The Northern Kentucky University women’s basketball team (9-6, 3-3) found itself down 36-27 at halftime to Horizon League power Green Bay Phoenix (12-3, 5-1).
But unlike Thursday when the Norse came back for the win, they lost the third quarter on their way to a 70-53 loss. NKU has struggled for the most part against the Phoenix dropping 15 of 18 contests since entering the Horizon League in 2016. Veteran Head Coach Kevin Borseth has led Green Bay to 12 Horizon League Tournament titles.
“As a team, we just have a lot of work to do,” said Camryn Whitaker, Northern Kentucky head coach. “Green Bay was more physical than us. They trapped us. They played pack line defense where they pack it in and it makes it really difficult to get into the paint. That’s what we’re good at, so when they take away what you’re good at, you have to try to find something else. Sixteen of our 30 shots in the first half were three’s. That’s not typically how we play. We’ve got to find a way to become more consistent.”
Green Bay outscored Northern Kentucky, 20-10 in that pivotal third quarter. The Norse took just five shots and all came from three-point land making two.
The Norse had eight different players score outscoring the Green Bay bench, 18-13. Northern Kentucky had no bench scoring in the previous two games. Senior guard Ivy Turner and sophomore forward Trinity Thompson led the Norse with 10 points each.
“We just have to find ways to get to the free-throw line and do other things,” Turner said. “We’ll get back to practice on Monday and learn from this game and move on. We’re just worried about the next game. When it comes, we’ll be ready to play them again.”
Northern Kentucky won the rebounding battle, 35-30. Sophomore guard Khamari Mitchell-Steen led the Norse with seven rebounds. Thompson came in hoping to help against the Green Bay physicality inside.
“Just working in the post is something we do every day,” Thompson said. “There are no easy touches down there. You have to work for everything you got. We worked harder for it in the post.”
The Norse shot 31 percent from the field including 24 percent from three-point land compared to 45 percent from the field including 44 percent from three-point range for the Phoenix. Northern Kentucky did make 17-of-20 free throws for 85 percent compared to 12-of-16 for 75 percent for Green Bay.
Green Bay outscored Northern Kentucky 28-14 in the paint and 18-3 off turnovers. The Norse had 14 turnovers and three steals to just five turnovers for the Phoenix and five steals.
Redshirt sophomore guard Cassie Schiltz made four three-pointers on her way to 18 points. Sophomore guard Bailey Butler and sophomore forwards Jasmine Kondrakiewicz and Maddy Schreiber all scored 11 points each for the Phoenix.
Green Bay led 19-16 after one quarter. Graduate student forward Emmy Souder had a three-point play to tie it at 19 with 9:31 left in the first half. But the Phoenix responded with a 4-0 run and never looked back. The Phoenix led 56-37 after three quarters.
Northern Kentucky has six days off before hitting the road Friday at Oakland University (Michigan). Game time is 7 p.m.