With more late game heroics from Cassie Brannen, Northern Kentucky has taken a 54-52 lead with 1:18 to play.
Brannen has hit two layups and two free throws, while the Coyotes have only gotten two points from Jenna Hoffman. Brannen, who scored only three points in the first half, has scored twelve points this half.
The crowd looks nervous and someone is going to have to step up and score for the Coyotes if they’re going to pull this one out.
At least ESPN2 is getting a good game.
– Matt Dahlseid
… but what else is new?
Jessie Slack, a transfer from Division I East Carolina, has been doing her best to keep the Norse in the game.
On two straight possessions, Slack hit a deep two from the right wing and followed it up with a three at the top of the key.
After a free throw from Amber Hegge, NKU’s Cassie Brannen hit a shot under the basket and drew a foul.
Norse are now down only two at 50-48 with 3:58 remaining.
– Matt Dahlseid
With 7:42 remaining, the Coyotes have withstood the NKU run and pushed their lead to 46-38.
Sophomore Jasmine Mosley has been the catalyst of the USD run with four points. She first hit a jumper from the left elbow. Then Jeana Hoffman hit a three from the top of the key. Mosley struck again moments later, hitting a shot under the basket after getting away with a travel.
It looks like USD has gotten its composure back thanks to Lavin’s calming effects during a TV timeout. Thanks ESPN2.
– Matt Dahlseid
With her team struggling from the field, junior guard Danyelle Echoles has been coming up huge for the Norse. She has hit two three pointers and a pair of 3-pointers after going scoreless in the first half.
NKU is now within three at 39-36 with 10:10 remaining.
USD has looked a little sluggish on the offensive end and has been taking some difficult shot. We’ll see if coach Lavin is able to calm down her players during a TV timeout.
– Matt Dahlseid
After a quick layup by Cassie Brannen, the USD has played lock down defense and has a 38-26 lead with 14:24 remaining.
Ashley Robinette is putting it all on the line, as she made another driving layup to open up the scoring for the Coyotes in the half. Jeana Hoffman hit her third three of the game and USD was up 31-25.
Shannon Daly drove the baseline and made a layup to put the Coyotes up ten for the first time in the game and the USD crowd exploded. All of the USD fans rose to their feet on the ensuing NKU possession and willed the Coyotes to the stop.
Jasmine Mosley then hit a shot from just inside the foul line to put USD up 38-26.
– Matt Dahlseid
She did it again.
Jeana Hoffman dribbled the ball as the seconds ran down to end the half. With the clock at four seconds, she drove to the basket for a tough contested layup. She has got to have ice water in her veins because I can’t remember one player hitting so many last second shots in a season.
At the half, Hoffman has ten points on 4-11 shooting to lead the Coyotes after playing the entire half. She probably won’t get to sit this whole game, and with good reason.
USD shot poorly through much of the first half. Lavin said the Norse’s length could give the Coyotes some problems in yesterday’s press conference, and it looks like he has been right. They were 8-28 from the field for 28.6 percent.
The Coyotes been able to take the lead because of solid defense and great ball control, as they only have one turnover to NKU’s four.
If USD wants to extend this lead, it looks like they are going to have to find a way to slow down NKU’s Angela Healy. She has been getting to the bucket at will and has nine points and five rebounds so far.
The Coyote fans have been incredible throughout the first half, exploding of every USD basket and booing on each make for the Norse. The section of NKU fans have tried to start their own chants, but when the Coyote students hear them they come up with a chant of their own and the Norse fans are barely audible.
Stay tuned for second half action.
– Matt Dahlseid
With 2:20 remaining, the Coyotes have taken a 23-21 lead.
Angela Healy made another post move for a layup down low. She seems to be getting whatever she wants right now.
Ashley Robinette, who has bad knees after several operations, made a twisting drive to the basket for a layup. It was slow, but it was pretty nice.
Jeana Hoffman then made a deep two and Shannon Daly hit a three to give the Coyotes the 23-22 lead.
Between Robinette’s drive to the basket and Hoffman’s deep two, Angela Healy went for a shot inside. The ball bounced on the back of the rim for several seconds… and then came to a rest there. After the referee knocked it down, the Coyotes got the ball. Kinda strange.
– Matt Dahlseid
NKU has been using their length and size on both ends of the court while the shots haven’t been falling for the Coyotes.
Norse center Angela Healy has been establishing herself down in the low post and has scored seven points with three layups and a free throw.
Amber Hegge came into the game for the Yotes and contributed with a nice driving layup, but USD hasn’t been able to get much else going from the field. Hegge only saw limited playing time, but it looks like she’s going to match up well against NKU’s long and athletic players.
With 7:10 remaining, the Coyotes trail 19-14.
– Matt Dahlseid
At the first television timeout, the Coyotes lead Northern Kentucky 8-5 with 15:57 remaining.
Northern Kentucky junior forward Cassie Brannen opened the scoring with a bucket on her team’s first possession. Jeana Hoffman made the first points for the Coyotes with a 3-pointer. Jessie Slack then banked in a three for the Norse, but Ashley Robinette answered with two free throws after being fouled on a drive to the basket.
Jenna Hoffman followed her sisters lead, hitting from three from the right wing to put the Coyotes up 8-5.
The USD students opened the game jumping up and down on the bleachers, and I’ve got to question their durability. The arena officials must have too, because the PA announced over the speakers that jumping on the bleachers is not allowed. We’ll see how that plays out.
– Matt Dahlseid
