UNI Falls 51-50 At USD In Third Round Of WNIT

Thursday, March 24

Vermillion, S.D.

7 p.m.

University of Northern Iowa

24-11

South Dakota

29-6

UNI

South Dakota

UNI Falls 51-50 At USD In Third Round Of WNIT

3/24/2016 9:00:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

VERMILLION, S.D. – The University of Northern Iowa women's basketball team fell in the third round of the WNIT to the South Dakota Coyotes on Thursday night, 51-50. UNI finished the season 24-11 overall, its second-most wins in school history.

The Panthers were led by senior Jen Keitel in points with 19, adding six rebounds, three assists and three blocks. Senior Stephanie Davison added 13 points while senior Sharnae Lamar finished with eight rebounds and six assists.

UNI took an 11-5 lead in the first quarter after Keitel scored back-to-back buckets along with a three from Amber Sorenson, making it a 7-0 run on the Coyotes with 6:18 on the clock. South Dakota kept things interesting though, going on a 5-0 run of their own scored solely by Nicole Seekamp to make it a one-point game.

South Dakota kept its run going while UNI entered a scoring drought, taking a three-point lead with 3:58 left to play in the first period, but UNI kept its composure, converting on long jumpers, including one from Keitel with 28 seconds on the clock to take a 19-18 lead heading into the second quarter.

Both teams struggled to start the second quarter, with neither team scoring in the first three minutes. With South Dakota's shooting woes continuing late into the quarter, UNI was able to take a 25-20 lead thanks to strong drives in the paint from Madison Weekly and Hannah Schonhardt with 3:45 left to play in the second. UNI held a five-point lead with 1:12 on the clock, but a pair of free throws from Jasmine Trimboli made it a one-possession game at 27-24 heading into halftime.

UNI jumped out to a five-point lead to start the third quarter after Weekly was fouled hard on a made layup, converting on the three-point play, but South Dakota wasted no time in cutting it to one with four unanswered points to make it 30-29 with 7:00 on the clock. After both teams were held without a field goal for four minutes , the Coyotes took a two-point lead with 27 seconds left, but Keitel came up with a huge put-back basket to tie the score 37-37 at the third quarter buzzer.

The Panthers and the Coyotes traded leads to start the fourth quarter, with UNI taking a 48-45 advantage thanks to a pair of free throws from Weekly and a layup from Davison with 4:18 remaining in the game. The South Dakota defense was stingy late in the fourth quarter, holding UNI to only one field goal in the final four minutes of the game. Davison hit a pull-up jumper with 42 seconds on the clock to cut it to one, but UNI was unable to convert on a last effort attempt, falling 51-50.

Post-Game Notes vs. South Dakota

Senior Jen Keitel finished her career at UNI ranked No. 12 in points (1,082), No. 9 in rebounds (681) and No. 4 in blocks (106).
Senior Sharnae Lamar finished her career at UNI with 125 career games played, ranking her No. 8 all-time at UNI. She is also No. 7 all-time in career assists (346) and the school record holder in season assists.
Senior Amber Sorenson finishes her season with a school record 97 made three-pointers this season and is ranked second all-time as a Panther in career threes made.
Senior Stephanie Davison finished her career ranked No. 6 all-time at UNI in career games played with 127 and No. 16 in career minutes at 2,917.