Northern Kentucky Sports Chronicle

(This article was originally published on March 27, 2000) By Sean Keeler Post staff reporter PINE BLUFF, Ark. — The Northern Kentucky University women's basketball team, coming off a 2000 NCAA Division II national championship Saturday, has more than enough pieces coming back this fall to make a repeat run. NKU returns all five starters from this season's national champion. The roster is composed of four juniors, two sophomores and four freshmen. While the program has maintained a standard of excellence — a 62-5 record over the last two seasons, 32 wins this year — the Norse know they've become an extra-special marquee game for their opponents next season. “We already know we have a big target on our backs for next season,” said junior guard Michele Tuchfarber, who had nine points, six rebounds, four assists and three steals in a 71-62 overtime win over North Dakota State. It’s a role that was more familiar to the favored Bison, whose program had won five national titles. I...

(This column was originally published on Jan. 9, 2019) O ne minute they’re on a flight to the state of Washington. Next is a long bus ride to Michigan. A few days later, they’re in Florida. Oh, and they do actually play a home game or two before jumping on the next jet to Texas. No, it’s not the Harlem Globetrotters. And, guess again, because it’s not an NBA team. It’s actually the women’s basketball team at Thomas More University — unbeaten at 22-0 and ranked No. 2 nationally in the NCAA Division III poll. How’d you like to go from Walla Walla, Washington, one weekend to Holland, Mich., the next? Not to mention a trip to Florida four days later. That’s six games in 12 days. And they’re college kids, not professionals. Despite all the travel and the challenges of being an NCAA Division III independent this season, Thomas More continues to win. They’ve beaten seven nationally ranked Division III teams, knocked off a pair of solid NAIA squads — including No. 18 Lindsey Wilson by 34 poi...