Northern Kentucky University’s Women’s Basketball Team is on a roll, pushing itself back into the show. With a 67- 44 victory over the University of Missouri-St. Louis Riverwomen Jan. 13, it has improved its record to 9-5 overall and 3-4 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference.

By halftime, the Norse led 30-19, and the Riverwomen never got the chance to come back. UMSL attempted to press and trap NKU, but little did they know, the Norse would have no problem attacking the pressure.

“I like it when they throw it at me. I was kind of surprised when they came out in it,” junior Nicole Chiodi said of the UMSL pressure, according to an NKU press release. “We like it because we can attack it.”

NKU finished with 10 blocked shots, two shy of the school record of 12 set March 1, 2003 at Lewis University. Sophomore Cassie Brannen swatted half of the team’s blocks and finished with 10 points and seven rebounds. Chiodi led the team with scoring 12 points and five assists. Senior Katie Butler finished with 11 points, seven rebounds and two blocks for the Norse.

Although the offense was on fire, defense is what sealed the win for the Norse. They held UMSL to 29.8 percent shooting from the field and didn’t allow them to make any shots from 3-point range (0-for-6).

“We played good, solid defense,” Head Coach Nancy Winstel said. “We try to run our stuff on offense. We move the ball. We’re aggressive. We’re inside-outside, and we try to take care of the ball. That’s NKU. That’s the way I’ve coached forever, and that’s the way we’re going to play. They can even bury me saying that.”

NKU has picked up itself up after having a rough month of play, losing four straight GLVC games.

“Now I think that we’re ready to go back on the road and show people that we’re not done,” senior Brittany Winner said.

The Norse will travel to Kentucky Wesleyan College for a showdown at 6:15 p.m. Jan. 18, in Owensboro, Ky. Two days later, NKU will face the University of Southern Indiana in Evansville, Ind. This road trip will be a test for the Norse, who is 0-3 against GLVC teams as the visitor.