Panthers Drop Season Opener to Jaguars

Friday, November 10

Cedar Falls, Iowa

7 p.m.

University of Northern Iowa

0-1

IUPUI

1-0

IUPUI

UNI

Panthers Drop Season Opener to Jaguars

11/10/2017 9:34:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

FINAL STATS

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa – Despite trimming the deficit to only one point late in Friday's season opener, Northern Iowa (0-1) couldn't overcome IUPUI (1-0) at home as the Jaguars downed the Panthers 54-48.

A Kennedy Kirkpatrick 3-pointer cut the Jaguar lead to 45-44 with 5:48 remaining in the fourth quarter, but IUPUI responded with a 9-4 run to close out the game.

IUPUI had four players in double-figures, while Kirkpatrick led UNI with 15 points on 4-of-9 shooting from the field. Sophomore Megan Maahs turned in a double-double after scoring 10 points and snagging a career-high 16 boards.

"You always see these rough patches in the opening game," Kirkpatrick said. "We're going to come back stronger and prepare for the next game against Iowa State."

The Panthers had a slow start to begin Friday's season opener, with the Jaguars jumping out to an 11-4 lead early. In response, UNI capped a 7-1 run in the second quarter after Nicole Kroeger buried the Panthers' first 3-pointer of the game with 2:25 remaining in the half. The Jaguars would have an answer however, as IUPUI stretched its lead back to seven points at the break.

Despite falling behind 42-31 in the third quarter, the Panthers scrapped back again to trim the Jaguar lead to six points entering the fourth quarter thanks to a five-point spurt from Megan Maahs. UNI came within one point with 5:48 remaining in the game, but the Jaguars staved off the latest effort by the Panthers to close out the game on a 9-4 run and take the season opener 54-48.

UP NEXT
The Panthers host Iowa State on Tuesday, Nov. 14 at 7 p.m. CT, as UNI continues its homestand to open the season.

TICKETS
Fans can purchase season and single-game tickets to UNI women's basketball home games through UNITIX. Call 319-273-4849 or visit www.UNITIX.uni.edu.

SOCIAL MEDIA
For more information on the UNI women's basketball program, follow the Panthers on Twitter at "@UNIWBB" and on Facebook at "UNI Women's Basketball."

ADDITIONAL NOTES

The all-time series between UNI and IUPUI is now even at 1-1.
The Panthers are now 26-24 all-time in season openers.
UNI is 27-20 all-time in home season openers.
Under head coach Tanya Warren, the Panthers are 7-4 in season openers.
Senior Kennedy Kirkpatrick matched her career high in points with 15 on Friday.
Sophomore Megan Maahs earned a career-high 16 rebounds against IUPUI.
The double-double for Maahs was her second as a Panther.
Maahs last earned a double-double after finishing with 11 points and 12 rebounds against Bradley on Jan. 15, 2017.
Attendance for Friday's game was 1,352.