Women's Basketball Falls 77-67 to Iowa

Sunday, November 18

McLeod Center

3:05 PM

University of Northern Iowa

Iowa

Women's Basketball Falls 77-67 to Iowa

11/18/2007 7:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball

By: UNI Athletics Communications

Nov. 18, 2007

Final Stats

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa -

The University of Northern Iowa women's basketball team trailed in-state foe Iowa by 14 in the second half but was able to come back and take a one-point lead. The Panthers were unable to hold on for the win, however, falling 77-67 to the Hawkeyes.

Four different Panthers scored in double figures, led by freshman Nicole Clausen who each finished with 14 points. Sophomore Danielle Wubbens scored 12 and freshman Lizzie Boeck added 11. Clausen and Kalin each finished with six rebounds, and Kalin ended the night with seven assists.

Iowa (3-0) had a hot hand in the first half, shooting 60 percent (17-of-28) from the floor. The Panthers used 6-of-15 shooting from three-point range to keep the Hawkeyes close. After falling behind 33-25, Megan Keefe hit a pair of free throws and Boeck scored off a Kalin assist to pull UNI (2-2) back within four. A layup from Iowa's Kristi Smith put the Hawkeyes back in front by six, but Clausen cut that lead in half with a three at 3:22 that brought the score to 35-32. The teams traded pairs of free throws, and Boeck hit a jump shot off an assist from Traci Ollendieck that made it a one-point game, 39-38 with a minute to play in the half. Iowa rattled off the last five points of the period to take a 44-38 lead into the break.

Kalin drove to the basket and scored on UNI's first possession of the second half to pull UNI within four, but the Hawkeyes outscored UNI 12-2 over the next six miutes to build a 56-42 lead with just under 14 minutes remaining.

Clausen hit a jumper in the paint and Erin Brocka knocked down a three on UNI's next trip to bring it back to a single-digit lead, 56-47 with 12:49 on the clock. On UNI's next possession Kalin found Clausen behind the arc on a fast break. Clausen drilled the three, to cut the Panther deficit to 56-50 with 12:26 to play.

Boeck connected on one of two free throws to trim the Iowa lead to five, but Stacy Schlapkohl scored at the other end to give the Hawkeyes a 61-54 lead.

Clausen and Kalin each came up with offensive boards on UNI's ensuing possession, and Clausen hit another three to make it a four-point contest. Abby Emmert answered with a three for Iowa, but Ollendieck connected from long range to cut Iowa's lead to 61-57 at the 10-minute mark.

Schlapkohl and Boeck traded pairs of free throws to keep the difference at four points. Schlapkohl made it a six-point game with another set of free throws at 8:43 that brought the score to 65-59.

Brocka scored on the Panthers' next trip following an offensive rebound by Wubbens. Brocka grabbed a defense board at the other end, and Clausen connected once again from long range to make it a one-point game, 65-64 with 7:58 on the clock. The three gave the Panthers eight scores over their last nine possessions, allowing them to score 17 points in less than six minutes.

With 6:30 remaining, Wubbens went to the line and her pair of free throws gave UNI its first lead of the second half, 66-65. The Panther shooting went cold at that point, and Iowa was able to score the game's next six points to build a 71-66 lead with 3:43 on the clock.

Brocka hit a free throw with 3:30 remaining to pull the Panthers within four, 71-67. The Panthers trailed by four when a steal from Brocka at 1:47 gave the Panthers the chance to pull within one or two points. UNI came up empty-handed, and Kristi Smith was fouled on the other end. Her free throws put Iowa in front 73-67 with 49 seconds on the clock. UNI couldn't score on its next trip, and elected to foul. The Hawkeyes were 6-of-8 from the free throw line in the final minute to seal the win.

The Panthers shot 37.5 percent (21-of-56) from the floor, including 11-of-31 (35.5 percent) from three-point range. The 11 threes ties the arena mark set by the Panthers against Missouri State on Feb. 17, 2007. UNI finished 14-of-22 (63.6 percent) from the free-throw line.

Iowa was 23-of-45 (51.1 percent) from the floor, including 4-of-10 (40 percent) from long distance. The Hawkeyes were 27-of-31 (87.1 percent) from the free-throw line.

Iowa held a slim rebounding advantage, 33-32.

The Panthers will return to action on Nov. 28 when they play in their first road game of the season at Western Illinois.