The regular season did not end for the Northern Kentucky University women’s basketball team (16-13) the way the Norse desired in a 79-76 loss to the Oakland Grizzlies (13-16) at Truist Arena.
The good news is all the inconsistencies that led to a 10-10 finish in Horizon League play can be forgotten with a magical postseason run. The Norse finished fifth in the 11-team league still earning a bye into the quarterfinals after Green Bay beat Purdue at Fort Wayne.
Northern Kentucky travels to Youngstown State (19-10) on Thursday for a 5:30 p.m. game. The Norse lost to the Penguins twice, who are the fourth seed, during the regular season by a combined four points.
The three-point shooting told the difference in the loss to Oakland. The Grizzlies made 13–of-33 shots from deep compared to just 1-of-10 for the hosts. Graduate student guard Raquel Ferrer-Bernad did the most damage there making 5-of-7 on her way to a team-high 18 points.
“We’re always disappointed when we lose, especially playing well and we put ourselves in a hole in that third quarter,” said Camryn Whitaker, Northern Kentucky head coach. “The team knows it. I know it. The fans know it. Everybody knows it. You can’t give up 32 points in a quarter and expect to win a ballgame against a good team. We’ve got to try regroup here and get ready for the tournament.”
Junior forward Linda Van Schalk came off the bench to make three 3-pointers on her way to 14 points. The Oakland bench outscored Northern Kentucky, 39-3.
Oakland also saw three starters reach double figures. Junior forward Alexis Johnson and freshman point guard Brooke Quarles-Daniels scored 12 each with senior guard Breanne Beatty scoring 11.
Northern Kentucky did a great job attacking the paint like it has most of the season outscoring Oakland, 40-24. Graduate student guard Lindsey Duvall scored 30 points making 10-of-20 shots to go with five rebounds, one assist and two steals.
“Winning it all would mean everything to me,” Duvall said of the Horizon League Tournament. “I love my teammates and my coaches. I think speaking for everybody, that’s definitely been our main goal this whole season. (Through) all the tough losses, that’s still ben our goal. I think that would mean the world to all of us and we all know we can do it.”
Graduate student forward Emmy Souder and senior guard Ivy Turner put up nice games after celebrating Senior Day with Duvall and senior post Tayah Irvin. Turner had 13 points, nine rebounds and five assists with Souder tallying 10 rebounds, five assists and five points.
“I told the kids in the locker room this needs to be about the seniors and all of the work that they have put into this program,” Whitaker said. “They have poured their hearts and souls in hours and hours of hard work and dedication and they have represented NKU as well as anybody that I’ve ever coached. I’m just really proud and lucky to get to come out every day and coach these guys and have been so fortunate to get to spend so much quality time with them. Regardless of what happens in the win-loss column, these guys play hard. They represent themselves, their parents, our women’s basketball team and Northern Kentucky University in the best way possible every day on and off the court.”
Sophomore guards Khamari Mitchell-Steen and Kailee Davis did everything they could trying to help the Norse win. Davis scored 14 points and dished out three assists. Mitchell-Steen scored 11.
Northern Kentucky won the rebounding battle, 37-35 to go with 14 fouls, 13 assists, 10 turnovers, three steals and one blocked shot. Oakland had 21 fouls, 17 assists, 10 turnovers, six steals and one blocked shot.
The Norse led 38-35 at halftime. In the third quarter, the Norse took a 44-40 lead after a Duvall score. But the Grizzlies went on a 7-0 lead and never looked back increasing it to 67-56 entering the fourth quarter when Ferrer-Bernad hit a three.
The fourth quarter saw Northern Kentucky make a valiant effort to come back. Down 77-67, the Norse scored six straight then Duvall made a three-point play with 1:21 left to trim it to 78-76.
After a timeout with 42.4 seconds left, Turner had a wide-open three-point try in the right corner. It did not go. But Turner grabbed the offensive rebound to give the Norse another chance.
“(We) don’t give up on plays,” Turner said. “I got an open look. It’s what we were getting, so I shot it and got my rebound. We always try to hustle and get a bucket after it.”
Duvall took the ball down low in the game’s final seconds. But Oakland crowded her and she could not get the shot off giving the ball back to the Grizzlies on a turnover.
Johson made 1-of-2 free throws on the other end to make the final score. After a timeout, Duvall fired off a three that did not go ending the game.
Northern Kentucky has been to the Horizon League semifinals twice since joining the Horizon League. The Norse lost to Green Bay in 2016 and 2020.
