The Cincinnati Enquirer

Quentin Smith scored a career-high 16 points and also grabbed 15 rebounds as Northern Kentucky University defeated Ohio Northern 68-47 on Saturday at Regents Hall.

Jesse Rupe added 18 points and four rebounds for the Norse (8-0). Bobby St-Preux had 11 points and four rebounds for Northern Kentucky, ranked No. 6 in the NCAA Division II national poll, against the Division III Polar Bears.

The Norse held Ohio Northern (2-6) scoreless for the game's first nine minutes. But NKU made just 37.9 percent of its first-half shots and led 30-15 at halftime.

Chris Seabrooks scored eight points and had six rebounds in the first half for the Norse.

"Defensively, we were fine in the first half, but we had our own problems scoring," NKU head coach Ken Shields said.

Rupe and St-Preux combined for 11 points at the start of the second half as the Norse increased their advantage to 43-19, and NKU extended it to as many as 27 points.

Northern Kentucky held Ohio Northern to 29.8-percent field-goal shooting. The Norse also won the rebounding battle 44-30.

Mike Kelsey had seven points and four assists for NKU, which has won 14 consecutive home games dating to last season.

The Norse haven't lost at Regents Hall since Dec. 6, 2001, when Kentucky Wesleyan defeated them 64-62.

The best start to a season for NKU came during the 2000-01 campaign, when the Norse won their first 13 games. The streak ended when Southern Indiana defeated NKU 90-75 on Jan. 6, 2001, in Evansville, Ind.

NKU (68) - St.-Preux 4-8 2-2 11, Rupe 7-8 4-4 18, Seabrooks 3-7 2-2 8, Kelsey 3-6 0-0 7, Howell 2-5 0-0 4, Smith 6-13 4-6 16, Rowland 1-1 0 3, Murphy 0 1-2 1. Totals: 26-55 13-18 68.

OHIO NORTHERN (47) - Conrad 3-18 2-2 8, Haynes 2-6 0-0 4, Mikolajewski 3-5 0-1 6, Bostelman 2-6 0-0 6, Fries 5-13 0-0 15, Lieb 1-2 2-2 5, Killian 1-4 1-2 3. Totals: 17-57 5-7 47.

Halftime score: NKU 30, ON 15. 3-pointers: NKU 3-9 (St-Preux 1-1, Kelsey 1-2, Rowland 1-1, Howell 0-2, B. Stowers 0-3); ON 8-25 (Conrad 0-7, Bostelman 2-5, Fries 5-11, Lieb 1-2). Records: NKU 8-0, ON 2-6.

Women

Xavier 82, Pittsburgh 65

Reetta Piipari scored 17 points and totaled six assists, giving her a school-record 549 for her career, to lead the Musketeers (7-1) at Cintas Center.

Piipari surpassed Nikki Kremer's record of 545, set from 1995-99. She earned the record when she assisted on Alexis Henderson's layup with 9:49 left in the first half.

Amy Waugh led Xavier with 22 points. Henderson added 14 points for the Musketeers and Tara Boothe scored 13.

Freshman Kristy Wallner had 11 rebounds for Xavier, a career high. The Musketeers had a 45-30 rebounding edge on the Panthers (6-3).

Xavier led by as many as 24 points in the first half, and held a 40-23 advantage at halftime.

XAVIER (82) - Booth 5-9 3-3 13, Henderson 5-10 4-4 14, Waugh 6-13 5-5 22, Piipari 7-12 1-1 17, Wallner 2-4 1-2 5, Statuto 1-1 2-2 4, Wells 1-4 0-0 2, Sarajlija 2-6 1-3 5. Totals: 29-59 17-20 82.

PITTSBURGH (65) - Williams 4-6 0-1 8, Wittenmeyer 2-7 1-2 5, Stewart 4-13 4-4 15, Kunich 0-6 2-2 2, Selwyn 6-17 5-5 17, Allen 3-3 0-0 9, Hargruth 2-5 0-0 6, Kincaid 1-2 1-3 3. Totals: 22-63 13-17 65.

Halftime score: X 40, P 23. 3-pointers: X 7-19 (Waugh 5-11, Piipari 2-6, Wallner 0-2); P 8-22 (Stewart 3-8, Kunich 0-4, Selwyn 0-2, Allen 3-3, Hargruth 2-4, Stufflet 0-1. Records: X 7-1, P 6-3.

Cincinnati 88,

Bowling Green 57

Debbie Merrill scored 20 points to help UC improve to 13-0 in Bearcat Invitational play.

Valerie King scored 14 points for Cincinnati (6-2) in the first-round game. The Bearcats will play Louisiana-Lafayette, a 64-42 winner over Savannah State, at 4 p.m. today for the tournament championship.

"We came out and guarded well in the first half," said UC coach Laurie Pirtle. "We still gave up too many open 3s, and that will hurt us if it happens again tomorrow."

Cincinnati led 46-25 at halftime and extended its advantage with the help of 53-percent field-goal shooting (16-of-30) in the second half.

