University of Northern Iowa
Evansville
Aces Hand UNI 79-65 Loss
1/8/2006 7:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Jan. 7, 2006
Evansville, Ind. - University of Northern Iowa women's basketball fell to the Purple Aces of Evansville Saturday afternoon, 79-65. For the second consecutive game, junior Jessie Biggs led UNI with 16 points, hitting 2-of-5 from behind the arc and 5-of-10 from the field.
Senior center Cassie Hager added 14 points, going 10-for-10 from the charity stripe, and also added six blocks. Senior Megan Liffick led the Aces with a game-high 20 points, hitting 3-of-5 treys, and sophomore Rebekah Parker pulled down a game-high 11 rebounds.
The Aces outrebounded UNI 44-32 and had 20 points off turnovers to the Panthers' eight. Both teams shot higher than 90 percent from the free throw line, making a combined 52-for-56. UNI connected on only 30.9 percent of its shots from the field while UE shot 39.0 percent.
UNI took its only lead of the game when sophomore Kelly Lund executed a conventional three-point play with eight minutes remaining in the first half. UE answered with a 7-0 run and would push its lead to seven (23-16) with 5:15 left in the period. The Panthers were able to come within one point until Liffick hit a trey and Parker sunk two from the line. Four consecutive made free throws by Hager and a second chance layup by Ace Robyn Jennings at the buzzer, gave UE a 31-27 halftime lead.
UE extended its lead to eight at the start of the second half and then the teams traded four free throw shots. Biggs and junior Sarah Larsen hit back-to-back three-pointers to cut the Aces lead to 39-37 with 15 minutes remaining and then UE took control. The Purple Aces claimed a 10-point lead with 9:41 minutes remaining and the Panthers would come no closer during the rest of the game.
UNI hosts Illinois State Thursday and preseason favorite Indiana State Saturday. The Panthers are now 8-5, 2-2 in the Missouri Valley Conference. Evansville improves to 6-6, 2-1 in the MVC.
