at Northern Kentucky (5-2, 1-0 GLVC): 71
Southern Indiana (3-3, 0-1 GLVC): 38
Box Score

HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky.—The University of Southern Indiana women's basketball team could not overcome a six-minute scoreless drought at the start of the second period as host Northern Kentucky University defeated the Screaming Eagles, 71-38, in their Great Lakes Valley Conference opener Thursday evening.

USI (3-3, 0-1 GLVC) struggled to get anything going offensively, falling behind 6-0 early in the contest. The Eagles, who shot just 22.2 percent in the opening half and 25.5 percent in the game, closed the deficit to a single digit seven minutes into the contest, but a 17-5 run that lasted nearly 10 minutes allowed the Norse to build a 12-point advantage.

Northern Kentucky (5-2, 1-0 GLVC), on the other hand, shot 41.7 percent in the opening period and took a 28-19 lead into the intermission. The Norse capitalized on the Eagles' scoreless drought in the second period as they went on a 12-0 run to extend their advantage to 21 points with 15 minutes to play.

The Eagles went 0-for-4 from the field and committed six turnovers in the first six minutes of the second half as they fell into a hole they could not climb out of. For the game, the Eagles had just two assists and 16 turnovers, while the Norse held a 43-29 edge on the glass and a 16-7 advantage in points off turnovers.

“We didn't finish plays in either half,” USI Head Coach Rick Stein said. “Offensively, we have to toughen up and finish some plays off.

“You have to credit Northern Kentucky, they are very good defensively and they always are,” Stein continued. “We had some opportunities that we have to finish off if we are going to put the ball in the basket against a good team.”

Senior guard Amie Newhart led the Eagles with 10 points, while senior guard Ellen Young finished with eight points. Junior guard Casse Mogan had 21 points to lead the Norse, while senior center Kendra Caldwell finished with a game-high 12 rebounds.

USI returns to the Physical Activities Center Saturday at 5:15 p.m. when it hosts Bellarmine University in a GLVC showdown. The Knights visited Kentucky Wesleyan College Thursday evening in Owensboro, Kentucky.