---Jessie Slack

QUINCY, Ill. - Jessie Slack scored 28 points as Northern Kentucky University captured the Great Lakes Valley Conference Tournament championship by rallying for a 77-72 win against Quincy on Sunday.

Slack netted 16 points in the second half as NKU (28-2) rallied from a 37-30 deficit at the break to win its 11th consecutive game. Quincy (26-4) led by as many as 14 points in the first half, but NKU used a 9-2 run to get within seven at the break.

A 21-5 NKU run early in the second half gave the Norse a 58-49 lead with 10:13 left on the clock. Slack poured in 10 points, including a pair of 3-pointers, to key that spurt.

Quincy eventually regained the lead at 65-63 with 3:31 remaining, but Rachel Lantry and Slack each made four consecutive free throws to give NKU a 67-65 advantage.

After Quincy took a 70-69 lead with 1:21 left, Kendra Caldwell countered with a basket at the 1:01 mark to give NKU a 71-70 edge. Karen Brackman and Slack each made four free throws to give NKU a 75-70 advantage, and Lantry later sealed the win by hitting two free throws.

Lantry finished with 12 points for NKU, which held Quincy to 28.2 percent shooting from the field in the second half. Slack was named the GLVC Tournament’s most valuable player as NKU snapped Quincy's 16-game winning streak.

NKU's Cassie Brannen was also named to the all-tournament team. Caldwell sparked NKU with nine points and eight rebounds.

NKU is the No. 1 seed and host for the NCAA Division II Midwest Regional. The Norse will meet eighth-seeded Grand Valley State (20-9) in The Bank of Kentucky Center at 6 p.m. Friday in the first round.

BOX SCORE


NCAA Division II Midwest Regional (at Highland Heights, Ky.)

The Bank of Kentucky Center (9,400)

Friday, March 13 (All times Eastern)
Game 1. #3 Quincy (26-4) vs. #6 Drury (19-9), noon
Game 2. #2 Hillsdale (27-3) vs. #7 Indianapolis (22-9), 2:30 p.m.
Game 3: #1 Northern Kentucky (28-2) vs. #8 Grand Valley State (20-9), 6 p.m.
Game 4: #4 Michigan Tech (24-6) vs. #5 Northwood (21-7), 8:30 p.m.

Saturday, March 14
Semifinal 1: Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner, 6 p.m.
Semifinal 2: Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 winner, 8:30 p.m.

Monday, March 16
Semifinal 1 winner vs. Semifinal 2 winner, 7 p.m.