UNI Set To Battle The Bulldogs On Sunday

Sunday, January 24

Des Moines, Iowa

2 p.m.

University of Northern Iowa

Drake

UNI Set To Battle The Bulldogs On Sunday

1/21/2016 4:49:00 PM | Women's Basketball

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Game 18 at Drake (Jan. 24, 2016)
Time: 2 p.m.
Place: Des Moines, Iowa (Knapp Center)
Live Stats: www.statbroadcast.com
TV: ESPN3

The Basics: The University of Northern Iowa women's basketball team will begin a three-game road test this weekend, starting with the Drake Bulldogs on Sunday, Jan. 24. The game is set to tip-off at 2 p.m. on ESPN3 and Mediacom.

The Series: The Panthers trail the Bulldogs 21-56 in the all-time series between the two teams. The all-time series between the in-state foes dates back to 1975, Drake's first season of college basketball. UNI is 9-8 against the Bulldogs under the direction of Tanya Warren, including six straight wins between 2010-12.

About the Bulldogs: Drake is one of four teams, including the Panthers, heading into the weekend with just one conference loss. Drake lost to Southern Illinois 77-67 to open MVC play, but has won five straight since. The Bulldogs started the season on a six-game win streak, including victories over Iowa State and Wisconsin. Drake is led by junior Lizzy Wendell, who is averaging 4.8 rebounds and 20.4 points per game.

Panther Quick Hits:
• The Panthers enter the game ranked No. 3 in NCAA Division I basketball in fewest turnovers and No. 2 in turnovers per game, averaging 11.1.
• Amber Sorenson is ranked No. 8 in Division I women's basketball in three-pointers made per game (3.18).
• 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 87-45 inside the McLeod Center.

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

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.

Strengths and Weaknesses: Drake will enter the game on Sunday leading the league in scoring offense and field goal percentage while UNI enters the game leading the Valley in scoring defense. Drake has been averaging 80.4 points per game while UNI has only been allowing 59.2 points per game.

Scoring Battle: Basketball fans will see the top-two scorers in the Valley compete on Sunday in Lizzy Wendell and Madison Weekly. Wendell leads the MVC with 20.4 ppg while Weekly ranks second with 16.1 ppg. In Weekly's four-career games against the Bulldogs, she has averaged 11.3 points per game, including a then career-high 26 points on Jan. 16, 2015.

Rally Time: UNI has played several close games this season, but through composure and verteran play has come away with 10 wins. Against Indiana State (1/17), UNI was down by nine points late in the second quarter, but came back to win the game. It was the largest deficit that the Panthers have had to overcome in UNI's 10 wins this season.

She Shoots, She Rebounds: While Panther fans know her as a scorer, junior guard Madison Weekly has also been active on the boards this season. Weekly finished with eight rebounds against Indiana State (1/17), tying her career-high that she set against Iowa State this season.

No Room for Mistakes: The Panthers out-rebounded Indiana State 44-37 (1/17), allowing just one second-chance point scored by the Sycamores, a season-low for a UNI opponent this year.

Keitel For 12: Jen Keitel finished with a season-high 12 rebounds against Indiana State (1/17), one shy of her career-high of 13 set against Drake last season. It is the 13th game out of the last 14 that she has had five or more rebounds.

Top of the Line: UNI finished the game against Indiana State (1/17) shooting a season-high 92.3 percent from the free throw line (12-13). The previous season-high was 91.7 percent against Creighton (12/22). UNI is currently ranked second in the Valley at the line, shooting a combined 73.8 percent. The Panthers have two players ranked in the top-10 in the category with Madison Weekly landing at No. 2 (83.3%) and Jen Keitel earning a No. 8 ranking (76.6%).

Safe Hands: Senior Sharnae Lamar has started 17 games for the Panthers at the point guard position this seeason, racking up 27.6 minutes, 5.0 assists, 3.9 rebounds and 1.6 steals per game. She is currently ranked first in the league in assist/turnover ratio and is second in assists. The senior also ranks No. 7 in Division I basketball in assist/turnover ratio (2.93) while her 5.0 assists per game ranks her No. 4 all-time at UNI in assist average in a season.

Turnover Margins: UNI has only been averaging 11.1 turnovers per game through 17 games this season, ranking No. 2 in the country and No. 1 in the Valley. The Panthers had a season-low seven turnovers against Creighton (12/22). UNI only trails Villanova, who is averaging just 7.8 turnovers per game.

Balanced Game: Jen Keitel finished with 14 points, two rebounds, one assist, two blocks and a career-high three steals against Illinois State (1/15). Her two blocks advanced her into sixth all-time at UNI in career blocks, passing Erin Brocka (2007-11). She now has 90 in her time as a Panther.

MVC Play: Stephanie Davison scored a season-high 15 points, shooting 6-for-10 from the field while adding seven rebounds and three assists agaisnt the Redbirds (1/15). Davison was only averaging 4.7 points during non-conference play and is now averaging 8.2 in MVC games.

Ball Skills: UNI had just eight turnovers against Illinois State (1/15), its fifth game in the last seven to have 10-or-less. UNI is averaging a league-low 9.3 turnovers per game in Valley play.

Defensive Prowess: UNI's 10 blocks against Illinois State is a season-high and was just two shy of breaking the school record for team blocks in a game (12 at Bradley, 2/15/03). It was the second time this season that the Panthers have reached the mark, also grabbing 10 against South Dakota (11/17). Ten blocks is the most blocks in a game by the Panthers since 2006 when UNI posted 10 against Missouri State on March 11.

Shooting Forward: Senior Jen Keitel has moved into 11th all-time at UNI in career field goal percentage. She is averaging 10.6 points per game this season and 45.1 percent from the field, giving her a 48.2 percent shooting average in her career.