UNI Opens MVC Tourney With Impressive Win

Friday, March 9

Moline, Illinois

8:30 p.m.

University of Northern Iowa

Illinois State

UNI Opens MVC Tourney With Impressive Win

3/9/2018 11:10:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

FINAL STATS

MOLINE, Illinois – The University of Northern Iowa women's basketball team (18-12) used a stingy defensive performance to overpower Illinois State (14-16) with a 56-36 win and advance to the semifinal of the 2018 Missouri Valley Conference Tournament.

With the victory, UNI advances to Saturday's semifinal game against second-seeded Missouri State on Saturday at 4 p.m. CT. The Panthers will be seeking their third-straight trip to the MVC Tournament title game.

Megan Maahs once again led the Panthers, as the sophomore posted a 15-point and seven-rebound performance. Senior Kennedy Kirkpatrick added 10 points to round out the double-digit scoring for UNI on Friday, while Abby Gerrits scored nine points off the bench.

The Panther defense smothered the Redbirds on Friday night, allowing only 10 made shots to hold Illinois State to 20% shooting. The 36 points allowed by the UNI defense ranks as the second-lowest total for a defense in MVC Tournament history. The record is 35 points set by the Creighton defense on March 14, 2009 against Drake.

UNI held Illinois State to just 17% shooting in the first period, as the Panther defense earned their best first-quarter outing of the season after holding the Redbirds to just five points. UNI took its 10-5 advantage from the first quarter and more than doubled its point total in the second quarter, as Maahs and Kirkpatrick earned 11 and 10 points respectively in the first half to pace the Panthers to a 32-18 entering the locker room.

A pair of Gerrits' 3-pointers energized the offense coming out of the break, as the Panthers outscored the Redbirds 17-12 to extend their lead to 49-30 entering the fourth quarter. UNI closed out the game allowing only six points in the fourth quarter as the Panthers capped their dominating win over the Redbirds, 56-36.

UP NEXT
UNI faces Missouri State in the semifinals on Saturday at 4 p.m. The Bears advanced to Saturday's contest after defeating Bradley, 76-68, on Friday night.

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 11-straight over Illinois State.
The Panthers are now 8-3 under head coach Tanya Warren in UNI's MVC Tournament opening game.
UNI improved to 2-1 overall against the Redbirds in the MVC Tourney.
UNI has won 10 out of its last 12 contests overall.
Under head coach Tanya Warren, the Panthers are now a perfect 75-0 when holding opponents to 50 points or less. This season UNI is 10-0 when accomplishing the feat.
The five points allowed in the first quarter was a season-best for the Panthers.
The Panthers have now held the opposing team's leading scorer below their season average now 17 out 19 games this season.
UNI has now outrebounded 24 foes this season, earning a 17-7 record when doing so.
Senior Kennedy Kirkpatrick has earned 15th game in double figures and the fourth in her last five outings.