University of Northern Iowa
Wichita State
Panthers Break Shockers' Home Win Streak
1/26/2006 7:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Jan. 26, 2006
Wichita, Kan. - Junior Tara King (Ottumwa, Iowa) led all scorers with 26 points, helping University of Northern Iowa women's basketball defeat Wichita State 63-56. The Shockers previously had been undefeated this season at Charles Koch Arena.
"This was an enormous game for us. Winning road games allows you to separate yourself from the pack in this tough league," head coach Tony DiCecco said. "There is no question that Wichita State is the most improved team in the league. We did a great job of stepping up and executing when we needed to do so."
King, the reigning MVC Player of the Week, scored 22 of her points in the second half, draining 4-of-4 three-pointers in the second period. She also was 10-of-13 from the field in the game and added six rebounds. She now has made 53.8 percent (21-of-39) from behind the arc this season.
Three other UNI players scored in double figures as senior Cassie Hager (Perry, Iowa) had 11 points and six blocks and junior Jessie Biggs (Ottumwa, Iowa) and sophomore Megan Keefe (Clear Lake, Iowa) added 10 points. For the 13th game this season, junior point guard Sarah Larsen (Kalona, Iowa) led UNI in assists with seven.
Both teams struggled offensively in the first half as UNI shot 31 percent (9-of-29) from the field and WSU made only 27 percent (10-of-27) of its attempts. The Panthers made their first field goal in the fifth minute of the game, tallying the first four points off free throws. Keefe gave UNI a lift off the bench, making back-to-back jumpers with 8:33 remaining in the half to give UNI a 12-10 lead. The Panthers closed out the half with a -7-0 run, taking a 25-22 advantage into the break. Biggs nailed a three-pointer in the waning minutes of the shot clock to end first half scoring efforts.
UNI took its momentum into the second half, shooting 58.3 percent (14-of-24) from the field and 50 percent (5-of-10) from three-point range in the period. Four minutes into the second half, King made a three-pointer to take the lead, but sophomore Kiki Stephens answered with a trey of her own to knot the game at 32-all.
The Panthers then went on the biggest run of the game, 11-2, forcing a 43-23 lead with 8:55 remaining. King knocked down two shots and sophomore Kelly Lund (New Brighton, Minn.) clinched a lay-up in the Panthers' crucial drive.
The Shockers cut UNI's lead to three (49-46) with five minutes remaining on a 5-0 run. However, Keefe hit a jumper and Hager executed a traditional three-point play to widen the margin (54-46) and then King nailed the Panthers' final three field goals and Larsen sunk 2-of-2 free throws.
UNI improves to 11-6, 5-3 in the MVC and plays at Missouri State Sunday at noon. The contest is being telecast live on FSN Midwest and Fox College Sports. The Panthers are looking for their first win at the Hammons Student Center since the 1985-86 season.
