University of Northern Iowa
5-4
Creighton
4-4
Strong Defense Propels Panthers Past Creighton, 50-49
12/10/2016 4:47:00 PM | Women's Basketball
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa – The University of Northern Iowa women's basketball program pulled off a 50-49 win over Creighton on Saturday afternoon, thanks in large part to a stellar defensive game by the Panthers. UNI improved to 5-4 overall.
Creighton tied the score 49-49 with just 40 seconds remaining in the game on a three-pointer from Jaylyn Agnew, but Megan Maahs was fouled on UNI's next offensive play, converting on one of her free throws to give UNI the one-point advantage. The Bluejays had nine seconds to work with at the end of the game for a final shot, but Mikaela Morgan came up with a huge steal with seven seconds on the clock, putting the ball back in UNI's hands.
The Panthers held Creighton to 27-percent shooting from the field for the game, forcing 14 turnovers. UNI also held Creighton's leading scorer Audrey Faber to just six points when she entered the game averaging close to 14 points per game.
Madison Weekly and Maahs both chipped in 12 points each, with Maahs adding seven rebounds and Weekly dishing out seven assists. Morgan also finished with 11 points, turning in one of her most complete games with five rebounds, three dimes, a steal and a block.
It was a tale of two halves for the Panthers, starting out the game shooting 28-percent from the field and going 0-for-3 from the arc in the first quarter. UNI headed into the second quarter down 13-9 with Creighton's bench scoring seven of the Bluejays' 13 first quarter points.
Both teams remained cold from the field in the second quarter, shooting a combined 5-for-29 with Creighton only scoring one field goal the whole quarter. It turned into one of the lowest scoring halves for either team, heading into halftime with Creighton holding a 19-18 lead.
UNI came out of the locker room a new team, with Weekly setting the tone early with a deep three-pointer to immediately give UNI the lead. Creighton kept it close for the majority of the third quarter, but UNI took off on a 7-0 run late, sparked by five straight points from Morgan to give UNI a 34-28 advantage. The Panthers ended the quarter with a three-pointer from Rose Simon-Ressler, sending UNI into the fourth up 37-34.
The fourth quarter quickly turned into a shootout, but UNI was able to maintain an edge over the Bluejays, thanks in part to a huge three-pointer from Maahs with 5:26 on the clock to give UNI a 44-39 lead. Creighton answered down the stretch with some key three-pointers of their own, including the three that tied the game 49-49 with less than a minute on the clock. The composure of the Panthers shined through though and UNI clinched its 50-49 win on Maahs's final free throw.
UNI will return to action on Sunday, Dec. 18 when they host North Dakota. The game is set to tip off at 2 p.m. CT on ESPN3.
Post-Game Notes vs. Creighton
- Although UNI only scored 18, the Panthers held Creighton to just 19 first half points, its lowest half total this season.
- Freshman Megan Maahs earned her first collegiate start against Creighton, scoring 12 points while adding seven rebounds.
- Mikaela Morgan turned in one of her most complete games, scoring 11 points while bringing in five rebounds, three assists, a steal and a block.
- UNI only had seven turnovers against Creighton, a season-low for the Panthers.
- The Panthers dominated the Bluejays in the paint, outscoring Creighton 28-14 inside.
