Panthers Ready For MVC/MAC Challenge vs. Akron

COMPLETE NOTES IN PDF FORMAT
Game 9 vs. Akron (Sunday, Dec. 13)
Time: 1 p.m.
Place: Moline, Ill. (iWireless Center)
Live Stats: www.uni.statbroadcast.com
TV: ESPN3

The Basics: The University of Northern Iowa women's basketball team is set to take part in the MVC/MAC Challenge, hosting the Akron Zips on Sunday, Dec. 13. The game will give fans a preview of the new MVC Tournament site, as the Panthers and the Zips play at 1 p.m. CT inside the iWireless Center in Moline, Ill.

The Series: UNI is 0-1 all-time against Akron, with their first-ever meeting coming during the 2014-15 season. Akron topped the Panthers 82-73 on their home court on Nov. 18, 2014.

About the Zips: Akron enters the game against UNI 4-4 overall this season. They are on a three-game winning streak, posting victories against Rochester College (103-37), Central Florida (74-54) and Valparaiso (85-74). The Zips are led by senior guard Anita Brown, who is averaging 20.9 points, 7.0 rebounds and 30.3 minutes per game. Jodi Kest serves as the head coach for the Zips, holding an overall record of 146-143 (9 seasons).

Panther Quick Hits:
• The Panthers enter the game ranked No. 34 in Division I basketball and second in the league three-pointers made per game (7.8).
• Through the first eight games of the season, UNI is first in the league in scoring defense, only allowing 64.3 points per game.
• The UNI women's basketball team finished the 2014-15 season with an overall record of 17-15 and finished 12-6 in Missouri Valley Conference play.
• The Panthers have won 17 or more games in six consecutive seasons.
• UNI made its fifth post-season appearance during the 2014-15 season, playing in the first round of the WNIT. It marked the fifth time out of the last six seasons UNI has played in a post-season tournament.
• UNI was named to the Women's Basketball Coaches Association Honor Roll for the 2014-15 season, earning the 12th best GPA in NCAA Division I Women's Basketball. It is the fourth consecutive season UNI has been ranked in the top-15.
• The UNI women's basketball program is currently 83-43 inside the McLeod Center.

How to Watch and Listen: Fans will be able to follow along with the action against Akron with Chris Kleinhans-Schulz calling the action on 1540 KXEL (Panther Sports Network). The game will also be on ESPN3.

Tickets: Season and single-game tickets are available for all of UNI's home games this season through UNITix. For more information, call 319-273-4TIX (4849).

Follow the Panthers Online: UNI fans can get all their Panther news and notes on www.UNIPanthers.com. Fans can also access UNI on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/UNIAthletics and Twitter at @UNIAthletics. UNI Women's Basketball also has individual accounts:

Facebook: Search - UNI Women's Basketball
Twitter: @UNIPantherWBB
Instagram: @UNIPantherWBB

Join us at Pepper's: UNI will host a weekly press luncheon at Pepper's in Cedar Falls on Mondays at noon. All of the in-season head coaches will address the media with a weekly recap/preview of their team and then will be open to questions. All media and fans are welcome to attend.

Panthers vs. The Mid-American Conference: UNI is 11-13 all-time against the current members of the MAC. UNI has faced off against eight of the 12 teams currently in the conference.

Warren's record agains the MAC

Team	W	L
Akron	0	1
Ball State	0	1
Northern Illinois	3	3
TOTAL	3	5

Hot Hands: Amber Sorenson currently leads the Missouri Valley in three-pointers made this season. Her 25 made three-pointers through eight games ranks her No. 20 in NCAA Division I basketball in three-pointers made. She is also No. 19 in the country in three-point field goals per game (3.13) and No. 6 in treys attempted.

Scoring Average: Madison Weekly scored 24 against South Dakota State (12/9), her 10th career-game scoring 20 or more points.

