CHICAGO – The Northern Kentucky University women's basketball team used torrid shooting early to build an advantage and ride to a 72-61 victory over UIC on Thursday night in Horizon League action.
 
The win was NKU's third-straight as the Norse improved to 13-8 overall and 5-5 in Horizon League play to kick off the second half of the League schedule. Christine Roush led three Norse in double-figures with 18 points on 6-of-12 shooting from the field. Kasey Uetrecht scored 16 points and grabbed a team-best six rebounds, while Molly Glick set a new career high with 15 points, going 3-for-4 from downtown.
 
As a team, NKU shot 48 percent from the field and teamed up for 18 assists on its 24 made baskets, led by Rianna Gayheart with four.
 
The Norse started off firing from beyond the arc, connecting for three on their first four made baskets of the game. A 9-0 run in the later part of the opening frame extended NKU's lead to 18-8 with 2:13 remaining in the first quarter. UIC came back with a 7-2 run of their own, cutting NKU's advantage to 25-20 at the end of the first.
 
A pair of Christine Roush layups started an 8-0 run for the Norse midway through the second quarter, extending NKU's lead to 16 points at 35-19. The Norse finished the half knocking down six of their final seven shots to carry a 41-26 lead to the locker room.
 
Glick got the Norse started right after intermission, scoring the first five points of the third quarter to give NKU its largest lead of the night at 46-26. UIC rallied back, knocking down four-consecutive shots, including three from long range, to cut into the Norse lead, but NKU carried a double-digit advantage into the fourth at 56-45.
 
The Flames put on the pressure defensively in the final stanza, but NKU was able to manage the lead and claim the victory, 72-61.
 
Kendyl Nunn led the Flames offense with 18 points, while Ruvanna Campbell claimed a double-double with 13 points and 15 rebounds.
 
The Norse now turn their attention to Valparaiso, where NKU will close out its string of four-straight on the road. Tipoff on Saturday is set for 1:30 p.m. Central (2:30 p.m. Eastern) with the action carried live on ESPN3.
 
NORSE NOTES
 

• NKU forced 16 UIC turnovers, including seven steals, and scored 18 points off the takeaways. Seven different Norse players each claimed one steal in the team defensive effort.
• NKU shot 94.4 percent (17-of-18) from the free-throw line, marking the third time this season the Norse have shot 90 percent or greater from the charity stripe.
• Thursday's win was NKU's sixth of the season away from BB&T Arena, matching their total from each of the last three seasons.