University of Northern Iowa
Evansville
Panthers Hold Off Evansville, 58-53
2/4/2012 1:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa - The University of Northern Iowa women's basketball team overcame a four-point halftime deficit to defeat Evansville 58-53 on Saturday night in the McLeod Center. The Panthers had to withstand a late charge by the Purple Aces, but UNI was able to improve to 15-7 on the season and 8-3 in Missouri Valley Conference play.
Evansville (4-18, 1-10 MVC) used a 26-13 rebounding margin in the first 20 minutes to build a 27-23 halftime lead. UNI shot just 1-of-12 from three-point range and 29.6 percent overall in the first half.
Trailing 31-29 with 13 minutes to play, the Panthers went on a 7-0 run in less than a minute. K.K. Armstrong drained two free throws, Rachel Madrigal knocked down a trey, and then Armstrong found Madrigal for a fast-break layup. With 12 minutes left in the game, UNI owned a 36-31 lead that it would hold the rest of the way.
Evansville was able to close within four points at 41-37, but the Panthers answered with a 10-0 run to open up a 14-point lead. With UNI on top 54-39 and just over five minutes remaining, the Purple Aces took off on a 14-2 run to give themselves a shot at the tie. Miranda Liles missed a three-pointer from the top of the key that would have tied the contest with 18 seconds left, and Armstrong iced the victory with two free throws.
Senior guard Katelin Oney led the Panthers with 16 points, finding herself in double-digits for the eighth game in a row. Madrigal and junior Amber Kirschbaum joined Oney in double-figures with 12 and 11 points, respectively. UNI's starting five once again did the heavy lifting, scoring 51 of the Panthers' 58 points.
UNI overcame a 42-29 rebounding deficit in the victory. Kirschbaum and Armstrong each tallied seven rebounds.
The Panthers committed only 11 turnovers and forced 21 Evansville turnovers. The Purple Aces shot 38.8 percent for the game, while UNI shot 35.3 percent.
Madrigal added three more blocks to run her league-leading total to 23 blocks in MVC play.
UNI will travel to Normal, Ill., on Fri., Feb. 10, for a road contest with Illinois State. The Panthers will be in search of their first four-game winning streak of the season.
NOTES: UNI has now won 32 of its last 36 games against MVC opponents ... the Panthers have won a combined 12 straight games against Southern Illinois and Evansville ... UNI has eight consecutive victories over Evansville ... Katelin Oney has made at least one three-pointer in 10 straight games ... Oney stands alone in seventh-place all time at UNI with 127 three-pointers ... Amber Kirschbaum's streak of 16 consecutive free throws made ended with a miss with 10:19 left in the game ... K.K. Armstrong is now tied for fifth all-time at UNI with 315 free throws made ... Armstrong also moved into seventh all-time at UNI with 323 career assists ... attendance was announced at 2,175.
