After finding itself on the wrong end of two straight heartbreaking losses, the NKU women’s basketball team was staring at a third consecutive tough loss Friday against Illinois-Chicago.

Kasey Uetrecht made sure the Norse would be able to celebrate its first-ever Horizon League victory on New Year’s Day.

Uetrecht scored 8 of her team-high 14 points in the fourth quarter, including the game-winning three with 5.8 seconds remaining to give NKU a 55-53 victory over UIC.

The sophomore from Oregonia, Ohio saved her best for the final period. She made just 2 of her first 13 shots in the first three quarters.

She scored the Norse’s first points of the fourth with 8:22 left, giving NKU a 41-38 lead.

UIC (9-4, 0-2 in Horizon League) would rally to take the lead on a Marissa Grossfeld three with 4:30 left. The Flames led 46-45.

They held the lead until Uetrecht took over in the final 81 seconds.

Uetrecht scored and was fouled by Grossfeld with 1:21 remaining to tie the game at 51. She made the free throw to give NKU a 52-51 lead.

Ruvanna Campbell would answer for UIC, scoring with 60 seconds left to give the Flames a 53-52 victory.

Coming out of a timeout, Christine Roush missed a shot that would have given the Norse the lead. However, Rianna Gayheart came up with a huge offensive rebound.

Seconds later, Uetrecht got the ball at the top of the key and buried a three-pointer with 5.8 remaining to give NKU a 55-53 lead.

UIC had two chances to either tie or win the game. Kendyl Nunn missed a three. Imani Moore grabbed the offensive rebound and hoisted a shot as the horn sounded. The shot hit the back of the rim, but would roll off to the left as NKU would get the victory.

In addition to her 14 points, Uetrecht had 8 rebounds and 4 assists for the Norse (9-4, 1-1). Roush had 11 points and 5 rebounds. Rebecca Lyttle had 7 points and 7 rebounds.

Campbell led UIC with 18 points and 14 rebounds.

The NKU women hit the road for a three-game Horizon League road trip. First up is a 2 p.m. Saturday game at Wright State.

Summary

Friday, Jan. 1, 2016

@ BB&T Arena, Highland Heights, Kentucky

Northern Kentucky 55, Illinois-Chicago 53

I – 14 – 12 – 9 – 18 — 53
N – 11 – 12 – 16 – 16 — 55

(53) ILLINOIS-CHICAGO (fg-3fg-ft-tp) Campbell 8-0-2-14, Garant 4-0-2-10, Moore 2-2-1-7, Emanuel-Carr 2-0-0-4, Zagorac 0-0-1-1, Grossfeld 3-2-0-8, Nunn 1-0-3-5. TOTALS 20-4-9-53.

(55) NORTHERN KENTUCKY (fg-3fg-ft-tp) Uetrecht 5-3-1-14, Ch. Roush 2-2-5-11, Glick 3-1-2-9, Lyttle 3-0-1-7, Franson 3-0-3-9, Gayheart 2-1-0-5. TOTALS 18-7-12-55.

FIELD GOALS: I 20/53 (Campbell 8/12, Garant 4/8, Grossfeld 3/6); N 18/58 (Uetrecht 5/17, Glick 3/6, Lyttle 3/8, Franson 3/7)

3 POINT FIELD GOALS: I 4/14 (Moore 2/3, Grossfeld 2/5); N 7/20 (Uetrecht 3/6, Roush 2/6)

FREE THROWS: I 9/16 (Nunn 3/4); N 12/17 (Roush 5/6, Franson 3/4)

REBOUNDS: I 42 (Campbell 14, Garant 8, Grossfeld 4, Nunn 4); N 37 (Uetrecht 8, Lyttle 7, Roush 5, Franson 5)

ASSISTS: I 10 (Emanuel-Carr 5, Campbell 3); N 12 (Uetrecht 4, Franson 3)

STEALS: I 6; N 8 (Roush 3)

BLOCKED SHOTS: I 5 (Campbell 2, Garant 2); N 2

TURNOVERS: I 19; N 13