UNI Falls In Overtime To Lady Bears, 78-75

Friday, February 5

Cedar Falls, Iowa

7 p.m.

University of Northern Iowa

12-9, 7-3

Missouri State

15-7, 8-2

OT 1

Missouri State

UNI

UNI Falls In Overtime To Lady Bears, 78-75

2/5/2016 10:02:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa – The University of Northern Iowa women's basketball team battled the Missouri State Lady Bears into overtime Friday night, but fell 78-75. UNI is 12-9 overall this season and 7-3 in league play.

Madison Weekly scored a team-high 19 points, adding five rebounds and two steals. Sharnae Lamar added a career-high 14 points and seven assists, while Jen Keitel and Amber Sorenson knocked in 12 and 10 points, respectively.

The Panthers took a 7-5 lead with 6:22 on the clock in the first quarter on a three-pointer from Sharnae Lamar, part of five unanswered points from the senior to give UNI the advantage. At the 5:14 mark, Hillary Chvatal scored two free throws for the Lady Bears and those would be the last points of the quarter for MSU. UNI went on a 10-0 run that included six straight points from Lauren Parker to give UNI a 17-7 lead heading into the second quarter.

Missouri State was able to make it a five-point game in the second quarter after the Panthers went cold from the field late, making it 21-16. UNI continued to struggle, going just 2-for-9 in the final four minutes of the quarter while Missouri State went 6-for-6 to take a 27-26 lead heading into halftime.

The Lady Bears extended its lead to four points early in the third quarter, but UNI countered with two quick layups from Weekly and Stephanie Davison that included a sneak pass from Lamar to only trail by 31-30 at the 8:04 mark. The Panthers were then able to tie the score 33-33 when Lamar hit a key three on the wing with 7:12 remaining in the quarter.

Both teams got hot from the field late in the third, shooting a combined 90-percent from the field with Missouri State taking a 49-42 lead with 2:32 left in the third. Lamar snuck through the lane for a strong take to the basket at the 1:18 mark to cut the MSU lead to two points, but Kenzie Williams hit a jumper with 44 seconds on the clock to give them a 51-47 lead heading into the final quarter.

The Lady Bears opened the fourth quarter on a 6-0 run, with back-to-back threes from Liza Fruendt to make it 57-50 with 8:02 left in the game. UNI clawed their way back with back-to-back paints points from Weekly, with Hannah Schonhardt tying the score 57-57 on a free throw at the 5:13 mark, making it a 7-0 run.

UNI held a 68-65 lead with 23 seconds left in the fourth period after Lamar hit two clutch free throws, but Fruendt answered with a three-pointer with 22 seconds on the clock to send the game into overtime. Missouri State took a seven-point lead in overtime, but UNI fought back with a three from Sorenson and a big conversion in the lane from Keitel, making it 78-75 with nine seconds left in the game.

UNI was unable to hit its final attempt in the game, keeping the 78-75 score final and giving the Lady Bears the win. The Panthers return to action on Sunday, Feb. 7 against Wichita State with tip-off starting at 2 p.m.