University of Northern Iowa
Valparaiso
UNI Opens Season With Loss to Valpo
11/19/2005 7:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Nov. 18, 2005
Valparaiso, Ind. - The University of Northern Iowa women's basketball team fell to Valparaiso 62-48 this evening. Senior center Cassie Hager (Perry, Iowa) led the Panthers with 14 points.
Crusader junior Betsy Rietema had a game-high 24 points and nine rebounds. She and teammate junior Tamra Braun, who added seven points and nine rebounds, were selected to the Mid-Continent Continent preseason team.
UNI was hurt by turnovers with Valparaiso picking up 26 points off Panther fumbles. Each team got 15 points from their bench as UNI sophomores Megan Keefe (Clear Lake, Iowa) and Kelly Lund (New Brighton, Minn.) had nine and six, respectively.
The first half was a back-n-forth battle with five lead changes and two ties. Junior point guard Sarah Larsen had eight points in the first half, tallying UNI's first two field goals. The Crusaders had built a seven-point lead at the 1:08 minute mark but Keefe nailed two shots in the closing minute, shrinking Valparaiso's halftime advantage to 26-23.
UNI got as close as one to the Crusaders in the second half, but could not hang on. Hager went on a run in the final five minutes, making five consecutive UNI baskets which included four free throws. The Panthers shot 85.7 percent from the free throw line and 40 percent from the field.
UNI (0-1) takes on Colorado Friday, Nov. 25 in the first round of the Coors Classic held in Boulder, Colo. It will then face either Illinois or Utah State Saturday, Nov. 26.
