University of Northern Iowa
Drake University
Panther Defense Downs Drake, 59-46
1/22/2010 7:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Jan. 22, 2010
DES MOINES, Iowa – The University of Northern Iowa women's basketball team held Drake to a season-low 46 points to claim a 59-46 win in Missouri Valley Conference action Friday night in the Knapp Center. It is the fewest points the Panthers have allowed this year, and it was the first time the Bulldogs lost on their home floor this season.
K.K. Armstrong came off the bench to contribute 12 points and three steals, and Erin Brocka matched a career high with 14 rebounds, along with nine points, four steals and three blocks.
Monique Jones led the Bulldogs (11-6, 4-3 MVC) with 11 points and six rebounds.
Drake scored nine straight points to build an early 9-2 lead. The Bulldogs held a 12-5 lead, but the Panthers scored nine straight and took a 14-12 lead when K.K. Armstrong scored on a layup at 8:40.
Plummer ended the Panther run with a three at 7:25 to give Drake a 15-14 edge. Lizzie Boeck answered on the other end to put the Panthers back in front, 16-15. That was the start of a 12-0 UNI run, as the Panthers held Drake scoreless for more than six minutes, allowing UNI to build a 26-15 lead with 2:19 to play in the half.
Monique Jones cut the UNI advantage to single digits with a basket on the block, but Jacqui Kalin drove into the lane and found Erin Brocka on the block for a basket that put the Panthers in front, 28-17. That would go on to be the score at the break, matching the fewest points the Panthers have allowed in a half.
Kalin hit a three at 18:45 to give UNI a 13-point advantage, 31-18. Drake scored the next eight points, however, to pull within five, 31-26, with 15:54 to play.
Armstrong drove the length of the floor for a layup, and Wubbens knocked down a short jumper after a UNI defensive stop to extend UNI's lead back to nine, 35-26.
Brittnye McSparron hit a three from the right wing to pull the Bulldogs back within nine, but Boeck collected an offensive board and connected on the putback. On UNI's next possession, Boeck found Brocka cutting to the basket, and her jumper returned the UNI lead to double digits, 39-29. Kalin converted a three-point play to give the UNI a 13-point advantage, 42-29, with 10:27 on the clock.
Drake chipped away, and with 8:10 left, Jones made a pair of free throws to pull the Bulldogs within eight, 44-36. Boeck answered with a three to put the lead back into double digits, and Kalin hit a pair of free throws to put the UNI lead at 13, 49-36 with 7:39 to play.
The Panthers held at least an 11-point lead and led by as many as 16 on the way to the win.
UNI shot 24-of-57 (42.1 percent) from the floor, including 3-of-14 (21.4 percent) from three-point range. The Panthers finished 8-of-9 (88.9 percent) from the free-throw line.
Drake shot 16-of-50 (32.0 percent) from the floor, including 4-of-10 (40 percent) from behind the arc. DU finished 10-of-17 (58.8 percent) from the free-throw line.
The Panthers turned Drake's 14 turnovers into 22 points, while the Bulldogs scored 10 points of 16 UNI turnovers. The Panther bench accounted for 22 points, while the Bulldogs got 13 points from their reserves.
UNI returns to action on Sunday when it plays at Creighton at 2:05 p.m.
