Panthers Secure 59-51 Win Over Akron

Sunday, December 13

Moline, Ill. (iWireless Center)

1 p.m.

University of Northern Iowa

4-5

Akron

4-5

Akron

UNI

Panthers Secure 59-51 Win Over Akron

12/13/2015 3:16:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

MOLINE, Ill. – The University of Northern Iowa women's basketball team stopped a late rally by the Akron Zips on Sunday afternoon, posting a 59-51 victory. UNI is 4-5 overall this season.

UNI was led by Amber Sorenson, who scored a game-high 25 points, adding six boards, a steal and a block. Madison Weekly chipped in 11 points along with tying her career-high in rebounds with seven. Leading the Panthers at the point was senior Sharnae Lamar, dishing out a career-high 11 assists against the Zips.

The Panthers jumped out to a 5-1 lead early in the first quarter, forcing two turnovers and holding Akron to zero field goals through the first four minutes of the game. Akron's field goal would be their only make of the quarter, with UNI going on a 12-0 run while holding the Zips scoreless for the remainder of the quarter to make it 17-3 heading into the second period.

UNI's run continued into the second quarter, with UNI scoring eight unanswered points, including back-to-back threes from Sorenson, to take a 25-3 lead with 6:46 on the clock. Akron didn't score another field goal until the 3:59 mark in the period, with UNI holding a 28-7 lead.

Both teams struggled late in the second quarter, going a combined 4-for-17 from the field. The Panthers held Akron to just 15-percent shooting in the first half, with UNI's Keitel scoring a turnaround jumper at the buzzer of the second quarter to send the Panthers into halftime up 33-14.

Madison Weekly hit two free throws at the 8:43 mark in the third quarter to take a 35-16 lead, but Akron answered with a 6-0 run while forcing UNI to a scoring drought of over five minutes, cutting it to a 13-point game. Weekly ended the drought with a deep three-pointer from the wing with 2:48 left in the quarter, putting UNI up 38-22.

Akron made it a an eight-point game to start the fourth quarter, draining a three-pointer at the 9:38 mark, making it 41-33 in UNI's favor. The Zips turned it into a 8-0 run cutting it to three, but Weekly countered with another trey of her own to put UNI back up 44-38 with 6:11 left in the game.

The Zips were able to tie the score 45-45 with 3:40 remaining in the game, but Sorenson and Angie Davison scored back-to-back-to-back three-pointers to put UNI back up by nine. Akron continued to press, going 5-for-7 from the field, but clutch free throws down the stretch, securing a 59-51 win.

Post-Game Notes vs. Akron

Alyssa Johnson saw action in her first game of the season after sitting out the first eight games with an Achilles injury. She finished the game with STAT LINE.
Amber Sorenson reached double-figures for the fourth consecutive game, racking up 25 against Akron. It was the third time this season she has reached the 20-point mark and the 11^th career-game that she has scored five-or-more treys, knocking down seven.
Sharnae Lamar finished the game with a career-high 11 assists. The school record for assists in a game is 13, set by Kelley Westhoff three times in 1996-1997.