outscored the Norse 29-20 to take a 42-33 lead.
- NKU shot 50 percent (8-of-16) in the frame, while Akron converted a whopping 71 percent (10-of-14) connecting on all four of its 3-point shots.
- Northern Kentucky held a decisive rebound advantage, 24-14, in the half, but Akron’s 49 percent shooting outpaced NKU’s 36 percent.
- Turner led NKU with 13 points. After opening the half 1-of-4 from the floor, she finished making four of her final six.
- Duvall had eight points, while Rose added six and Coffey chipped in five points and six boards.
SECOND HALF SUMMARY
- Akron raced out to a 15-point lead in the third period, but Northern Kentucky weathered the storm and outscored the Zips 12-11 to trail by eight, 55-47.
- Garcia converted a pair of key triples in the stanza.
- Both teams converted 33 percent of their field-goal attempts, but the Norse made one more free throw.
- The fourth quarter started fast for NKU, as it made its first three shots to cut the deficit to four, 55-51, but a layup and timely three highlighted Akron’s seven-point run to seal the win.
- NKU made 40 percent (6-of-15) of its shots in the fourth quarter and Akron made 50 percent (5-of-10).
- Thanks in part to a 6-0 advantage on the offensive end, the Norse continued to dominate the glass in the fourth, 11-4.
GAME NOTES
- Through two games, the Norse are averaging 40 rebounds an outing, including 14.5 per game on the offensive end.
- Garcia went 3-for-6 from long range and was one away from matching her career-high in threes. She made four against UIC on Feb. 13 last year.
- Turner followed her nine points in the opening game with 15 tonight. She’s now averaging 12.0 ppg.
- Coffey’s nine caroms gives her 686 for her career. She now stands two shy of former Norse great and Hall-of-Fame coach Nancy Winstel, who ranks 12th with 688 rebounds.
NEXT UP
- Northern Kentucky returns to BB&T Arena for its first home game of the 2020-21 slate. The Norse host Bowling Green on Thursday, Dec. 3, at noon in a game which will air on ESPN+.
#NorseUp
Bryan
Bryan McEldowney
Assistant Athletic Director
Communications and Media Services
Northern Kentucky University
