Southern Illinois Edges UNI, 65-60

Sunday, January 3

Cedar Falls, Iowa

2 p.m.

University of Northern Iowa

6-7, 1-1

Southern Illinois

9-5, 2-0

Southern Illinois

UNI

Southern Illinois Edges UNI, 65-60

1/3/2016 4:52:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa – The University of Northern Iowa women's basketball team battled the Southern Illinois Salukis on Sunday afternoon, but fell 65-60. UNI is 6-7 overall this season and 1-1 in MVC play.

Madison Weekly scored a game and career-high 28 points, shooting 50 percent from the arc. Amber Sorenson chipped in 15 points on five made threes with Stephanie Davison adding eight points, an assist and a steal.

The Panthers and the Salukis traded the lead early in the first quarter, with UNI regaining the advantage at the 6:31 mark when Weekly knocked down her second trey of the game. The junior scored all 10 of UNI's first 10 points of the game, giving them a 10-8 lead.

After Southern Illinois took the lead heading into the second quarter, UNI quickly tied the game 16-16 on a quick pass and shoot play from Sharnae Lamar and Jen Keitel. The Panthers then headed into a scoring drought for over four minutes before Sorenson hit a pivotal three-pointer at the 5:30 mark in the quarter to make it 21-19 in SIU's favor.

UNI continued to battle for the lead, taking a one-point advantage with less than four minutes to play in the second quarter when Lamar found Mikaela Morgan open on the wing for a three-pointer. The Panthers struggled from the field late in the quarter, with SIU going 4-for-4 in the last two minutes to take a 33-26 lead into halftime.

The Salukis started the third quarter by taking an 11-point lead against the Panthers, but UNI continued to press, cutting it to a six-point game. With an 8-0 run, including six points from two treys off Sorenson, the Panthers made it a three-point game, holding SIU scoreless for over four minutes while cutting their lead to 39-36 with less than six minutes left in the quarter.

UNI headed into the fourth quarter down 45-41 after Sorenson knocked down a deep three-pointer with just six seconds left in the third. The Salukis stayed hot from the field to start the final quarter, going 4-for-4 to take a 54-43 lead with 6:48 left to play.

The Panthers countered, going 4-for-5 from the field that included an NBA range three from Weekly, making it 59-53 with 2:51 on the clock. Shooting 66.7 percent from the arc in the fourth quarter, the Salukis made it tough on UNI to keep it close, but the Panthers pressed on, hitting another three-pointer off Sorenson, cutting it back down to a three-point game with 1:12 on the clock.

UNI was forced to foul in the final minute of the game, with Southern Illinois able to edge the Panthers with the final score of 65-60. UNI will return to action when they hit the road to take on Wichita State (Jan. 8 at 7 p.m.) and Missouri State (Jan. 10 at 2 p.m.).

Post-Game Notes vs. Southern Illinois

Junior Madison Weekly scored a career-high 28 points against Southern Illinois, finishing with a career-high 11 made field goals. She is averaging 16.4 points per game this season, giving her 12.2 points per game in her career to rank her 11^th all-time at UNI.
Both of Madison Weekly's career-high games have come against Southern Illinois. She scored 28 points in today's contest, beating her previous career-high of 27 that she set against SIU on Jan. 9, 2015.
Amber Sorenson finished the game with five made three-pointers against the Salukis. It is the fourth game this season she has had five-or-more and the 12^th time in her career.
Senior Sharnae Lamar has started all 13 games for UNI at point guard this season. She finished with four assists against Southern Illinois, marking the seventh game this season she has had four-or-more dimes.
Madison Weekly has scored in double-digits in 12 consecutive games for UNI this season. Her 28 points against Southern Illinois is the 11^th game in her career she has reached the 20-point mark and the third game this season.