University of Northern Iowa
Creighton
Creighton Handles UNI, 74-48
2/24/2012 1:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa - Creighton shot a season-best 59.6 percent from the field on its way to a 74-48 victory over the University of Northern Iowa women's basketball team on Friday night in the McLeod Center. UNI shot just 30.8 percent for the game and struggled from three-point range, going 3-for-21.
UNI junior forward Amber Kirschbaum posted 14 points to lead all scorers. Seniors Katelin Oney and K.K. Armstrong each added nine points. Armstrong moved into 11th place on the UNI all-time scoring list at 1,134 career points.
Creighton (16-11, 10-6 MVC) was led by 13 points from freshman Taylor Johnson and 12 points from sophomore McKenzie Fujan.
UNI (15-11, 8-7 MVC) jumped out to a 7-0 lead three minutes into the game and held a 16-9 lead halfway through the opening period. From that point, Creighton went on an 18-3 run to end the half and held a 27-19 advantage at the break.
The Panthers closed the gap to six points early in the second half, but Creighton's hot shooting was too much for UNI to handle. The Bluejays connected on 20-of-26 shots in the second half, including 6-of-10 from beyond the arc, to score 47 points in the final 20 minutes.
Kirschbaum drained seven of her first nine shots and finished 7-for-11 from the field.
Senior Rachel Madrigal added two blocks to run her league-leading total to 27 blocks in 15 games.
The loss gives UNI its first four-game conference losing streak in over three years. The Panthers' last four-game slide in MVC play came from Jan. 23-Feb. 1, 2009.
UNI will honor seniors Katelin Oney, Rachel Madrigal and K.K. Armstrong when the Panthers take on Drake Sunday in the McLeod Center. Tip is set for 3 p.m. All tickets to the contest are $1.
