University of Northern Iowa
Illinois State
WBB Edged By Illinois State, 66-61
3/9/2013 1:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Amber Kirschbaum led the team with 17 points while Jacqui Kalin added 14 points for her 27th game this season in double figures. Jen Keitel finished with eight rebounds and six points with Hannah Schonhardt finishing with nine points.
The Panthers went into the first media timeout up two points after Illinois State opened the first half with seven quick points. Kalin hit a three-pointer to tie the score 7-7, with Kirschbaum knocking down a turnaround jumper with 15:47 on the clock to give UNI a 9-7 lead.
Illinois State cut the UNI lead to just one point with 8:17 left in the first half when Janae Smith hit a mid-range jumper to make the score 16-15. The Redbirds took the lead with 4:36 left in the half off two free throws from Alexis Jenkins to make the score 24-23.
The Redbirds went into halftime with a 28-23 lead. The Panthers only shot 27 percent from the field during the first half with Kirschbaum and Kalin both leading the team with six points each.
Jess McDowell cut the Redbird lead to six points with 13:51 left in the second half off a hard cut to the basket in the lane, making the score 41-35. McDowell hit another big three-pointer with 3:58 left in the game to make the score 57-49.
The Panthers went on a late 10-2 run, sparked by hustle plays from Schonhardt and Kirschbaum. The run put the Panthers within two making the score 60-58 with less than a minute left in the game.
Illinois State's Smith was able to convert on two free throws with 12 seconds to make the score 64-58, but on the next play Schonhardt knocked down a huge three-pointer to make the it a one-possession game and cut the Redbird lead to 64-61.
Jamie Russell was fouled on the in-bound pass for the Redbirds and hit her two free throws. The Panthers were unable to get another shot off, and eventually fell 66-61.
The Panthers will face-off against Indiana State in their first game of the 2013 MVC Tournament in St. Charles, Mo. on Friday March 15 at 2:30 p.m.
