HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky.  – Redshirt junior Joyea Marshall posted her first career double-double in a Sycamore uniform but Indiana State could hang on as it fell to Northern Kentucky, 73-67, on Sunday afternoon at BB&T Arena.

Redshirt senior guard Cierra Ceazer paced the Sycamores with 18 points to lead scoring while Marshall put in 17 points and added 10 rebounds along with two blocks and two assists. Senior guard Alexis Newbolt, playing in front of a nearby Cincinnati hometown crowd, added 13 points on 5-for-9 shooting on the afternoon.

Freshman guard Jennifer Mackowiak added seven assists, the most assists in a game for a Sycamore since the 2013-14 season.

Indiana State jumped out to an 8-0 lead to begin the first quarter and ultimately led to a series of runs throughout the first half for both sides. The Norse would answer with an 8-0 run of their own to tie the contest and stretched it to as many as six in the opening frame.

Mackowiak's layup as the buzzer expired cut the Sycamores deficit down four after the first quarter (14-18) but NKU would extend its lead to as many as seven with 7:40 to play in the second.

ISU was then sparked by a 9-0 run of its own, regaining a lead after a Ceazer 3-pointer at the 3:05 mark. They would go on to win the second quarter (21-15) and take a 35-33 lead at half behind a 41.2 field goal percentage in the half.

Newbolt came out to hit a bucket to start the third quarter but it was a stall in the offense from there as NKU went on a 7-0 run to take a 40-37 lead. Indiana State got help as it played in the bonus for the final 4:41 of the third quarter, getting eight points off free throws in the period.

The scored changed hands three times and featured two times in the quarter but freshman guard Tierra Webb gave the Sycamores the edge by draining a three in the corner for a 55-51 lead.

ISU would hold onto the lead for the first seven minutes of the fourth, as Newbolt used the glass on a triple to put her team up by five at the five minute mark. But it was the final three minutes of the ballgame that doomed Indiana State, as it committed three costly turnovers and let the Norse go on a 9-4 run to close the game.

COACH'S CORNER

GAME CHANGER

Indiana State's miscues in the final three minutes of the ballgame cost the team a win inside BB&T Arena on Sunday afternoon. The Sycamores were also out-rebounded 49-32 and the Norse took a 20-8 edge on the offensive glass as well.

SYCAMORE LEADERS

Points – Cierra Ceazer (18)

Rebounds – Joyea Marshall (10)

Assists – Jennifer Mackowiak (7)

Steals – Jennifer Mackowiak (3)

Blocks – Three players (2)

ABOUT THE SQUAD

Field Goal % - 41.2

Free Throw % - 75.0

Assists – 10

Steals – 5

Rebounds - 32

RECORDS
Indiana State: 0-2

Northern Kentucky: 2-0

IMPORTANT NUMBERS

2 – Indiana State drops two games to open the season for the first time since 2008-09

7 – Freshman guard Jennifer Mackowiak's seven assists were the most in a game since Bilqis Abdul-Qaadir posted eight on multiple occasion in the 2013-14 season

17, 10 – Redshirt junior Joyea Marshall posted her first ISU double-double with 17 points and 10 rebounds – tying her career-high in points and setting a new career mark in rebounds as a Sycamore

18 – Redshirt senior Cierra Ceazer also accomplished a new career-high with 18 points in the loss

UP NEXT

Indiana State makes its home debut with three straight games inside Hulman Center beginning Thursday when it welcomes Eastern Illinois. Tipoff is set for 7:05 p.m. ET and will be the first Sycamore Women's Basketball game live on The Valley on ESPN3.

For the latest information on the Sycamore Women's Basketball team, make sure to check out GoSycamores.com. You can also find the team on social media including Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.