UNI Falls to Instate Rival Drake

Thursday, March 2

Des Moines, Iowa

7:05 p.m.

University of Northern Iowa

Drake

UNI Falls to Instate Rival Drake

3/2/2006 7:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball

By: UNI Athletics Communications

March 2, 2006

Stats

Des Moines, Iowa -

University of Northern Iowa women's basketball fell, 60-58, to the Drake Bulldogs this evening at the Knapp Center. Senior center Cassie Hager led UNI with 19 points and eight rebounds, scoring her 1,000^th career point 10 minutes into the contest. The Panthers are now tied with the Bulldogs for second place in the Missouri Valley Conference.

"This was a great college women's basketball game," UNI head coach Tony DiCecco said. "You can really see why both of these teams are where they are at in the conference standings. The energy Drake brought to the second half was a big, big factor. Both teams have great quality programs and it's a great rivalry - instate or in the MVC.

"It always has been a good match up and now the competitiveness of the game makes it a great women's basketball game to watch. After we lost the lead in the second half, I thought we did a great job of getting back into the game and giving ourselves a chance at the end."

Hager went 7-of-13 from the field and hit five free throws, en route to 1,015 career points. She becomes the 15^th player in UNI women's basketball history to join the 1,000 point club.

Junior guard Jessie Biggs (Ottumwa, Iowa) tallied 11 points and sophomore forward Megan Keefe (Clear Lake, Iowa) tied a season-high with 10. Bulldog senior Jill Martin had a game-high 22 points and Drake outrebounded UNI 29-27. The Bulldogs shot 47.1 percent (24-of-51) from the field to UNI's 46.8 percent (22-of-47). However, Drake was held without a three-pointer for the first time in 375 games.

The Bulldogs took a 42-41 lead with 10:47 remaining in the second half, their first lead since halfway through the first stanza. After a Drake 9-0 run, which gave it a 49-41 advantage with 7:46 left, UNI rallied to tie the game, 53-53, with 3:36 remaining. Hager added six points in the surge and Keefe hit a trey.

Martin gave Drake a 59-55 lead with 1:44 remaining and then Biggs knocked down a three-pointer to come with one point. UNI was unable to capitalize on a few looks in the final minute and Linda Sayavongchanh sunk a free throw with three seconds remaining.

Drake improves to 16-10, 12-5 in the MVC and UNI is now 18-8, 12-5 in the Valley. The Panthers travel to Omaha, Neb. tomorrow for their final regular-season game against Creighton Saturday at 3:05 p.m.