Northern Kentucky University’s Women’s Basketball Team will face the University of Kentucky in an exhibition game Nov. 1 at 7 p.m. in Lexington, Ky.
The returning All-American and senior captain of the team, Karmen Graham, seems very focused and confident. “We have to take it one game at a time,” Graham said. She is one of the many Norse basketball players who will be returning from last year’s 27-5 Great Lakes Valley Conference Championship team.
“Everyone on our team has improved a lot this year,” Graham said.
One thing that everyone agreed they wanted to do was “play hard every game, possession and second.”
Coach Nancy Winstel emphasized the importance of consistent effort from her players. “Last year, we had some big road wins, and this year the conference is even tougher. There is always room for improvement,” she said.
I don’t know how much more you can improve on a 27-5 record, but they seemed anxious to prove to every other school in the GLVC they can.
“UK definitely has a height advantage over us,” Graham said. “But, we will have to work hard on defense to succeed.”
NKU’s tallest four players are listed at 6-foot-1; UK has five players who at least match the height of NKU’s tallest.
“Our goal is to be undefeated (at the end of the season),” senior guard Karyn Creager said. The ladies definitely will have to play hard to achieve that goal, but this team is better than fans may think.
The team was recently picked by the GLVC preseason coaches’ poll to repeat as GLVC East division champions, according to NKU’s athletics homepage.
As for the exhibition game against UK, Winstel was unsure about the starting lineup. “We have four or five players that could be all conference this year