University of Northern Iowa Athletics
University of Northern Iowa
Southern Illinois
Panthers Surge in Second Half to Defeat Salukis 59-48
1/5/2006 7:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Jan. 5, 2006
Carbondale, Ill. - The University of Northern Iowa women's basketball team took a 25-27 halftime deficit and turned it into an 11-point victory over Southern Illinois this afternoon. UNI improves to 8-4, 2-1 in the Missouri Valley Conference.
Junior guard Jessie Biggs led the Panthers with her first double-double of her collegiate career with 16 points and 10 rebounds. Biggs made the Panthers' only two three-pointers and went 7-for-12 from the field.
Junior Tara King and senior Cassie Hager also scored in double figures with 13 and 12 points, respectively. UNI shot 48.3 percent from the field in the second half after only making 34.5 percent of its attempts in the first half. UNI also made all five of its free throws in the second period, compiling an 81.8 free throw percentage for the game. The Panthers outrebounded the Salukis 38-28, grabbing eight more on the offensive end.
"Southern Illinois has made some great improvement and were very competitive," head coach Tony DiCecco said. "We have to be ready day-in and day-out, because this league is no longer a two-team league. When you can find ways to get a few on the road, it will really help out."
The two teams traded leads in the opening minutes of the game until SIU took a 9-6 lead off a three-pointer by Jayme Sweere. The Salukis held the advantage throughout the first half, taking a six-point lead on five different occasions. Junior Sarah Larsen and Biggs both found their shot in the final minute of the half, helping UNI to a 4-0 run and reducing the Panthers' deficit to only two points at the break.
The Panthers did not trail again after Hager tied the game on the first possession of the second half. SIU tied the game twice more and then a jumper by King put UNI up for good five minutes into the half. UNI slowly pushed its lead to a game-best 13 points with 4:32 remaining. The Salukis made a late surge, challenging the Panthers with a 6-0 run. However, Biggs and Larsen shut the door on SIU, each driving to the basket in the final 64 seconds.
UNI plays at Evansville Saturday at 2:00 p.m.
