University of Northern Iowa Athletics
University of Northern Iowa
Southern Illinois
UNI Defeats Southern Illinois, 87-53
1/12/2014 1:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa – The University of Northern Iowa women's basketball team defeated the Southern Illinois Salukis 87-53, holding SIU to just 23 first half points to pick up its third win in a row. UNI is now 7-8 overall and 3-1 in the MVC.
Amber Sorenson led the Panthers with 17 points, shooting 5-of-9 from the three-point line. Stephanie Davison added 13 points and Jen Keitel contributed 10 to the Panthers' total.
UNI and Southern Illinois went into the first media timeout all tied up at 5-5. Coming out of the timeout, Keitel found Davison streaking under the basket for a layup to give UNI a 7-5 lead with 15:16 left in the first half.
The Panthers jumped out to a 14-9 lead with 11:03 on the clock after Alyssa Johnson lobbed a pass under the basket to Hannah Schonhardt for an easy layup. Johnson was at it again on the next offensive play, finding Brittni Donaldson in the lane for an uncontested layup to give UNI a nine-point lead.
Sorenson hit back-to-back three-pointers and Donaldson also drained one for the Panthers' third trey in a row to give UNI a 40-19 lead with 2:27 left in the first half. The Salukis hit a shot at the Buzzer, sending UNI into halftime with a 42-23 lead.
UNI got off to a hot start in the second half with Keitel scoring the Panthers' first four points, capped off by a jump shot from Davison to give the Panthers a 48-23 lead. SIU didn't hit its first field goal of the second half until the 16:23 mark when Sidney Goins notched a layup to make the score 48-25.
The Panthers extended its lead to 63-33 after great team passing got Sorenson open for her fifth three-pointer of the game with 10:35 remaining in the game. Erin Dohnalek then found herself with six free throw opportunities, knocking down all six to put UNI up 69-38.
Dohnalek stayed perfect from the line after she drove through the lane, converting on her layup and her free throw to give UNI a 77-42 lead with 3:35 left in the game. The Panthers scored its last points of the game with 16 seconds left after Johnson made a layup, giving UNI an 87-53 victory over the Salukis.
Post-Game Notes vs. Southern Illinois
Alyssa Johnson notched a career-high five assists against Southern Illinois.
Amber Sorenson reached double-figures for the third time this season against the Salukis. She notched a career-high 17 points, shooting 5-for-9 from the arc. She also set a new career-high three-pointers made with five.
Stephanie Davison tied her career-high in assists with four. Her career-high of four was originally set against Illinois State (1/5/14).
UNI scored 42 points in the first half, the third highest first half point total this season. They also finished with 44 first half points against North Dakota State (11/20) and 43 against Illinois State (1/5).
UNI had three players finish in double-figures against the Salukis. It is the fourth time this season that UNI has had three or more players finish in double digits.
Brooke Brown notched a career-high five assists. Her previous career-high was four which was set against Seattle during the 2011-12 season.
Moran Lonning scored a career-high seven points against SIU. She shot 100 percent from the field, making all three of her shot attempts.
