University of Northern Iowa
Illinois State
Panthers Control Redbird Arena
2/10/2006 7:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Feb. 10, 2006
Normal, Ill. - University of Northern Iowa women's basketball extended its win streak to six games, including three Missouri Valley Conference road contests, with a 61-53 victory over Illinois State this evening. Senior center Cassie Hager (Perry, Iowa) led the Panthers past the Redbirds for the second time this season with a game-high 23 points and three blocks.
"Our defense took a lot of things away from them," head coach Cassie Hager really did a nice job, in terms of finishing shots for us when we got them inside to her. I am very pleased with our performance in Redbird Arena."
Junior guard Jessie Biggs (Ottumwa, Iowa) added 17 points, making 5-of-6 from the field and six free throws. Sophomore guard Traci Ollendieck (Cresco, Iowa) pulled down a game-high nine rebounds. The Panthers shot 58.3 percent (14-of-24) in the second period and recorded a 50.0 percent field goal percentage overall. The Redbirds were led by sophomore forward Amber Shelton with 17 points and shot 33.3 percent in the contest.
The lead changed hands eight times in the first half. UNI led by as many as eight points, driving to a 19-11 lead with 9:27 remaining on an 9-0 run. The Redbirds fought back and came within one point off a Shelton three-pointer with 1:38 remaining in the half. Hager and Biggs responded with four made free throws and Redbird Tiffany Hudson also sunk one from the line as UNI took a 27-23 lead into the break.
Illinois State took a one-point advantage at the 14:11 minute mark in the second half. The teams traded the lead twice and then Biggs and Hager took control, combining for 24 of UNI's final 27 points. The duo helped extend UNI's lead to 12 points (58-46) with 2:57 remaining. Hager tallied 15 points in the second half, going 7-of-10 from the field.
Illinois State is now 8-12, 9-3 in the MVC. UNI improves to 15-6, 9-3 in the Valley and takes on Indiana State (19-2, 11-0) Sunday at 1:00 p.m. CST.
