Panthers Fall At North Dakota, 64-59

Saturday, December 5

Grand Forks, N.D.

2 p.m.

University of Northern Iowa

3-4

North Dakota

2-5

UNI

North Dakota

Panthers Fall At North Dakota, 64-59

12/5/2015 5:11:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

BOX SCORE PDF
GRAND FORKS, N.D. – The University of Northern Iowa women's basketball team fell to the North Dakota Fighting Hawks on Saturday afternoon, 64-59.

Amber Sorenson led both teams in points with a career-high 27, knocking in six three-pointers while shooting 83-percent from the free throw line. Madison Weekly chipped in 14 points, four rebounds and three assists while Ellie Herzberg added nine points and three boards.

UNI tied the score 50-50 in the fourth quarter after Stephanie Davison scored in the paint, but North Dakota answered with a three-pointer on the next play, with UNI unable to make up ground for the remainder of the game.

The Panthers started the game with back-to-back three pointers from Sorenson to take a 6-0 lead with 7:21 on the clock in the first quarter. North Dakota answered, tying the score 7-7 with a pair of free throws.

UNI and North Dakota continued to battle for the lead in the first quarter, with North Dakota earning a 12-10 advantage before Weekly scored a layup to make it 12-12 with 2:01 left in the period. The Fighting Hawks were able to take a 19-16 lead heading into the second quarter, hitting a three-pointer at the buzzer.

UNI continued to compete with the Fighting Hawks, tying the score again 21-21 when Hannah Schonhardt drained a three with 7:14 left in the second quarter. North Dakota responded with an 8-0 run, jumping out to their largest lead of the half, making it 31-21 at the 2:59 mark. The Panthers ended the half on a 7-1 run, with all seven points coming from Herzberg to end the second quarter down 32-28.

North Dakota gained a 37-28 lead to start the third quarter, scoring five unanswered points before Weekly drained a trey with 7:23 on the clock to make it a six-point game. UNI continued to chip away at the UND lead, making it 38-36 with at the 5:08 mark when Sorenson punched in a three-pointer.

Sorenson followed it up with another three-pointer to give UNI a 39-38 advantage, the Panthers' first lead of the second half. North Dakota and UNI traded leads in the last three minutes of the quarter, with the Fighting Hawks holding a 47-43 lead heading into the final quarter of the game.

Sorenson scored five unanswered points to start the fourth quarter, giving UNI a 48-47 lead with 9:23 left to play. North Dakota regained the lead after Davison tied it 50-50, with Leah Szabla hit a three-pointer with 6:15 remaining in the game to make it 53-50.

UNI cut it two a two-point lead with less than three minutes to play when Weekly hit a three-pointer to make it 59-57, but free throws from North Dakota in the remaining minutes of the game clinched the 64-59 win.

UNI will return to action on Wednesday, Dec. 9 when they head to Brookings, S.D. to take on South Dakota State. The game is set to tip off at 7 p.m.

Post-Game Notes vs. North Dakota

Amber Sorenson scored a career-high 27 points, a game-high against North Dakota. She tied her career-high in field goals made with eight. The last time she scored eight field goals was against Bradley (3/7/15).
Amber Sorenson knocked in six three-pointers against North Dakota, giving her 154 in her career as a Panther. It moves her into fifth all-time at UNI, tying Katelin Oney (2008-12).
Madison Weekly has scored in double-figures in six consecutive games for the Panthers, adding 14 against North Dakota.
Taylor Hagen notched a career-high three steals in UNI's game against North Dakota.