GREEN BAY, Wisconsin — The NKU women’s basketball team didn’t have to wait long to get revenge for its spoiled senior night.

Just five days after Cleveland State stunned the Norse, NKU turned the tables with a 71-59 victory over the Vikings in the first round of the Horizon League tournament.

NKU advanced to play Valparaiso 6 p.m. ET Friday in the second round of the tournament. Valpo defeated Detroit Thursday 94-91 in overtime.

“I thought our kids came into this game with a lot of energy,” NKU Head Coach Dawn Plitzuweit said. “We played really, really hard. I thought that was defined by how we rebounded.”

A torrid start helped the Norse bury the Vikings early.

The Norse started the game with a 12-2 run, then closed the quarter on a 13-3 run. NKU led 25-7 after one period.

Cleveland State cut its deficit to 8, 54-46, with 2:07 left in the third. The Norse answered by going on a 6-1 spurt to end the third and take a 60-47 lead to the fourth.

NKU extended that run to 15-2 to put the game away. The Norse led 69-48 with 5:29 left.

Kasey Uetrecht led NKU with 15 points, 7 rebounds and 5 assists. Rianna Gayheart added 14 points and 6 assists. Molly Franson had 12 points.

“Defense turns into offense,” Uetrecht said. “When your defensive intensity is as good as ours, then it translates into the offensive end.”

Rianna Gayheart added 14 points and 6 assists. Molly Franson had 12 points.

“I think (Christine Roush) hit the first three, and that just set the tone right away,” Gayheart said. “Once you get your shooters open shots, that just gives the rest of the team confidence. Whoever was open had the green light, and we trust each other to knock down shots.”

NKU shot 51.7 percent in the first half while holding Cleveland State to 37 percent. 

Ashanti Abshaw, who scored 32 points Saturday against the Norse, scored just 14 on Thursday. She also had 12 rebounds. Khayla Livingston led CSU with 18 points.

The Norse split two season matchups with Valpo. NKU lost 61-60 at home before beating them by 18 on the road.

“We get to have an opportunity to play again,” Plitzuweit said. “That’s awesome for us. Right now, our kids need to go back and get some rest., and take a look at what adjustments we need to make against Valparaiso.”

NKU Athletic Communications contributed to this article.

Summary

Thursday, March 10, 2016

@ Kress Events Center, Green Bay, Wisconsin

Northern Kentucky 71, Cleveland State 59

C — 7 – 21 – 19 – 12 — 59
N — 25 – 15 – 20 – 11 — 71

(59) CLEVELAND STATE (fg-3fg-ft-tp) Abshaw 5-3-1-14, Livingston 6-5-1-18, Smith 2-0-0-4, Voskuhl 3-0-0-6, Aideyman 4-3-0-11, Mitchell 1-0-2-4, Davidson 0-0-1-1, Bautista 0-0-1-1. TOTALS 21-11-6-59.

(71) NORTHERN KENTUCKY (fg-3fg-ft-tp) Lyttle 1-0-3-5, Gayheart 4-3-3-14, Ch. Roush 3-1-1-8, Uetrecht 6-2-1-15, Glick 2-2-0-6, Davis 0-0-2-2, Co. Roush 2-0-2-6, Kinch 1-1-0-3, Franson 6-0-0-12. TOTALS 25-9-12-71.

FIELD GOALS: C 21/52 (Livingston 6/11, Abshaw 5/10, Aideyman 4/8); N 25/61 (Uetrecht 6/12, Franson 6/10, Gayheart 4/7)

3 POINT FIELD GOALS: C 11/26 (Livingston 5/7, Abshaw 3/5, Aideyman 3/6); N 9/23 (Gayheart 3/5, Uetrecht 2/5, Glick 2/4)

FREE THROWS: C 6/12; N 12/20 (Lyttle 3/4, Gayheart 3/6)

REBOUNDS: C 29 (Abshaw 12); N 38 (Uetrecht 7, Davis 6, Gayheart 5, Co. Roush 5)

ASSISTS: C 8 (Aideyman 5); N 19 (Gayheart 6, Uetrecht 5, Ch. Roush 3)

STEALS: C 8 (Abshaw 3); N 9 (Gayheart 4, Lyttle 3)

BLOCKED SHOTS: C 2; N 3 (Gayheart 2)

TURNOVERS: C 18; N 14