NKU women’s basketball took on Youngstown State for the second time this season after falling to the Penguins 56-47 in December.
NKU’s Abby Wolterman put up the first points on the board with a layup. Youngstown’s Xoe Rosalez immediately responded with a jumper to ignite a 5-0 run for the Penguins as they led 7-2 early. The Penguins forced an almost four-minute scoring drought for the Norse until Mya Meredith broke the Norse’s dry spell with a three.
Neither team scored for three minutes until NKU’s Kalissa Lacy got the lid off the basket. The Penguins had an answer for every shot the Norse took, as Erica King drained a three on the next possession.
NKU’s Noelle Hubert tied the game with a layup until Malia Magestro knocked down a three to give the Penguins the 15-12 lead at the end of the first quarter.
Hubert opened up the second quarter with a three to tie the game. Both teams scored a three on the next two possessions as they battled for the lead.
The game stayed within one possession until the six-minute mark as Meredith committed a turnover, King capitalized on it to give the Penguins the 28-24 lead.
The Penguins continued to build on their lead until NKU’s Kalissa Lacy and Halle Idowu knocked down shots to tighten the deficit. Youngstown’s Abby Liber responded with the last field goal of the half for the Penguins. The Penguins shot 72% from the field in the second quarter.
Lacy drained her fourth three of the half to make it a one possession game as the Penguins led 34-32.
NKU racked up fouls, sending Sophia Gregory and Jewel Watson to the line, combining for a perfect 6-6. Penguins found success at the charity line in the first half, shooting 8-8.
Meredith made the last shot of the half with a three. The Norse shot an impressive 63.6% from three in the first half.
The Penguins headed into the locker room leading 40-35.
Youngstown’s Faith Burch drained a jumper on the first possession of the second half, Meredith answered with a three. However, back-to-back turnovers from the Norse allowed Youngstown to go on a 6-0 run to gain the double digit lead, 48-38.
The Norse made just three field goals the entire third quarter but were able to knock down six free-throw shots to stay in the game, as the Penguins led 59-50 at the end of the third quarter.
The Penguins started slow in the fourth quarter, allowing NKU’s Gabby Razzano and Lacy to lay in shots as the Norse climbed back to trail 59-54.
Magestro made the first field goal of the fourth quarter for the Penguins five minutes in and the Norse kept fighting, as Macy Blevins responded to try and close the 64-57 gap.
The Norse went on a 7-0 run to make it a one-possession game 67-64 with one minute remaining in regulation.
NKU could not find the basket, as the Penguins went 5-5 from the free throw line to end the game. The Penguins shot 22-27 from the line throughout the matchup.
The Penguins defeated the Norse 75-66 and the Norse fall to 3-5 in Horizon League play.
Meredith led the Norse with 15 points.
The Norse look to bounce back Saturday as they take on Purdue Fort Wayne. Tip off is set for 2 p.m. at Hilliard Gates Sports Center.