Panthers Post A 79-68 Win Over Denver

Saturday, November 26

Phoenix, Ariz.

2 p.m.

University of Northern Iowa

4-2

Denver

1-3

UNI

DEN

Panthers Post A 79-68 Win Over Denver

11/26/2016 4:50:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

PHOENIX, Ariz. – The University of Northern Iowa women's basketball team posted a 79-68 win over the University of Denver Pioneers on Saturday afternoon, clinching its second win in the Grand Canyon Thanksgiving Tournament. UNI improved to 4-2 overall this season.

The Panthers out-rebounded the Pioneers 50-28 while draining nine three-pointers, eventually causing separation in the game. UNI finished with three double-digit scorers with Madison Weekly leading the way again with 22 points. Mikaela Morgan scored a career-high 16 points in her second-career start, adding five rebounds and three dimes. Megan Maahs also contributed a career-high 16 points, including going 8-for-9 from the charity stripe with her eight rebounds.

Weekly scored nine of UNI's 18 first quarter points, heading into the second quarter with a two-point lead. Five of Weekly's nine points were the first five points of the game, with UNI leading 5-3 with 7:16 on the clock. Denver was able to take the lead twice in the first quarter, but back-to-back buckets from Hannah Schonhardt in the final minutes of the quarter gave UNI its 18-16 advantage.

The Panthers quickly jumped out to a 27-18 lead to start the second quarter after UNI went on a 9-2 run to begin the period. UNI turned it into an 11-point lead with 6:47 on the clock when Maahs got down to business in the lane, scoring a layup and three shots from the charity stripe to give UNI a 29-18 lead.

Free throws and points from the arc proved to be the difference in the first half, with UNI gaining a 41-25 advantage at halftime. The Panthers shot 81-percent from the free throw line, including Maahs going 6-for-7 in the first two quarters. UNI also shot 42-percent from the three, including three in a row from Morgan and Weekly to end the half and give UNI a 16-point lead.

The threes continued to rain down for the Panthers in the third quarter, with Angie Davison hitting back-to-back shots from the arc to make the score 53-35 with 4:37 on the clock. Denver was able to put an 8-0 run together to end the third quarter though, cutting the UNI lead to 61-47 heading into the final quarter of the game.

Denver came out firing in the fourth, going on a 9-2 run to make it an eight-point game with just 6:22 remaining. The Pioneers kept the pressure up in the fourth quarter, keeping it a 10-point game twice, but UNI answered with clutch shots from Weekly and a three-pointer from Abby Gerrits to keep them at bay for the win.

UNI returns to action when they host the South Dakota State Jackrabbits on Thursday, Dec. 1 in the McLeod Center. The game is set for a 7 p.m. CT tip on ESPN3.

Post-Game Notes vs. Denver

Megan Maahs has scored in double-digits in back-to-back games, scoring 16 against Denver. The freshman also put in a career-high eight free throws, going 8-for-9.
Mikaela Morgan scored a career-high 16 points against Denver, including going 4-for-4 from the three point line in the first half. She is shooting 46-percent from the arc this season.
Madison Weekly scored 20-plus points for the second time this season, putting in 22 against Denver. She scored two three-point field goals today, moving her into a tie for fifth all-time at UNI in career threes made with 200.
Hannah Schonhardt led the Panthers in rebounds with nine, moving her into ninth all-time at UNI in career defensive rebounds. She has 409 through 103 career games.