The Northern Kentucky University women’s basketball team ventured south for the holiday weekend to play in the Daytona Beach Classic and came back with a pair of losses.
The Pittsburgh Panthers jumped up on the Northern Kentucky in the first quarter and never looked back in a convincing 88-57 win on Friday.
Pittsburgh (2-5) led 22-13 after one quarter and 41-32 at halftime. The Panthers outscored Northern Kentucky, 22-5 in the fourth quarter to pull away.
Rebounding did in Northern Kentucky, the Panthers winning the battle of the boards, 45-29. Pitt senior forward Liatu King did the most damage making 14-of-18 shots on her way to 30 points and nine rebounds. Sophomore guard Aislin Malcolm also had a big game with 21 points making 5-of-6 three-point shots and senior forward Jala Jordan added 10 points.
Pitt shot it well, hitting 51% from the field and scorching from deep, nailing 67% from three.
Northern Kentucky was opposite, hitting just 31% from the field and 23% from deep. Freshman Carter McCray and junior Khamari Mitchell-Steen led the Norse (1-3) with 14 points each. Sophomore guard Allison Basye scored eight, making two three-pointers.
Northern Kentucky (1-4) then played the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga on Saturday and lost 63-47. The Moccasins (6-1) led 30-22 at halftime.
Northern Kentucky rebounded better in this game grabbing one more than Chattanooga, 35-34. Shooting woes continued for the Norse, hitting 31% from the field and 18% from deep. The Moccasins hit 41% from the field and 42% from 3-point land.
Basye led the Norse with 15 points and Mitchell-Steen scored 13. McCray led the Norse with nine rebounds.
Chattanooga put three players in double figures. Jada Guinn led the way with 18 points making 10-of-13 free throws. Raven Thompson and Sigrun Olafsdottir followed with 14 and 11 points, respectively.
Northern Kentucky plays host to the defending Horizon League champion Cleveland State Vikings (5-1) on Saturday at 2 p.m.