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HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky.-  Junior Kristin Turner poured in 36 points, including 21 in the second half, to nearly help the UIndy women's basketball team (16-6, 10-4 GLVC) escape with a big win at Northern Kentucky Thursday night.  However, the home Norse fought off a late rally and held on for a 71-68 win.

Down seven with only a minute to play, the Greyhounds scored eight unanswered points to take a brief lead.  The flurry featured a steal from sophomore Katy McIntosh, a three-point play and a block from sophomore Eliza Wortman, and a big triple from Turner.

However, the Norse answered with a lay-up from Ellen Holton to regain the lead, while the Hounds came up empty on their final two possessions.

The NKU win avenges a 55-44 loss to UIndy at Nicoson Hall Dec. 3, while also giving the GLVC East rivals matching 10-4 conference records.

Dressed in pink uniforms as part of the WBCA's Play 4Kay initiative, the Norse (17-5, 10-4) found themselves down 14-6 before the under-five media timeout, but NKU climbed on the back of senior Casse Mogan and put together a 21-7 run.

The surge resulted in a 27-21 advantage for the home team, one the Greyhounds would trim to 30-29 before the half.

Mogan scored 24 NKU's 30 first-half points, including a perfect 4-for-4 effort from behind the 3-point arc.  Just one other Norse managed to hit a field goal in the first 20 minutes.

Mogan's first-half outburst forced the Hounds to counter with a box-and-one defense.  With NKU's go-to player now blanketed, NKU looked inside to both Holton and Tiara Hopper.  The two post players combined for 28 points in the final 20 minutes.

Meanwhile, Turner caught fire in the second half, as the Seymour, Ind., native went 8-for-12 from the floor and 3-of-3 from the arc to nearly match Mogan's first-half output.

The Greyhounds were without the services of junior forward Sydney Weinert, who was sitting her second straight game due to injury, affording a start sophomore Eliza Wortman.

Wortman filled in nicely by compiling eight points, 12 rebounds and five blocks -- nearly identical to Weinert's line (9 pts, 11, rbs, 5 blks) in the December meeting with NKU.

UIndy next travels to Louisville, Ky., and Bellarmine University Saturday.  Tip time from Knights Hall is scheduled for 5:45 Eastern.


Note:  Barring a postseason meeting this year, Thursday could be the final time these two teams face each other, as NKU will be making the move to Division I next season to compete in the Atlantic Sun Conference.