NKU women’s basketball played their first game of a two-game homestand on a cold Thursday night as they looked to knock off number two, Purdue Fort Wayne.
As it got colder outside, the fans rolled in for some warmth. It was Womens in Sports Appreciation Night, so fans packed in to support their Lady Norse.
The hype in the arena grew,the buzzer went off and the referee threw the ball up. The Mastodons’ Jazzlyn Linbo tipped it back to Audra Emmerson, and the action was underway.
Both teams started quickly, but the Norse were the first to get one on the board with a fast-break layup by Macey Blevins.
Purdue Fort Wayne answered right back with two quick layups by Linbo and Emmerson to take a 4-2 lead.
After three lead changes, the game was tied at nine. Jaci Jones grabbed a defensive rebound and the break, stopping on a dime to hit a three in transition to take the 12-9 lead.
However, Purdue Fort Wayne would end the first quarter in fashion going on a 7-0 run. Sydney Freeman sparked the run with a fastbreak three-pointer, then the very next position she converted on a turnaround jumper over NKU’s Abbey Wolterman. The run ended with a strong layup by Amellia Bromenschenkel, giving PFW a 16-14 lead going into the second quarter.
The Mastodon’s came out of the quarter hot, going on a 12-0 run. Emmerson started the scoring for Purdue Fort Wayne as she hit a three, then she took the ball right off the glass and went coast to coast to convert a layup. They ended their run the way they started it–with a three pointer, this time by Bromenschenkel–extending their lead to 28-12.
The second quarter ended with both teams trading baskets, but the Norse were the last to score off two free throws from Blevins. This cut Purdue Fort Wayne’s lead to 13 points going into halftime with a score of 36-23.
After a round of musical chairs, the Norse had some work to do coming out of halftime.
Purdue Fort Wayne was the first to score off a made layup by the number one, three-point shooter in the nation, Lauren Ross.
The Mastodon’s threw a press at the Norse right away, getting a quick steal and score by Linbo to add onto their 40-23 lead.
The Norse responded right back with a 4-0 run of their own, sparked by a Blevins’ layup, but the Mastodons shoved right back going on a 6-0 run, with four of those points coming from layups by Freemen, extending the game to 46-27.
NKU’s Kalissa Lacy then put the team on her back, hitting three straight three-pointers on back-to-back-tback possessions, cutting Purdue Fort Wayne’s lead to just 12, 50-38.
NKU ended the quarter on a 6-2 run sparked by Noelle Hubert and Lacy. Hubert made a three-point basket, giving the Norse some hope going into the fourth quarter as they trailed by nine points, 54-45.
The fourth quarter looked hopeful for the Norse as Lacy picked up three quick points, but the Mastodons fought their way back scoring back-to-back baskets to get their lead back to double digits, 59-48.
The Norse fought hard, but they couldn’t grab the lead back, but they shot just 25% from the field to end the game. Purdue Fort Wayne held on to win 69-57 at Truist Arena.
The Norse’s season has been a rough ride, but their ship is docked for home as they play their final regular-season home game of the 2024-2025 season against the Wright State Raiders in the Battle of I-75. The game will tip-off Saturday at 1 p.m. and will be broadcast on ESPN+.