Weekly's 20-point Games

12/9/15	at South Dakota State	24 points
12/2/15	Iowa	26 points
2/1/15	Missouri State	24 points
1/16/15	Drake	26 points
1/9/15	Southern Illinois	27 points
12/19/14	South Dakota State	22 points
12/4/14	at South Dakota	21 points
11/28/14	at Hofstra	21 points
11/14/14	at Tulsa	26 points
2/21/14	at Loyola	23 points

Challenge at the Line: UNI scored a season-high 29 free throws against South Dakota State (12/9), finishing the game at 74-percent. UNI had two players go perfect from the line against the Jackrabbits with Hannah Schonhardt going 2-for-2 and Ellie Herzberg knocking in all four of her free throws.

Balancing Act: UNI shot a season-high 45-percent from the arc against South Dakota State (12/9). The Panthers had four different players knock down a trey against the Jackrabbits, with Madison Weekly and Ellie Herzberg both shooting 50-percent from the arc and Sharnae Lamar draining her only trey of the game to up the percentage.

Consistency: Madison Weekly has scored in double-figures in seven consecutive games for the Panthers, adding 24 against South Dakota State (12/9).

Weekly's Double-Digits (2015-16)

South Dakota (11/17)	11 points
Iowa (11/22)	17 points
vs. Georgia Tech (11/26)	15 points
vs. Seton Hall (11/27)	15 points
Iowa State (12/2)	26 points
at North Dakota (12/5)	14 points
at South Dakota State (12/9)	24 points

On the Block: Jen Keitel is seventh in the Missouri Valley Conference in blocks this season, swatting away 13 through eight games. With her two blocks against South Dakota State (12/9), she has cracked the top-10 all-time at UNI in career blocks, tying Amber Kirschbaum (2009-13) for ninth with 80.

Team Threes: UNI is ranked second in the Missouri Valley Conference in three-pointers made this season, knocking in 62 through eight games. It ranks them No. 34 in the country in treys made per game (7.8).

Winning Nature: The 2014-15 season marked the sixth straight season the Panthers have won 17 or more games. It is the 13th season since the women's basketball program joined NCAA Division I basketball in 1982 that UNI has achieved the mark.

17+ Win Seasons
1982-83: J.D. Anderson, 17-11
1998-99: Tony DiCecco, 19-8
2000-01: Tony DiCecco, 18-11
2002-03: Tony DiCecco, 18-12
2004-05: Tony DiCecco, 20-11
2005-06: Tony DiCecco, 19-11
2006-07: Tony DiCecco, 17-13
2009-10: Tanya Warren, 17-16
2010-11: Tanya Warren, 27-6
2011-12: Tanya Warren, 19-15
2012-13: Tanya Warren, 17-17
2013-14: Tanya Warren, 17-13
2014-15: Tanya Warren, 17-15

For The Gold: After the 2014-15 season finished, Tanya Warren was awarded the unique opportunity to coach for her country after being named an assistant coach for Team USA at the World University Games in South Korea. During the month of July, Warren traveled overseas with Team USA for the tournament, eventually defeating Canada in the championship game for Gold.

Recent Additions: Head Coach Tanya Warren announced the addition of two student-athletes to the 2016-17 roster on Nov. 11. "I am so excited to welcome Megan and Abby to our Panther family. Megan will provide us some much needed front court depth. She is so versatile with her ability to score inside and shoot the ball from the perimeter as well. Abby brings us great size and athleticism on the perimeter. She will fit well with what we like to do in transition and we also love her ability to the shoot the three."

Abby Gerrits	Pewaukee, Minn. (Pewaukee)	5-10	G
Megan Maahs	Epworth, Iowa (Western Dubuque)	6-1	F

Valley on ESPN3: ESPN and the Missouri Valley Conference have announced a 10-year extension to their current media rights agreement that will provide increased coverage of conference events across ESPN platforms through the 2023-24 academic year. As part of the deal, ESPN, the MVC and its 10 member institutions will work jointly to develop in-house production capabilities at each campus that will provide significant national coverage for multiple sports on ESPN3 and hands-on educational opportunities for students. As a result, ESPN3 will showcase a minimum of 820 events a year (a minimum of 70 men's basketball) in the final six years of the agreement.

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