Panthers Drop Double-Overtime Tussle with Bluejays

Tuesday, November 21

Omaha, Nebraska

6 p.m.

University of Northern Iowa

1-2

Creighton

3-1

OT 1

OT 2

Northern Iowa

Creighton

Panthers Drop Double-Overtime Tussle with Bluejays

11/21/2017 9:22:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

FINAL STATS

OMAHA, Neb. – Despite clawing back from a 12-point deficit in regulation, Northern Iowa (1-2) couldn't overcome Creighton (3-1) in double overtime as the Panthers fell 89-78.

The Panthers dropped to 1-2 overall with the loss, while the Bluejays improved to 3-1 on the season.

UNI took its first lead of the game midway through the fourth quarter and led by as much as five points with under a minute to play, but CU closed out regulation on a 6-1 run that was capped by a last-second shot from Audrey Faber to force overtime.

UNI and CU wouldn't settle the contest with only one overtime however, as the two squads each scored five points in the first extra period. The Bluejays pulled ahead after Faber scored nine points down the stretch for CU to clinch the 89-78 victory.

Ellie Howell paced the Panthers with 16 points on 6-of-14 shooting, while CU's Faber led the Bluejays with 29 points on the night. Megan Maahs secured her second double-double of the season with 15 points and 14 rebounds, while Kennedy Kirkpatrick came one assist shy of her own double-double after scoring 11 points and dishing out nine assists.

Mikaela Morgan added 10 points to round out the double-digit scorers for UNI, while freshman Karli Rucker came off the bench to earn a career-high seven points.

CU outscored UNI 17-9 to begin the game, as Faber scored seven early points to give the Bluejays the first quarter advantage before CU took a 35-24 lead into halftime. UNI cut the deficit to just seven entering the fourth quarter, as the Panthers mounted their comeback. A 15-2 run was spurred on by three Maahs layups, as UNI took a 62-56 advantage with 2:44 remaining in the game.

The Panthers pushed the Bluejays to the brink of defeat with 41 seconds left after Howell's layup gave UNI the 67-62 advantage. Howell would go to the line and sink one of two free throws with four seconds remaining, setting up Faber's last-second shot to force the first overtime.

Maahs led the Panthers in the first overtime period after scoring all five of UNI's points, but was fouled out of the game with 2:39 remaining in the second overtime. The Bluejays took the 80-76 margin from there and knocked down seven shots from the charity stripe to close out the game with an 89-79 win.

UP NEXT
The Panthers will travel south over Thanksgiving break, as UNI heads to Orlando for the UCF Tournament. UNI will take on Wyoming Saturday at 11 a.m. CT, before facing host UCF Sunday at 12:30 p.m. CT.

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

Creighton now leads the all-time series against UNI, 37-17.
Tuesday's overtime game was UNI's first since March 12, 2017's contest against Drake. UNI was defeated 74-69.
The 78 points scored by UNI was a season-high for the Panthers.
Megan Maahs earned her third career double-double and the second of the season.
Karli Rucker's seven points was a career-high for the freshman.
The nine assists for Kennedy Kirkpatrick were a career-high for the senior point guard.
Attendance for Tuesday's game was 632.