University of Northern Iowa Athletics
University of Northern Iowa
Creighton
Slow Start Dooms Panthers at Creighton, 65-50
1/27/2012 1:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
OMAHA, Neb. -- The University of Northern Iowa women's basketball team outscored Creighton over the final 20 minutes, but a slow start was too much for the Panthers to overcome as they fell 65-50 on Friday night at D.J. Sokol Arena.
The Panthers fell behind 10-0 in the game's first four minutes, but UNI was able to battle back by holding the Bluejays scoreless for a six-minute stretch. After the deficit was trimmed to 10-6, Creighton took off on a 17-4 run that built a 27-10 lead with 5:19 left in the opening half. Creighton held a 37-20 halftime lead.
UNI (12-7, 5-3 MVC) was able to cut the deficit to 12 points on two different occasions in the second half, but each time Creighton responded. The Bluejays led by as many as 21 points before settling on a final score of 65-50.
UNI outscored Creighton 30-28 in the second half, but the Panthers had their worst field goal percentage of the season and their second-lowest point total.
Senior guard Katelin Oney led UNI with 14 points, and junior Mercedees Morgan added 11. Rachel Madrigal pulled down eight rebounds to lead the Panthers on the glass.
UNI shot just 16-of-52 (30.8 percent) for the game and 6-of-14 from beyond the arc. Creighton shot 20-of-53 (37.7 percent), including 7-of-16 from three-point range.
Ally Jensen led Creighton (10-9, 4-4 MVC) with 14 points behind a 4-of-7 effort on three-pointers.
The Panthers struggled at the free throw line, making 12-of-20 attempts.
UNI will take on the Drake Bulldogs at the Knapp Center in Des Moines on Sun., Jan. 29. Tip is set for 2 p.m.
