Loyola Defeats UNI, 64-60

Friday, January 29

Chicago, Ill.

7 p.m.

University of Northern Iowa

11-8 (6-2MVC)

Loyola

10-9 (6-2MVC)

UNI

Loyola

Loyola Defeats UNI, 64-60

1/29/2016 9:17:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

CHICAGO, Ill – The University of Northern Iowa women's basketball team fell to the Loyola Ramblers on Friday night, 64-60. UNI is 11-8 overall this season and 6-2 in conference play.

Madison Weekly hit consecutive three-pointers with less than three minutes to play in the game to give UNI a three-point lead, but after going cold from the field, Loyola was able to counter with a 7-0 run of their own, knocking in two threes, including one with 12 seconds left to seal the win.

The Panthers were led by Weekly with 20 points, two rebounds and one assist. Amber Sorenson added 19 points and eight rebounds while Jen Keitel recorded a double-double with 16 points and 10 boards.

UNI got out to a strong start against the Ramblers, shooting 5-of-7 from the field, with Sorenson and Keitel combining for UNI's first 11 points of the game. The Panthers then went cold late in the first quarter on a 3:46 scoring drought, allowing Loyola to take an 18-13 lead while going on an 9-0 run.

The Panthers opened the second quarter with back-to-back three-pointers from Weekly and Sorenson, taking a 19-18 lead in just the first thirty seconds, but Loyola quickly took back the lead with five unanswered points from Taylor Johnson to make it 26-24 with 5:46 on the clock.

The Ramblers took a five-point lead on a layup from Taylor Manuel, but two free throws and a jump shot with four seconds left in the half from Weekly cut the Loyola lead to 33-30 heading into the third quarter.
Sorenson came out of halftime with a hot hand, putting UNI back within a point of Loyola, scoring back-to-back-to-back three-pointers along with two free throws, making it 42-41 with 5:45 left in the third quarter. The Panthers and Loyola continued to trade the lead deep into the quarter, with Keitel scoring UNI's last four points of the period, tying the score 50-50 heading into the fourth.

UNI trailed by three points with 6:31 left in the game, but Weekly drained consecutive threes to put UNI up 60-57 with less than three minutes on the clock while Loyola went on a scoring drought for over four minutes. Loyola returned the favor with a 7-0 run, forcing UNI to go 2-of-11 from the field and scoreless over the last 2:53 of the game, picking up the 64-60 win.

The Panthers will return to action on Sunday, Jan. 31 when the play against Bradley in Peoria, Ill. The game is set to tip off at 2 p.m. CT.

Post-Game Notes vs. Loyola

Madison Weekly led the Panthers with 20 points, her second game in a row with 20-or-more points. It is the sixth time this season that the junior has reached the 20-point mark. She moved into eighth all-time at UNI in career scoring average, with 12.7 points per game through 76 games.
Jen Keitel finished the game with 16 points and 10 rebounds, her first double-double of the season. She is the third player for UNI to reach a double-double this season, joining Amber Sorenson and Sharnae Lamar.
Sharnae Lamar finished the game against Loyola with a game-high 10 assists. It is the second consecutive game she has had 10-or-more assists and the third game this season she has reached the mark. She is averaging 5.6 a game this year, ranking her third all-time in season assists average.