@NKUNorseWBB drops 70-60 road matchup to Akron

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AKRON, Ohio – Northern Kentucky put together a run across the end of the third and beginning of the fourth periods, but ultimately fell short to Akron in a 70-60 decision on Tuesday night. The Norse fall to 0-2, while Akron moves to 2-0.

STATS LEADERS

  • Ivy Turner poured in 15 points to lead the Norse.
  • Carissa Garcia and Lindsey Duvall also reached double-figures with 11 and 10 points, respectively.
  • Kailey Coffey finished with nine points and game-high nine rebounds.

TURNING POINT

  • After Northern Kentucky cut an eight-point deficit down to four with 7:52 remaining, Akron answered with seven-straight points over the next 2:17 to move back ahead by 11, 62-51.

FIRST HALF SUMMARY

  • NKU and Akron were tied at 13 through the first 10 minutes of action.
  • The Norse held a sizable rebounding advantage, 16-9, thanks to four boards from Coffey and two each from Garcia, Ally Niece and Grayson Rose.
  • Coffey had five points on 2-for-3 shooting in the first quarter.
  • The offenses warmed up in the second quarter, but Akron outscored the Norse 29-20 to take a 42-33 lead.
  • NKU shot 50 percent (8-of-16) in the frame, while Akron converted a whopping 71 percent (10-of-14) connecting on all four of its 3-point shots.
  • Northern Kentucky held a decisive rebound advantage, 24-14, in the half, but Akron’s 49 percent shooting outpaced NKU’s 36 percent.
  • Turner led NKU with 13 points. After opening the half 1-of-4 from the floor, she finished making four of her final six.
  • Duvall had eight points, while Rose added six and Coffey chipped in five points and six boards.

SECOND HALF SUMMARY

  • Akron raced out to a 15-point lead in the third period, but Northern Kentucky weathered the storm and outscored the Zips 12-11 to trail by eight, 55-47.
  • Garcia converted a pair of key triples in the stanza.
  • Both teams converted 33 percent of their field-goal attempts, but the Norse made one more free throw.
  • The fourth quarter started fast for NKU, as it made its first three shots to cut the deficit to four, 55-51, but a layup and timely three highlighted Akron’s seven-point run to seal the win.
  • NKU made 40 percent (6-of-15) of its shots in the fourth quarter and Akron made 50 percent (5-of-10).
  • Thanks in part to a 6-0 advantage on the offensive end, the Norse continued to dominate the glass in the fourth, 11-4.

GAME NOTES

  • Through two games, the Norse are averaging 40 rebounds an outing, including 14.5 per game on the offensive end.
  • Garcia went 3-for-6 from long range and was one away from matching her career-high in threes. She made four against UIC on Feb. 13 last year.
  • Turner followed her nine points in the opening game with 15 tonight. She’s now averaging 12.0 ppg.
  • Coffey’s nine caroms gives her 686 for her career. She now stands two shy of former Norse great and Hall-of-Fame coach Nancy Winstel, who ranks 12th with 688 rebounds.

 

NEXT UP

  • Northern Kentucky returns to BB&T Arena for its first home game of the 2020-21 slate. The Norse host Bowling Green on Thursday, Dec. 3, at noon in a game which will air on ESPN+.