University of Northern Iowa
Indiana State
Panther Rally Falls Short in 66-59 Loss to Indiana State
1/30/2009 7:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Jan. 30, 2009
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa - The University of Northern Iowa women's basketball team rallied from a 15-point deficit to come with two of Indiana State, but the Panthers were unable to completely close the gap in a 66-59 loss to the Sycamores Friday night in the McLeod Center.
Sophomore Lizzie Boeck led UNI (6-12, 4-4 MVC) with a career-high 23 points, and freshman Katelin Oney finished 4-of-5 from three-point range to score a career-high 13 points.
Kelsey Luna led Indiana State (11-8, 7-1 MVC) with 20 points, and Bianca Jarrett and Kelsie Cooley each added 14.
The Panthers committed 15 turnovers through the game's first 14 minutes, allowing Indiana State to build an early 20-6 lead.
Lizzie Boeck scored at 5:51 to end a 6-0 ISU run, but Bianca Jarrett hit a three at 4:41 to give the Sycamores their largest lead of the game, 23-8. Boeck answered with a three to pull UNI within a dozen, 23-11 at 4:25.
Thomas scored on a jumper to bring the score to 25-11, but Kim Wypiszynski to bring the score to 25-14. At 1:26, Nicole Clausen hit a three off an assist from Oney to cut the UNI deficit to single digits, 25-17. On the Panthers' next possession, Danielle Wubbens hit a three from the left baseline off an assist from Clausen to pull the Panthers within five, 25-20 with 49 seconds left in the period.
After an offensive foul by Kara Schilli returned the ball to the Panthers, Oney was fouled with 16 seconds on the clock. The freshman made one of her two attempts to cap a 10-0 run by the Panthers and send UNI into the break trailing, 25-21.
ISU scored the first four points of the second half to stretch its lead to 29-21.
Boeck made one of two free-throw tries, and after Schilli connected on a short jumper, Boeck made a three from the top of the key to bring the score to 31-25. On the Panthers' next possession, Wubbens found Boeck cutting to the basket, and the sophomore scored to pull UNI back within four, 31-27 at 16:56.
K.K. Armstrong was fouled as she drove into the lane, and she made one of two free throws to pull the Panthers within three, 31-28.
Luna scored on a fast break layup, but Erin Brocka kept it at a three-point game with a jumper from the free-throw line that brought the score to 33-30.
Kelsie Cooley scored on a baseline jumper, and Luna drained a three from the left wing to stretch ISU's lead to 38-30 with 13:33 remaining.
Oney hit her second three of the game to pull the Panthers within five, but Luna extended ISU's lead back to eight with a three on the Sycamores' next possession to put their lead back at eight, 41-33.
Erin Brocka answered with a three from the top of the key, bringing the score to 41-36. After Jarrett made one of two free throws, Clausen hit her second three of the game to pull UNI within three, 42-39 with 10:06 to play.
A jumper from Thomas gave the Sycamores a 44-39 advantage, but Oney made it a two-point game, 44-42, with her third three of the game at 9:19.
After an Indiana State turnover, the Panthers had the ball with the chance to tie or take the lead. The Panthers collected two offensive rebounds to allow for three shots on the trip, but nothing fell true and Indiana State maintained a three-point edge.
Schilli hit a layup to make it a two-possession game, and a free-throw from Luna extended ISU's lead to 47-42 with 7:26 on the clock.
Boeck and Cooley traded layups, and then Boeck hit a pair of free throws that brought the score to 49-46 at 5:16.
Indiana State scored on their next two possessions while holding the Panthers scoreless to build a 53-46 lead at 4:24. After a mid-range jumper from Wubbens made it a five-point game, Jarrett hit a three from the top of the key to give the Sycamores a 53-48 lead with 4:07 remaining.
UNI chipped away, and a three from Oney at 1:21 made it a four-point game, 60-56. The Panthers were unable to get any closer, however, as Brittany Schoen, Cooley and Luna each connected on a pair of free throws to seal the 66-59 win for the Sycamores.
The Panthers shot 21-of-53 (39.6 percent) from the floor, including 10-of-26 from three-point range. UNI finished 7-of-11 (63.6 percent) from the free-throw line.
Indiana State finished 22-of-46 (47.8 percent) from the floor, including 6-of-15 (40.0 percent) from behind the arc. The Sycamores made 16 of their 20 (80 percent) free-throw attempts.
Both teams collected 30 rebounds. UNI collected 11 offensive rebounds to score 13 second-chance points.
The Sycamores converted UNI's 23 turnovers in to 19 points, while UNI scored 12 points off ISU's 19 turnovers.
The Panthers return to action against Illinois State at 3:05 p.m. in the McLeod Center.