Lindsay Austin, a Sycamore graduate, led the Falcons with 14 points. Kim Griech scored 11 points for Bowling Green (4-4), which will play Savannah State at 2 p.m. today in the consolation game.

CINCINNATI (88)-Alexander 3-6 0-0 6, Young 4-9 2-2 10, Merrill 8-15 4-7 20, Sharp 3-7 5-6 12, King 3-12 6-6 14, Dozier 2-5 0-0 6, Harvey 1-2 1-2 4, Piepho 0-0 0-0 0, Hillman 1-3 0-0 2, Stevenson 2-3 0-0 4, Williams 0-0 0-0 0, Stephens 5-5 0-0 10. Totals: 32-67 18-23 88.

BOWLING GREEN (57)-Wnzel 1-1 2-2 4, Miller 0-3 2-2 2, Stocz 0-1 0-0 0, Austin 6-14 1-1 14, Griech 3-8 2-2 11, Anderson 2-5 0-1 5, Martin 0-1 0-0 0, M. Smith 1-4 0-0 3, Jerome 0-2 0-0 0, Lewis 3-5 1-2 7, Brown 3-6 1-1 7, S. Smith 2-2 0-0 4, Lause 0-2 0-0 0. Totals: 21-54 9-11 57.

Halftime: UC 46, BG 25. 3-pointers: UC 6-21 (Alexander 0-1, Sharp 1-3, King 2-8, Dozier 2-5, Harvey 1-2, Hillman 0-2), BG 6-17 (Miller 0-2, Austin 1-1, Griech 3-5, Anderson 1-4, Martin 0-1, M. Smith 1-4). Rebounds: UC 38 (Sharp 8), BG 30 (Austin 4). Assists: UC 21 (Sharp 8), BG 10 (Lewis 6). Records: UC 6-2, BG 4-4.

Kentucky 108, Miami 102

Rita Adams scored 29 points for the Wildcats, who overcame a 12-point deficit in the second half.

The RedHawks led 53-41 at halftime after making 21 of their 41 field-goal attempts (51 percent). But they couldn't hold off UK, which shot 57 percent in the second half (36-of-63).

The Wildcats made 11 of their 14 3-pointer attempts (79 percent).

Colleen Day scored 22 points and Jana Butler had 20 to lead Miami. Heather Cusick finished with 16 points for the RedHawks (6-4).

Jennifer Humphrey had 15 points and 11 boards for UK (4-4).

KENTUCKY (108)- Potts 5-10 7-9 21, Humphrey 6-10 3-7 15, Helm 4-9 4-6 12, Adams 11-13 5-7 29, Pfeiffer 5-14 0-0 14, Ellis 0-0 2-4 2, Payne 2-2 1-4 6, Jones 3-5 0-0 6, Tate 0-0 3-4 3. Totals: 36-63 25-41 108.

MIAMI (102)- Day 8-12 4-4 22, Butler 8-13 4-4 20, Merill 4-10 4-6 13, Cusick 6-17 4-4 16, Roederer 3-8 2-4 8, Moota 0-1 0-0 0, Kozlowski 3-7 0-2 9, Smith 2-4 0-0 4, Lancaster 5-8 0-0 10. Totals: 39-80 18-24 102.

Halftime: MU 53, UK 41. 3-pointers: UK 11-14 (Potts 4-5, Adams 2-2, Pfeiffer 4-6, Payne 1-1), MU 6-17 (Day 2-2, Merill 1-2, Cusick 0-5, Roederer 0-2, Motto 0-1, Kozlowski 3-5). Rebounds: UK 40 (Humphrey 11), MU 39 (Merill 6). Assists: UK 15 (Adams 8), MU 20 (Roederer 6).

Wilmington 69,

Mount St. Joseph 53

Megan Woodruff scored 22 points and Tara Rausch had 18 for the Quakers.

Siobhan Zerilla grabbed 15 rebounds, including 14 on defense, for Wilmington (6-2), which beat the Mount 51-45 on the boards.

Tasha Reid had 20 points and Emily Day added 10 for the Lions. Virginia Grace chipped in nine points and 11 rebounds for the Mount (7-2).

The Lions were held to 19-percent first-half shooting (8-of-43).

MOUNT ST. JOSEPH (53)-Petty 0-8 1-2 1, Day 2-14 4-4 10, Reid 8-24 1-4 20, Grace 4-7 1-2 9, Meyer 2-9 0-0 4, Campbell 0-2 0-0 0, Grilliot 2-6 1-2 5, Brown 1-7 2-4 4. Totals: 19-77 10-18 53.

WILMINGTON (69)- Zerilla 0-5 2-2 2, Rausch 8-15 2-2 18, Woodruff 6-8 8-8 22, Stauffer 2-4 0-0 4, Kincer 3-9 2-2 8, Erford 0-1 0-0 0, Cummins 2-6 0-2 5, Andrea 0-1 0-0 0, Glaser 2-3 0-0 5, Williams 0-0 0-0 0, Thomas 2-3 0-0 5, Clark 0-1 0-0 0, Koenig 0-0 0-0 0, Barga 0-1 0-0 0, Wolf 0-1 0-0 0, Morris 0-0 0-0 0, Liming 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 25-28 14-16 69.

