University of Northern Iowa
Indiana State
WBB Advances to Semi-Finals, Defeats Indiana State 71-60
3/15/2013 1:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
ST. CHARLES, Mo. – The University of Northern Iowa women's basketball team defeated the Indiana State Sycamores for the third time this season, 71-60. The Panthers advanced to the semi-final round against Wichita State tomorrow at 1:35 p.m.
The Panthers were led by Amber Kirschbaum, who finished with a season high 23 points and 10 rebounds. Jacqui Kalin chipped in 22 points, while Brooke Brown finished with 10 points.
Both teams were scoreless after the first two minutes of the game until Brown hit a deep three-pointer to break the draught, making the score 3-0. Second later, Kirschbaum found Kalin under the basket for a quick pass into the lane to make the score 5-0 with 17:31 left in the half.
The Panthers turned their 5-0 lead into a 7-0 run with Jen Keitel hitting a mid-range jumper to give UNI a 7-0 lead heading into the first media timeout. UNI held Indiana State scoreless till the 13:49 mark in the first half when Taylor Whitley was able to convert on a jump shot to make the score 7-2.
Indiana State cut the UNI lead to six points when Kalin went for a charge, but was given an offensive foul. Whitley knocked down two free throws to make the score 15-9 in UNI's favor with 8:12 left on the clock. Out of the media timeout, Schonhardt extended the Panther lead back to nine points when she notched a wide-open three-pointer to make the score 18-9.
The Sycamores were able to cut the lead to just two points with less than three minutes left in the half when Natasha Zurek drove through the lane for a layup to make the score 22-20 in UNI's favor. The Panthers stayed strong in the paint and on the boards, coming away with a 10-point lead at halftime, capped off by a long jump shot from Kirschbaum to make the score 30-20.
UNI kept their 10-point lead early in the second half when Jen Keitel fed Schonhardt a great pass into the lane for an easy layup, making the score 36-26 with 15:18 left in the game. The Panthers held a 12-point lead with 11:34 left in the game when Kirschbaum made the score 41-29 off a turnaround jumper.
Indiana State cut their deficit to 10 points with a 6-0 run taking 1:12 off the clock, making the score 48-38 with 8:17 remaining. Anna Munn was able to convert on four free throws after being fouled on consecutive offensive drives. The Sycamores continued their run cutting the UNI lead to six points, but Kirschbaum notched another turnaround jumper to make the score 50-42.
The Sycamores cut the UNI lead to four points with less than five minutes left when Munn hit a jumper to make the score 54-50, but Kalin stepped up to the arc on the next offensive drive to drain a huge three-pointer to put the Panthers up seven with 3:32 left in the game.
The Panthers went perfect from the free throw line in the last two minutes, finishing with their third win this season over the Sycamores. The 71-60 win was the second double-digit win over Indiana State in a row.
UNI will face-off against Wichita State in the semi-finals tomorrow at 1:35 p.m. Fans can view the game live at www.valley-live.tv.
Post-Game Notes vs.
Indiana State
Amber Kirschbaum is now tied for ninth at UNI all-time in career blocks
with 79. This was the first time this season that the senior has reached double
figures in the first half. She finished with a season high 23 points, for her
eighth game this season and third game in a row in double figures.
UNI finished with 42 rebounds,
marking the sixth game this season the Panthers have finished with 40 or more
boards.
Jacqui Kalin has scored in double figures in 13 consecutive games. The 2013
MVC Player of the Year finished with 22 against the Sycamores. This is the 10th
game this season that the senior has had five or more assists in a game, finishing
with six.
Brooke Brown finished the game against
the Sycamores with 10 points, marking the first time she has reached
double-figures since Jan. 18 against Bradley. This is the fifth time this
season that the sophomore has reach double figures.
