NKU WOMEN’S BASKETBALL HISTORY TIMELINE THE 2000 NCAA DIVISION II ELITE EIGHT (at Pine Bluff, Ark.)
By Ricky Harvey The Cincinnati Enquirer (reprinted with permission) PINE BLUFF, Ark. — In 34 previous attempts this season, no team could do it. In one try, Northern Kentucky University did it – the Norse knocked off previously unbeaten Saint Rose (N.Y.). NKU, ranked No. 2 nationally, overcame a sluggish first half and rallied for a 60-50 victory over top-ranked Saint Rose (N.Y.) in the opening round of the NCAA Division II Elite Eight at the Pine Bluff Convention Center. Michele Tuchfarber led NKU (30-2) with 14 points. Michelle Cottrell and Bridget Flanagan added 13 points each. Down 25-20 at halftime, the Norse took their first lead of the game at 45-44 on a jumper from Flanagan with 3:13 left. NKU wouldn’t trail again. Saint Rose (34-1) tied it with 2:57 left, but NKU closed the game with a 3-pointer from Flanagan, eight points from Tuchfarber and a conventional three-point play from freshman Amy The NKU bench cheers after Bridget Flanagan buries a 3-pointer in the second Mobley to seal the victory and move on half of the Norse’s 60-50 victory over top-ranked Saint Rose (N.Y.) in the NCAA to the Final Four. Division II national quarterfinals. Saint Rose entered the Elite Eight unbeaten “It was a great game, a great game,” (34-0). (Photos by Jeff McCurry, NKU Sports Information) NKU head coach Nancy Winstel said. “We just wanted to keep it close and have a chance at the end, and the girls really hung tough. All I know is we get to play (in the Final Four), and that’s all that matters.” With Saint Rose trailing 52-47 with 1:24 left, Colleen Sheridan nailed a 3-pointer to pull the Golden Knights within two. But the Norse responded - thanks to Mobley, who drove the lane, made a layup and then hit a free throw with a minute left to give Northern Kentucky a 55-50 lead. “I thought then that we had a chance,” Mobley said. “But I still knew we had to play tough defense the rest of the way.” CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE 54 2013-14 NKU Norse media guide