Panthers Dominate Redbirds for Road Win

FINAL STATS

NORMAL, Illinois – The University of Northern Iowa women's basketball team (10-10, 6-3 MVC) used a dominant second-half performance to score a 58-36 victory over Illinois State (8-12, 2-7 MVC) and close out a successful weekend on the road.

The Panthers and Redbirds were tied at halftime, but UNI outscored ILS 34-12 in the second half to earn a 22-point victory.

With the win, UNI has now won back-to-back road games for the first time this season. Before the weekend road trip, the Panthers were winless away from the McLeod Center in MVC play.

UNI shot 37% from the floor, while holding ILS to 31% for the game. The Panther bench also showed up as well, outscoring the Red Bird bench 22-13.

Senior Kennedy Kirkpatrick and junior Ellie Howell finished the game in double figures to lead UNI, as the pair scored 12 and 10 points respectively. Freshman Nicole Kroeger added nine points off the bench, all of which came in the second half.

ILS came out to take an early 15-9 advantage after the first quarter, but the Panthers bounced back with a 9-0 run midway through the second quarter to swing momentum. The Panthers and Redbirds entered halftime all knotted up at 24-24, following a pair of seven-point performances from Kirkpatrick and Taylor Hagen.

Out of the break, the Panthers opened up the third quarter on a 12-2 run to put the game out of reach as UNI ended the period with a 46-29 lead. Freshman Kroeger scored nine points off the bench to energize the Panthers on the court as UNI continued their dominance in the second half. The Panthers kept up the pressure in the final period, as UNI pushed their lead to over 20 before earning the final margin of 58-36.

UP NEXT
The Panthers return home for a pair of home games at the McLeod Center against Missouri State on Friday at 7 p.m. and Southern Illinois on Sunday at 2 p.m.

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 nine-straight over Illinois State.
UNI is now 140-21 all-time under Tanya Warren when holding an opponent under 60 points.
The 36 points allowed was a season-low for the Panther defense.
The Panthers have now outrebounded a foe 15 times this season.
Junior Ellie Howell has scored in double figures 11 times this season, with seven of those coming in MVC play.
Senior Kennedy Kirkpatrick has scored in double figures now nine times this season.

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