YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio — Shooting a blistering 58 percent from the floor, the NKU women’s basketball team led most of the way Saturday in an 88-77 victory over Youngstown State.

Northern Kentucky picked up its second consecutive road win to improve to 12-8 overall and 4-5 in the Horizon League. Youngstown State fell to 14-6, 5-4.

NKU led by double figures for most of the second half. There were two stretches – one near the end of the third quarter and one midway through the fourth – that the Penguins were able to cut their deficit below 10 points.

Youngstown State got as close as six points with 2:18 left after a Nikki Arbanas three.

The Norse answered with a basket from Shar’Rae Davis, and free throws from Davis and Rianna Gayheart. Youngstown State did not threaten the rest of the way.

Courtney Roush continued her torrid play, scoring 20 points to lead NKU. Davis added 16 points. Kasey Uetrecht had 14 points and 4 assists. Christine Roush had 13 points while Sarah Kinch just missed a double-double with 11 points and 9 rebounds.

NKU shot over 60 percent in the second and third quarters, and made 29 of 50 shots on the afternoon.

Youngstown State made just 29 of 72 attempts. Sarah Cash and Janae Jackson led the Penguins with 18 points each.

Northern Kentucky will continue its four-game Horizon League road trip 8 p.m. Thursday at Illinois-Chicago. The Norse picked up its first-ever Horizon League win over UIC on New Year’s Day.

Summary

Saturday, Jan 30, 2016

@ Beeghly Center, Youngstown, Ohio

Northern Kentucky 88, Youngstown State 77

N — 30 – 20 – 19 – 19 — 88
Y — 25 – 16 – 19 – 17 — 77

(88) NORTHERN KENTUCKY (fg-3fg-ft-tp) Lyttle 0-0-3-3, Uetrecht 3-1-7-14, Glick 3-1-0-7, Gayheart 0-0-1-1, Ch. Roush 6-1-0-13, Davis 6-2-2-16, Co. Roush 6-1-7-20, Kinch 4-2-1-11, Wiegman 1-1-0-3. TOTALS 29-9-21-88.

(77) YOUNGSTOWN STATE (fg-3fg-ft-tp) Cash 8-1-1-18, Jackson 7-1-3-18, Benjamin 3-1-0-7, Arbanas 3-3-2-11, Wright 1-1-0-3, Smolinski 1-1-0-3, Newman 4-3-0-11, Trimmer 1-1-0-3, Hirsch 1-1-0-3. TOTALS 29-13-6-77.

FIELD GOALS: N 29/50 (Ch. Roush 6/8, Davis 6/8, Co. Roush 6/9, Kinch 4/5); Y 29/72 (Cash 8/13, Jackson 7/11, Newman 4/7)

3 POINT FIELD GOALS: N 9/18 (Davis 2/3, Kinch 2/3); Y 13/37 (Arbanas 3/11, Newman 3/6)

FREE THROWS: N 21/25 (Co. Roush 7/7, Uetrecht 7/8); Y 6/8 (Jackson 3/4)

REBOUNDS: N 33 (Kinch 9, Glick 5, Uetrecht 4); Y 33 (Cash 11, Jackson 6)

ASSISTS: N 14 (Uetrecht 4); Y 15 (Cash 4, Arbanas 4)

STEALS: N 10; Y 4

BLOCKED SHOTS: N 2; Y 3

TURNOVERS: N 15; Y 15