The Lady Norse hosted the Detroit Mercy Titans on Wednesday night. Both teams entered this game coming off double-digit losses and looking to bounce back into the win column against strong Horizon League opponents.
NKU’s Macey Blevins entered the game just 22 points shy of joining the 1000-point club. After NKU won the tip-off, she was determined to reach that milestone, knocking down a three-pointer to give the Norse an early lead.
Abby Wolterman then got in on the action with a layup and a trip to the line that ended in two made free throws to give the Norse a 7-0 lead to start the game.
Aaliyah McQueen ended NKU’s run with a mid-range jump shot. NKU responded with back-to-back baskets by Wolterman and Mya Meredith and had an 11-4 lead at the first media timeout.
NKU came out of the timeout firing, with Jaci Jones hitting a three-pointer to increase the Norse’s early lead to double-digits. Anna Lassan continued to make an impact for Detroit Mercy, scoring a tough second-chance basket to keep the Titans within striking distance.
As Detroit Mercy began picking up ground, NKU responded with a 15-0 run, including three shots from beyond the arc by Jones to extend the lead to a 29-6 score at the end of the first quarter.
To start the second quarter, Alize Tripp finally ended NKU’s run with a layup as the two teams went back and forth trading baskets.
NKU then got out in front of the Titans, with Halle Idowu making a three-pointer along with a layup by Meredith to grow their lead beyond a 20-point margin.
Myonna Hooper laced in a three-pointer off the Titans’ bench to quiet the home fans; however, momentum swung back NKU’s way with another 10-0 run capped off by a fast-break layup by Wolterman that widened the margin to a 42-11 score at the second media timeout.
Detroit Mercy fought to stay in the game until the end of the first half, with Lassan making one of two from the free throw line, followed by a Kailey Starks steal that led to a fast-break layup. That cut the lead back down to 44-14.
Meredith then added to her campaign with a layup, to which Emaia O’Brien responded with a layup of her own along with a pair of free throws by Hooper.
The Norse would follow with another layup by Idowu. They gave up a fast break layup to Katie Burton in the closing seconds, going into halftime up 48-20.
At the start of the second half, the Norse didn’t slow down, with Blevins sinking a layup to get the scoring started. The Titans stuck with the Norse, trading baskets with them, while the Norse maintained a healthy lead.
Detroit Mercy then went on a run with a pair of free throws by Starks and a mid-range jump shot by O’Brien as the game headed into the third media timeout.
Frustration began to take over, as Idowu was fouled and made both free throws. Meredith followed suit and made a tough layup that sparked a two-minute-long scoring drought for both sides. Both teams traded trips to the line, as the Norse extended their lead to 62-33 at the end of the third quarter.
The Titans struggled to shoot the ball all game, finishing with a three-point percentage of just 10%. With the Titans seemingly out of the game indefinitely, the fourth quarter turned into a free-throw contest, having seven fouls represented by each side.
The Norse maintained their lead as Idowu and Wolterman went to work trying to ice the game for the Norse. Alize Tripp gave out the last breath for the Titans with a three-pointer to end the game.
Idowu and Wolterman combined for 30 points on the night, along with 18 rebounds in a much-needed blowout win for the Norse.
NKU improves to an overall record of 8-15, with a 5-7 record in conference play. They will take on Wright State this Saturday at the Nutter Center in Fairborn, Ohio.