Panther Rally Falls Short at Drake

Friday, January 19

Des Moines, Iowa

7 p.m.

University of Northern Iowa

8-10, 4-3MVC

Drake

12-7, 7-0MVC

UNI

Drake

Panther Rally Falls Short at Drake

1/19/2018 9:29:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

FINAL STATS

DES MOINES, Iowa – Despite a furious second-half comeback, the University of Northern Iowa women's basketball team (8-10, 4-3 MVC) couldn't overcome MVC-leader Drake (12-7, 7-0 MVC) on the road Friday night after falling, 81-64.

The Panthers trimmed a 22-point deficit to only seven with 4:22 minutes left to play, but the Bulldogs closed out the game on a 15-5 run to seal the 81-64 victory at home.

Sophomore Rose Simon-Ressler posted a career-high 19 points to lead all scorers on Friday night. Juniors Mikaela Morgan and Ellie Howell each scored in double figures, earning 11 and 10 points respectively. As a team, the Panthers were held to just 33.9% shooting, while the Bulldogs shot 55.1% for the game.

The Panthers made their first five shots from the field, but the Bulldogs were able to match their hot shooting and comeback to even the score at 13-13 midway through the first quarter. Drake would pull past UNI for a 24-17 lead after the end of the first period, thanks to 10 early points from Becca Hittner.

After a sluggish start by both teams to begin the second quarter, Drake went on an 11-1 run to extend its lead before halftime. The Panther scoring drought was stopped right before intermission however, after junior Ellie Howell knocked down a 3-pointer to trim the deficit to 40-24 entering the locker room.

Despite trailing by more than 20 points at one point in the third quarter, the Panthers did not give up as UNI buried five 3-pointers to trim the deficit to only 16 points entering the fourth quarter.

The Panthers continued to chip away at the deficit in the fourth quarter via the 3-point shot, as UNI trimmed Drake's lead to just 10 points with 7:07 remaining after Simon-Ressler's shot found the bottom of the net. The sophomore found herself behind the arc once again later in the period and as Simon-Ressler sank her career-high fourth 3-pointer of the game to bring the deficit to only seven points with 4:49 left to play. The Bulldogs earned a 15-5 run to follow the Panthers' surge of energy however, as Drake closed out the game to win, 81-64.

UP NEXT
The Panthers continue their three-game road swing, with a pair of Valley games next weekend. UNI faces Bradley at 7 p.m. CT on Friday, before capping the weekend against Illinois State on Sunday 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

Drake has now won the last four games over UNI.
The Panthers are now 1-8 on the road this season and 0-3 in MVC action.
The 13 made 3-pointers were the second-highest for UNI this season.
UNI earned its fifth game with 10 or more made 3-pointers, the Panthers had been undefeated in those games before Friday night's defeat.
The Panthers outrebounded the Bulldogs, 35-32, to earn their 13^th game winning in that category.
Sophomore Rose Simon-Ressler's 19 points were a career high.
Rose Simon-Ressler made a career-high four 3-pointers.
Junior Ellie Howell earned her ninth game in double figures, with five of those coming in MVC play.