UNI Shoots Past SIU For Spot In MVC Title Game

Saturday, March 12

Moline, Ill.

1:30 p.m.

University of Northern Iowa

(15-322-9 MVC)

Southern Illinois

20-12 (12-6MVC)

Southern Illinois

UNI

UNI Shoots Past SIU For Spot In MVC Title Game

3/12/2016 4:18:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

MOLINE, Ill. – The University of Northern Iowa women's basketball team held the Southern Illinois Salukis to 28 percent from the floor in a 67-43 win over the Salukis, earning the Panthers a spot in the MVC Tournament championship game tomorrow at 2 p.m. UNI improved to 22-9 overall this season.

Junior Madison Weekly scored a game-high 21 points while Jen Keitel added 10 points. Sharnae Lamar and Mikaela both added eight points each, while the Panthers held all 12 of the Salukis that saw action to single-digit scoring.

The Panthers came out firing from all cylinders, shooting 75 percent from the arc in the first six minutes of the game, allowing them to jump out to a 13-8 lead with 3:44 on the clock in the first quarter. The Panthers turned it into a 12-2 run that included three NBA-range threes from Weekly, giving them a 20-11 lead at the end of the quarter.

UNI held the Salukis without a point through the 5:53 mark in the second quarter, while the Panthers took a 27-13 lead on another deep three from Weekly. UNI continued its game of runs, going on a 7-0 run that included a shot-clock buzzer-beating three from Morgan to put UNI up 39-15 with 1:39 left to play in the quarter. The Panthers headed into halftime up 41-17 while shooting 59 percent from the field and out-rebounding the Salukis, 21-15.

UNI started the third quarter with a strong paint presence with its first six points of the period coming on layups to take a 47-25 lead at the 5:36 mark. Twelve of UNI's 13 third-quarter points came from layups with six different players contributing to UNI's 54-33 lead heading into the fourth quarter. UNI not only took a 21-point lead in the third period, but also held the Salukis to just two made three-pointers through the first three quarters (20 percent).

UNI continued to fire away in the fourth quarter with 6:32 on the clock when Amber Sorenson added to UNI's made threes to give the Panthers a 61-34 lead and tie the school record for threes made in a season at 89. UNI held the Salukis to 16-percent shooting from the three in the second half, keeping them from cutting UNI's lead down and giving UNI its championship spot.

The Panthers will play the winner of the semifinal game between Missouri State and Drake. The championship game is set for 2 p.m. Sun., March 13, in the iWireless Center. For information on tickets, visit the Hoops in the Heartland homepage.

Post-Game Notes vs. Southern Illinois

UNI defeated Southern Illinois in the semifinals of the MVC Tournament, advancing to its third championship appearance in school history and third under the direction of Tanya Warren.
Madison Weekly has reached 20 or more points in four straight games, giving her 557 on the season. It ranks her second all-time at UNI in season points and No. 4 all-time in season scoring average (18.0 ppg).
Amber Sorenson tied the school record for three-pointers made in a season at 89, tying the record that Jacqui Kalin set during the 2012-13 season. She now holds the No. 1 and No. 3 spots on the season all-time list with Madison Weekly also earning No. 4 (84 in 2015-16)and No. 5 (77 in 2014-15) all-time in season threes made.
Madison Weekly has led UNI in scoring in 21 of UNI's 31 games this season.
UNI finished the game against Southern Illinois with eight made three-pointers, the 18^th game this season that the Panthers have scored eight-or-more from the arc. UNI has 234 total this season, ranking No. 5 all-time at UNI in season records.
Hannah Schonhardt led the team in rebounding against the Salukis, bringing in a season-high nine boards.