Stout Defense Delivers Win for UNI Over Evansville

Friday, January 12

Cedar Falls, Iowa

7 p.m.

University of Northern Iowa

7-9 (3-2MVC)

Evansville (Bingo night)

3-12 (0-4MVC)

Evansville

UNI

Stout Defense Delivers Win for UNI Over Evansville

1/12/2018 9:50:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

FINAL STATS

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa – A fantastic defensive effort propelled the University of Northern Iowa women's basketball team (7-9, 3-2 MVC) to a 65-41 victory on Friday night as the Panthers dispatched Evansville (3-12, 0-4 MVC) at home.

With the win, the Panthers improved to 7-9 overall and 3-2 in conference play, while the Purple Aces fell to 3-12 and remained winless in league action.

The 41 points given up by the Panthers matched their second-lowest total of the season. UNI forced 21 turnovers, cashing in with 20 points while holding the Purple Aces to 13-of-53 (25%) shooting from the floor.

On offense, the Panthers drained 10 3-pointers, while improving their shooting each quarter of the game. UNI finished the Friday's contest against Evansville going 23-of-69 (33.3%) from the floor.

UNI's bench played a huge role as well on Friday, scoring 33 points for the Panthers. Freshman Karli Rucker and sophomore Abby Gerrits each chipped in nine points off the bench.

Both teams started out sluggish on Friday, with the two squads scoring a combined five points over the first four minutes. The Panthers would find their shot however, as UNI outpaced the Purple Aces to take a 15-8 lead after 10 minutes of action. The Panthers took another 15-point quarter in the second period as Kennedy Kirkpatrick and Rucker scored nine and seven to lead UNI to a 30-17 advantage at the break.

Coming out of halftime, the Panthers would keep up the pressure as Heidi Hillyard and Rose Simon-Ressler chipped in a pair of baskets to push the UNI lead to 45-26 heading into the final period. Evansville managed to score in double-digits for the final quarter of action, but the damage was already done as the Panthers coasted to a 24-point victory.

UP NEXT
The Panthers cap the weekend at home on Sunday, as UNI hosts Indiana State at 2 p.m. CT.

TICKETS
Fans can purchase season and single-game tickets to UNI women's basketball home games through UNITIX. Call 319-273-4849 or visit www.UNITIX.uni.edu.

SOCIAL MEDIA
For more information on the UNI women's basketball program, follow the Panthers on Twitter at "@UNIWBB" and on Facebook at "UNI Women's Basketball."

ADDITIONAL NOTES

UNI has now won its last eight games over Evansville.
The 41 points given up on defense was the lowest total since allowing 41 against Loyola on Dec. 12, 2017.
Overall, 11 Panthers scored for UNI on Friday.
UNI made 10 3-pointers, the Panthers have now earned four games with 10 or more shots from beyond-the-arc.
The Panthers have now outrebounded foes in 11 games, holding a 3.6 margin over foes.
Freshman Riley Wheatcraft scored a career-high six points off the bench.
Freshman Marissa Robson earned a career-high three points off the bench.
Sophomore Megan Maahs earned a career-high five blocks.
Freshman Karli Rucker earned a career-high three steals.
Attendance for Friday's game was 1,596.