A nine-day layoff is coming at a good time for the Northern Kentucky women’s basketball team.
The Norse are making the most of the situation down four players from injuries, including returning starter Kailee Davis. Meanwhile, a number of newcomers have shown promise despite their 2-6 start to the season. The Norse earned their second win with a 74-70 victory over Kentucky State at Truist Arena on Saturday.
“I’m just real proud of the win for team morale and where we are right now,” Northern Kentucky head coach Camryn Whitaker-Volz said. “We just needed some confidence.”
Khamari Mitchell-Steen and Macey Blevins made a number of things happen attacking the paint. Mitchell-Steen recorded her first double-double of the season with 17 points and a season-best 10 rebounds.
Blevins also scored 17 points, a late defensive play helping the Norse take the contest. NKU led 72-70 with 29 seconds after a Mitchell-Steen jumper. Kentucky State tried to get a shot off for Gracen Kerr, who finished with a game-high 21 points, but Blevins made a play to secure the ball with 13 seconds left. Northern Kentucky took advantage of not being in the bonus, running off 12 seconds before Blevins hit two free throws with one second left to make the final score.
“We talked about it in the timeout. We knew they were going to try to get the ball to (Kerr) for a three, but I was just there and her coach literally told her, ‘Shoot it. Shoot it,” Blevins said. “I heard it and was there so I blocked it and called a timeout.”
Freshman center Carter McCray continued her solid post play with 17 points and eight rebounds as the Norse owned the paint with a 46-14 points in the paint advantage.
“I’m trying to be more aggressive. I started off slow and Coach (Volz) got on me,” McCray said. “In the second half, I was able to help my team more with scoring and rebounds, being stronger and more tough.”
Rebounding has been an issue at times for Northern Kentucky, but the Norse outrebounded the Thorobreds, 43-26. All five Northern Kentucky starters grabbed at least four rebounds.
Kalissa Lacy gave the Norse a bit lift off the bench, making three 3-pointers on her way to a season-high 16 points. One of the triples came just before the halftime buzzer to give Northern Kentucky a 40-36 halftime lead.
Northern Kentucky led for 34 minutes of the game. The Norse appeared to take control in the third quarter going up as much as 14 with 2:34 left in the third quarter after a McCray lay-up.
“It’s huge It opens things up for our perimeter players having someone that you have to pay attention to,” Volz said of McCray. “You obviously have to pay attention to Carter down there. I’m just pushing her to be better and better because I know how physical and tough our league is and so all of the games are going to prepare her for what’s coming.”
The Norse led 60-51 entering the fourth quarter and increased it back to 14 with 7:08 remaining in the fourth quarter, but Kentucky State made a run scoring 11 in a row to tie the game at 70 with 1:24 remaining.
NKU travels to Tennessee Tech on Dec. 18 for a 7 p.m. game.