FAIRBORN, Ohio (Interstat) — The Northern Kentucky women’s basketball team used a dominant second half to turn a tight Horizon League contest into a decisive road victory, defeating Wright State 82-56 on Saturday at the Ervin J. Nutter Center.

The Norse, who led by just a single point at halftime, outscored the Raiders 50-23 over the final two quarters to secure their third consecutive conference win and improve to 10-11 overall and 5-3 in the Horizon League. Wright State fell to 6-14 overall and 2-6 in league play.

The game’s pivotal shift occurred in the third quarter. After a first half characterized by missed shots and turnovers from both sides, Northern Kentucky emerged from the locker room with a decisive 26-point period. The Norse shot 10 of 16 from the field in the quarter, while their defense held the Raiders to just 12 points on 5-of-17 shooting. This 14-point swing transformed a 32-31 halftime lead into a 58-43 advantage heading into the final period, a margin from which Wright State never recovered.

Northern Kentucky’s offensive efficiency was the story of the game. The Norse scored 82 points on 72 possessions, translating to an offensive rating of 114.3. They shot 47% from the field overall and a perfect 10 for 10 from the free-throw line. Their ball movement and interior dominance were key, as they outscored Wright State 38-16 in the paint and generated 18 points off 15 Raider turnovers.

Taysha Rushton, a 5-foot-5 guard from Midland, Texas, led all scorers with 17 points and added six assists in 35 minutes to pace the Norse. Karina Bystry of Englewood, Tennessee, contributed 15 points, while Abby Wolterman of West Chester, Ohio, and Maddie Moody of Kettering, Ohio, each added 14. Mia Jordan, a 6-3 forward from Australia, chipped in 10 points off the bench.

Wright State, which managed an offensive rating of just 78.1 on its 72 possessions, was led by Breezie Williams of Canton, Ohio, who finished with 14 points, four assists and a block. Maja Dilen of Stockholm, Sweden, scored 11 points, and Ellie Magestro-Kennedy of Stoughton, Wisconsin, added 10. The Raiders struggled from the floor, shooting 34.4% and committing 15 turnovers against only three assists.

The first half was a back-and-forth affair. Wright State held a 19-17 lead after the first quarter, but Northern Kentucky’s defense tightened in the second, holding the Raiders to 14 points to take a narrow 32-31 lead into the break. The Raiders’ last lead came at 33-32 early in the third quarter before Northern Kentucky unleashed the game-deciding run.

The Norse’s fourth quarter was equally impressive, as they poured in 24 points to seal the victory, including a late 3-pointer from reserve Gabby Razzano of Mason, Ohio. Northern Kentucky’s bench outscored Wright State’s 23-11.

The attendance was 1,101. According to Interstat’s ELO system, Northern Kentucky entered the game with a 72.3% probability to win.

Northern Kentucky will look to continue its momentum on the road at IU Indy on Wednesday. Wright State returns to action at home against Robert Morris next Sunday.