University of Northern Iowa Athletics
University of Northern Iowa
13-4, 6-0MVC
Bradley
5-11, 1-4MVC
UNI Beats The Braves, 72-53
1/15/2017 4:39:00 PM | Women's Basketball
PEORIA, Ill. – The University of Northern Iowa women's basketball team turned in another strong defensive performance against Bradley, beating the Braves 72-53. UNI improved to 13-4 and 6-0 in Missouri Valley Conference play.
The Panthers had four players score in double figures with Madison Weekly putting up a game-high 23 points. Megan Maahs led the Panthers in rebounds, grabbing 12 while adding 11 points and a career-high six blocks. Ellie Herzberg and Kennedy Kirkpatrick each added 11 points with Kirkpatrick giving a team-high five assists.
Both teams struggled to start the game, going a combined 0-for-8 from the floor before the first field goal being scored at the 6:34 mark on the first quarter. The Panthers quickly got things together, going on a 9-0 run that included two threes from Weekly to give UNI a 14-4 lead. UNI was able to head into the second quarter up 21-10 on a three-pointer from Angie Davison to end the first.
UNI was able to keep a safe lead in the second quarter, making it a 12-point game with a layup from Weekly with 4:44 remaining. Bradley was able to put some pressure on the Panthers late in the quarter with a 6-0 run to cut the UNI lead to eight, but Weekly answered with a key three-pointer to give UNI a 41-30 advantage heading into halftime.
Herzberg scored five of her 11 points in the third quarter, helping UNI keep the Bradley Braves at bay. The Panthers held the Braves to just one three-point shot attempt the whole third quarter, also keeping them out of the paint with three blocks from Maahs during the quarter. UNI headed into the fourth quarter up 56-43 after Kirkpatrick scored four of UNI's last six points of the quarter.
The Panther defense didn't let up in the fourth quarter, forcing five turnovers on Bradley, scoring 10 points off the mistakes. UNI shot 45-percent from the floor in the fourth quarter, eventually achieving its 72-53 win.
UNI returns to action when they host Indiana State on Jan. 20 inside the McLeod Center. The game is set for a 7 p.m. tip.
Post-Game Notes vs. Bradley
- Senior Madison Weekly scored a game-high 23 points against Bradley, the sixth time this season she has reached the 20-point mark and the 27th time in her career.
- Sophomore Ellie Herzberg has reach double-figures in a three consecutive games and in seven of the last eight. She scored 11 against the Braves.
- Megan Maahs turned in the best performance of her career, scoring 11 points, adding a career-high 12 rebounds along with a career-high six blocks. The school record for blocks in a game is nine, set by Cassie Hager in 2006.
- Kennedy Kirkpatrick scored in double figures for the third time this season, also contributing a game-high five assists. She scored 11 points, shooting 4-for-5 from the field.
- Megan Maahs' six blocks tied a Renaissance Coliseum record for blocks in a game. UNI's nine total blocks also tied the arena record for blocks in a game by a team.
- UNI now holds the two lowest turnover records in Renaissance Coliseum. They finished with six in UNI's win over the Braves today and eight against Bradley in 2014.