Halftime: WC 30, MSJ 18. 3-pointers: WC 5-13 (Rausch 0-1, Woodruff 2-4, Kincer 0-1, Cummins 1-4, Glaser 1-2, Thomas 1-1), MSJ 5-15 (Day 2-10, Reid 3-5). Rebounds: WC 51 (Zerilla 15), MSJ 45 (Grace 11). Assists: WC 8 (Woodruff 4), MSJ 9 (Day 4). Records: WC 6-2, MSJ 7-2.

CINCINNATI STATE 76, CUYAHOGA C.C. 32

CINCINNATI STATE (76) - Raven 1 0 3, Montgomery 3 0 9, Smart 3 0 6, Polk 5 0 10, Billengsly 5 1 11, Anderson 3 0 8, Hollingsworth 2 0 5, Head 3 0 6, Bailey 3 0 6, Silas 3 0 6, Fluker 3 0 6. Totals: 34 1 76.

CUYAHOGA C.C. (32) - Hull 1 0 2, Durham 2 0 5, James 3 0 8, Wells 2 4 8, Gamble 2 1 5, Potts 1 0 2, Lee 1 0 2. Totals: 12 5 32.

Halftime score: CS 39, CCC 13. 3-pointers: CS 7 (Raven, Montgomery 3, Anderson 2, Hollingsworth); CCC 3 (Durham, James 2).

NORTHERN KENTUCKY 79,

CARSON-NEWMAN 68

NKU (79)-Myers 12-14 0-0 24, Mobley 5-7 5-8 17, Polosky 4-5 1-2 12, Burrows 1-4 2-2 4, Flanagan 6-14 0-0 16, Newton 0-0 0-0 0, Marx 0-0 0-0 0, Sterling 1-1 0-0 2, Snardon 0-0 1-2 1, Brock 1-4 0-0 3. Totals: 30-49 9-14 79.

CARSON-NEWMAN (68)-Dunn 4-6 1-2 9, Parker 1-3 2-3 4, Long 1-2 2-2 4, Fitzgerald 5-15 1-3 11, Ashburn 3-10 0-0 8, Madar 5-7 3-4 13, Sullivan 0-0 0-0 0, Jackson 4-7 0-0 12, Buziewicz 1-2 1-1 3, Avrett 2-3 0-0 4, Klement 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 26-55 10-15 68.

Halftime: NKU 36, CN 34. 3-pointers: NKU 10-21 (Mobley 2-4, Polosky 3-4, Burrows 0-3, Flanagan 4-8, Brock 1-2), CN 6-13 (Long 0-1, Fitzgerald 0-2, Ashburn 2-4, Jackson 4-5, Buziewicz 0-1). Rebounds: NKU 28 (Myers 5, Mobley 5, Brock 5), CN 26 (Dunn 4, Parker 4, Ashburn 4). Assists: NKU 23 (Brock 6), CN 9 (Long 3, Ashburn 3). Records: NKU 6-2, CN 4-4.

WITTENBERG 76, THOMAS MORE 70

THOMAS MORE (70)-Clift 2-5 0-0 4, Baumann 0-0 0-0 0, Schroeder 7-14 1-2 19, Bess 3-5 2-3 8, Roberts 7-15 5-6 23, Will 0-6 1-4 1, Stein 2-3 0-0 5, Noll 0-0 0-0 0, Byars 0-4 0-0 0, Simmons 0-0 0-0 0, Hoffman 0-2 0-0 0, Matracia 5-8 0-0 10. Totals: 26-62 9-15 70.

WITTENBERG (76)-Warden 3-7 2-3 9, Meers 1-3 0-0 2, Fischer 1-6 1-2 3, Campbell 2-9 3-4 7, Rolf 8-13 5-5 25, Keller 2-7 1-2 5, Bishop 8-10 1-1 17, Schmid 1-3 0-0 2, Bruggeman 3-6 0-0 6, Kitchen 0-0 0-0 0, Jones 0-0 0-0 0, Muir 0-0 0-0 0, Dindo 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 29-64 13-17 76.

Halftime: TMC 38, WC 30. 3-pointers: TMC 9-23 (Clift 0-2, Schroeder 4-5, Bess 0-1, Roberts 4-8, Will 0-4, Stein 1-2, Hoffman 0-1), WC 5-18 (Warden 1-2, Fischer 0-4, Campbell 0-2, Rolf 4-8, Schmid 0-2). Rebounds: TMC 33 (Schroeder 8), WC 42 (Rolf 7). Assists: TMC 15 (Bess 5), WC 17 (Warden 3, Campbell 3, Rolf 3). Records: TMC 6-3, WC 5-3.