Panthers Edge The Yellow Jackets, 61-58

Thursday, November 26

Cancun, Mexico

8 p.m.

University of Northern Iowa

3-1

Georgia Tech

4-2

UNI

Georgia Tech

Panthers Edge The Yellow Jackets, 61-58

11/26/2015 10:21:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

BOX SCORE PDF

CANCUN, Mexico – The University of Northern Iowa women's basketball team edged the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets Thursday night, posting a 61-58 victory in their first game of the Cancun Challenge. UNI improved to 3-1 on the season.

Georgia Tech took a one-point lead with 34 seconds left in the game, but Ellie Herzberg stayed composed under pressure, drawing two fouls and hitting all four of her free throws to clinch the 61-58 victory. Herzberg finished the game with 15 points, shooting 4-for-5 from the field and 7-for-8 from the free throw line.

Madison Weekly added 15 points of her own and a career-high seven rebounds and two steals. Rounding out UNI's double-digit scorers was Amber Sorenson, chipping in 11 points.

Jen Keitel scored six of UNI's first nine points, helping the Panthers to come back from a 7-2 deficit to start the first quarter. Georgia Tech opened the game on the 7-2 lead after knocking in five unanswered points to start the quarter, but Keitel's post play combined with a three-pointer from Sorenson tied the score 9-9 with 5:44 on the clock.

Georgia Tech was able to jump out to a 17-11 lead with a trey from Antonia Peresson, but Sorenson answered with a three of her own, putting the Panthers back within three to end the first quarter down 17-14.
UNI took the lead early in the second quarter when Herzberg knocked down two free throws, making it 18-17 with 7:21 left in the period. The Panthers and the Yellow Jackets traded leads late in the second quarter, with Georgia Tech holding a 26-25 advantage with 2:47 left in the half, but UNI took off on a 6-0 run to take a five-point lead heading into the final minute of the half.

The Panthers opened the third quarter leading 33-30, but jumped out to a nine-point lead when Weekly drained a three-pointer at the 5:35 mark to make it 43-34. UNI continued to extend its lead late in the quarter when Sharnae Lamar proved troublesome on the drive, scoring a jumper to make it 51-38 with 2:04 on the clock.

Georgia Tech was able to chip away at the Panther lead in the fourth quarter, with UNI only scoring 10 points during the period. The Yellow Jackets made it a four-point game at the 6:48 mark when Aaliyah Whiteside converted on two free throws, cutting the UNI lead to 52-48.

Whiteside tied the game 57-57 on a layup, and gave the Yellow Jackets a one-point lead with a follow-up free throw with 34 seconds left in the game. But Herzberg's speed through the lane proved too much for Georgia Tech, drawing two fouls in the final seconds of the game to notch her four free throws and secure the win for the Panthers.

UNI will return to action tomorrow at 8 p.m. CT when they take on Seton Hall in their second game of the Cancun Challenge. Fans can follow along with the action with a live stream available here.