HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. (Interstat) — A disastrous first half doomed the IU Indy women’s basketball team as the Jaguars fell to Northern Kentucky 63-44 in a Horizon League contest Friday night at Regents Hall.

The Jaguars managed just eight points in the opening 20 minutes, their lowest-scoring half of the season, and could not overcome the massive deficit despite a more competitive second half. The Norse, meanwhile, used a decisive 20-point second quarter to build an insurmountable lead and snap a two-game skid.

The game’s defining stretch came in the second quarter, where Northern Kentucky seized complete control. Leading 10-4 after a sloppy first period from both sides, the Norse outscored IU Indy 20-4 in the frame. The Jaguars’ offensive struggles reached a nadir, shooting a frigid 1-for-14 from the field in the quarter while committing seven turnovers. Northern Kentucky’s Maddie Moody, a 6-foot-1 guard from Kettering, Ohio, was instrumental in the run, scoring seven of her team-high 15 points during the period, including a three-point play. Her backcourt mate, Karina Bystry of Englewood, Tennessee, added five points in the quarter as the Norse methodically built a 30-8 halftime advantage.

IU Indy’s offense, which entered the game averaging over 66 points per contest, was completely stifled. The Jaguars finished the night shooting 28.6% from the field and were an abysmal 0-for-15 from three-point range. Their 21 turnovers led to 19 Northern Kentucky points.

The Jaguars showed signs of life after the break, matching their entire first-half output with an 18-point third quarter. E’Zaria Adams and Hailey Smith provided sparks, combining for 10 points in the period as IU Indy cut the deficit to 46-26 heading to the fourth. The Jaguars again scored 18 in the final quarter, but the Norse consistently answered every run to maintain their comfortable margin.

Northern Kentucky’s victory was anchored by its defense and a balanced scoring effort. Bystry led all scorers with 16 points, while Moody filled the stat sheet with 15 points, four assists and a block. Mya Meredith added eight points and two assists for the Norse, who improved to 5-11 overall and evened their Horizon League record.

For IU Indy, Smith, a guard from Fishers, Indiana, led the way with eight points. Adams contributed eight points off the bench, and Julia Hall added seven. The Jaguars’ 44 points marked a season low, as they fell to 5-9 overall and 1-2 in league play.

Despite the loss, IU Indy’s defense forced 23 Norse turnovers and recorded 11 steals. However, Northern Kentucky’s significant advantages in field goal percentage (43.4% to 28.6%) and offensive rebounding (14-8) proved too much to overcome.

The game was played in front of an announced crowd of 1,086. Both teams return to Horizon League action this weekend, with Northern Kentucky hosting Detroit on Sunday and IU Indy traveling to face Fort Wayne on Monday.