The NKU women’s basketball team played its first home game of the new year on a snowy Wednesday evening, against Robert Morris University.

As the snow fell outside, the fans started to pile into Truist Arena. The hype grew for the first home game of the new year.

The referee threw up the ball and the game was under way, the ball hauled in by Robert Morris.

The Norse were the first team to get on the board with a made three point basket by Jaci Jones. Halle Idowu scored on the next possession giving them an early 5-0 lead.

Robert Morris was fast to answer back with a made layup by Raissa Nsabua while getting fouled making the game 5-3.

NKU would go on a 7-2 run started with a layup by Abby Wolterman and five quick points from Macey Blevins making the game 12-5.

After a made three by Noelle Hubert, Robert Morris went on a 6-0 run to close out the quarter. Robert Morris’ Isys Grady had four of those six points, making two free throws at the line and a pull up jumper from the elbow. Even though RMU went on a 6-0 run, NKU led 15-13.

NKU was the first to score in the second quarter, with a great back door cut from Mya Meredith, Kamora Morgan found her with the easy lay up making the game 17-13.

Robert Morris got their first lead of the game coming off a 4-0 run to make it 18-17. But NKU’s own Morgan answered right back to take back the lead 19-18.

With some back and forth play the women were all tied up at 21.Robert Morris would go on a 7-1 run sparked by Naomi Barnwell’s two point basket taking back the lead 28-22.

Both teams would trade baskets back and forth; Kalissa Lacy ended the quarter with a made three pointer from the wing but Robert Morris had the lead going into halftime 35-33. 

After a halftime show full of unicycles, the Norse were the first to score in the quarter with a turnaround jumper from Morgan to tie up the game at 35 but Robert Morris’s Grady would respond right back with a layup of her own taking back the lead 37-35.

NKU and RMU would trade baskets finding the game tied up again 39-39, After two minutes of great defense from both teams, Robert Morris found the bottom of the net taking back the lead 41-39. 

NKU reciprocated thanks to Anna Hamilton who had a great downhill drive making the layup and drawing the foul converting at the line but RMU was fast to score taking back the lead 42-41.

Once again the Norse and Robert Morris would trade baskets with no team taking a lead bigger than two. Robert Morris’s Alejandra Mastral made a three point basket to end the third quarter all tied up 49-49. 

NKU was the first to get on the board in the fourth quarter with a highly contested layup made by Meredith to take back the lead 51-49.

Robert Morris would do the same with authority; RMU’s Mya Murray would get the ball down low bodying her way to the basket making her shot at the basket while drawing the foul she converted at the line making the game 52-51.

NKU would go on a 8-0 run started by a made layup from Blevins, then it was Meredith’s turn as she would find herself under the basket putting up the shot, drawing the foul and making the basket as well. Meredith converted her free throw but NKU wasn’t done, Blevins found Jones on the wing, Jones put up the shot making the three point basket taking the lead 59-52.

RMU would end NKU’s run and their cold streak with a layup by Murray making the game 59-54.

NKU would extend their lead to 10 with one minute to go, with a great offensive rebound by Wolterman who found Blevins wide open at the top of the key for three. Then Wolterman drew a foul, converting both at the line, pushing the game to 68-58.

NKU would put RMU away at the free throw line, going four for four winning the game 72-58.

After the game NKU Coach Jeff Hans praised Macey Blevins and Mya Meredith for their recent performances.

“Macey and Mya, did what they’ve been doing here recently, scoring and making some big shots and Mya had some big defensive rebounds down the stretch for us that helped to seal a win,” Hans said.

Blevins talked about her career high nine rebounds and who helped her reach that feat.

“My coaches and my dad has been on me a lot about rebounding, I know I am capable of it but I don’t always do it. I was just in the right spot too, in the zone and I was in the bottom a lot,” Blevins said. 

The Norse are picking up the wins and move to 2-4 in conference play. The women will continue conference play at home Saturday, Jan. 11 at 3:30 p.m.. This game can also be seen on FanDuel Sports Network.