NKU women’s basketball traveled to take on the Wright State Raiders in a Horizon League conference clash on Saturday. Both teams were looking to start February off right after both coming off losses in their last game.
Amaya Staton started the scoring for the game with back-to-back buckets to give WSU a four-point edge. Mya Meredith got NKU started after a slow start getting their first points on the board three minutes into the game. Staton scored again and a Rylee Sagester three would quickly put the Norse in a 9-2 hole.
Kamora Morgan and Halle Idowu scored, but back-to-back paint scores from Chloe Peloquin would help the Raiders double up NKU for a 24-12 advantage after one quarter.
WSU scored 20 of their 24 points in the paint in the opening quarter.
After an Anna Hamilton jumper, Meredith found momentum with two steals and knocked down a three to cut the deficit to nine. Staton and Sagester found more success, scoring in the paint to put WSU up 30-19 at the second media timeout.
The Raiders were able to go on a run and get the lead to an impressive 14 points as Staton secured a double-double before the first half ended. The Norse made some noise going into halftime with Macey Blevins and Meredith combining for seven points in the final minutes to settle the halftime score at 38-27 with WSU in front.
The third quarter was much more in favor of NKU. NKU took advantage of two Raiders’ turnovers to cut the deficit to seven and force a timeout by WSU. Staton again composed her team with timely points in the paint, but an Idowu three and Gabby Razzano score on a pick and roll would keep NKU in it.
Blevins converted on a pair of free throws and a layup to give her 1,000 points in her collegiate career and give NKU momentum back with five minutes left in the quarter.
Macie Taylor helped WSU get the offense flowing again with a jumper and pair of free throws. Meredith and Blevins continued to dominate for the Norse, even getting it as close as a two-point game.
WSU would end the quarter on the right note with Makiya Miller and Ellie Magestro-Kennedy sinking free throws, followed by a Lauren Scott coast-to-coast layup at the buzzer to send the home team into the final quarter up 55-48.
Kalissa Lacy and Hamilton would quickly get it back to a two-point game. Just like the entire game, WSU would respond. Claire Henson made a jumper, then a floater and a three from Scott would put the Raiders up seven. A Taylor layup put NKU down double digits and WSU cruised the rest of the way to a wire-to-wire 75-67 win.
NKU falls to 5-8 in conference and 1.5 games back of the coveted fourth spot in the standings.
The Norse get a whole week of rest before their next game when they travel to take on IU Indy February 8. Tip-off is set for 2 p.m. and can be seen on ESPN+.