NKU hands YSU women first loss
Staff report
Highland Heights, Ky.
Northern Kentucky scored four points in the final two seconds to steal a 66-64 win from the Youngstown State women’s basketball team Tuesday night at The Bank of Kentucky Center.
After the Penguins missed three of four attempts from the free-throw line in the final 26 seconds, Kayla Thacker hit a leaning bucket around a defender from 19 feet away to tie the score at 64 with 1.7 seconds left. YSU’s Karen Flagg then stepped over the line on the inbounds pass for a turnover. Melody Doss hit a runner in the lane on NKU’s inbounds pass just before the buzzer.
NKU (1-4) led by as many as 14 in the first half, but YSU led by six with 3:18 left.
YSU’s Brandi Brown finished with 21 points and a game-high 15 rebounds, and Heidi Schlegel scored 13 of her 15 points in the first half.
Norse freshman Christine Roush led all scorers with 24 points on 9-for-12 shooting, and she made four of NKU’s eight 3-pointers. Northern Kentucky was hosting its first Division-I home game and picked up its first victory at this level. The Norse improved to 26-2 at home over the last three seasons.
YSU (4-1) was riding its first four-game winning streak since the 2007-08 season.
Shar’Rae Davis added 11 points and five assists before fouling out with 11:02 left in the second half. Hopper chipped in with 11 points for NKU.
Youngstown State will conclude its November schedule at home on Friday against Stony Brook. Tip-off against the Seawolves is set for 7:05 p.m.