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KWC can't complete sweep of Northern
Kentucky Wesleyan College's Amanda Harnist taps the ball while Northern Kentucky University's Ellen Holton passes the ball away during the first half of Saturday night's opening round game in the Great Lakes Valley Conference Tournament at the Sportscenter. KWC lost 61-51. Photos by John Dunham, Messenger-Inquirer.

KWC can't complete sweep of Northern

Box Score

Kentucky Wesleyan College had done everything a little bit better than Northern Kentucky University in its two wins over the Norse during the regular season.

But NKU improved its level of play against KWC in the first round of the Great Lakes Valley Conference Tournament.

And the Norse certainly shot the ball much better Saturday as each team tried to extend its season.

NKU made 9-of-13 from 3-point range and almost didn't miss during long stretches of the second half. Both were huge factors in the Norse getting a 61-51 win at the Sportscenter.

"I hate to say it, but Kentucky Wesleyan outplayed us both times we played them before," said Nancy Winstel, the veteran coach in her 28th year at NKU. "We'd been telling our players all week we had to respect them. We knew we had to come in here and play as hard as they did."

The Norse (18-9) did match KWC with effort, and it surpassed the Panthers considerably shooting the ball.

Northern was deadly from the floor in the second half, hitting 9-of-11 through the first 10 minutes to lead 49-37. At the same time, KWC struggled tremendously trying to get shots to fall. The Panthers were 3-for-16 in that 10-minute stretch.

"If you're making shots, then the game is easier," Winstel said.

KWC wasn't able to get the lead into single digits until 2:26 was left, when Katie Behrens made two free throws in the bonus to cut the lead to 54-45. The Panthers were able to cut it to six points twice, the last time at 55-49 on another Behrens basket.

KWC had two more chances to try to make it to a one-possession game, but couldn't get shots to go.

"They were switching everything on us, and at times I felt we might have rushed our shots," said Caleb Nieman, who is co-head coach with his wife Nicole Nieman.

NKU made six straight free throws in the last 39 seconds to seal the victory and move into the GLVC quarterfinals at Maryville University in St. Louis.

KWC (17-9) made 17-of-58 from the floor for 29 percent, including 5-of-18 on 3-pointers.

Amanda Harnist was the lone Panther in double figures. She scored 11 points.

NKU made 21-of-41 from the floor for 50 percent. It made 69 percent on 3-pointers.

The Norse's Sadie Bowling scored 16 points and hit 5-of-7 on 3s. Casse Morgan scored 14, and Stephanie Hodges scored 12 points and drained all four of her 3-pointers.

The Panthers recorded their most wins since 2007, and the team seemed to grow throughout the season.

"We were really proud of their ability to be great teammates and with the body of work they put together during the season," Caleb Nieman said.
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