UNI Drops Hard-Fought Contest to UCF

Sunday, November 26

Orlando, FL

12:30 p.m.

University of Northern Iowa

2-3

University of Central Florida

4-3

UNI

UCF

UNI Drops Hard-Fought Contest to UCF

11/26/2017 2:43:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

FINAL STATS

ORLANDO, Fla. – The University of Northern Iowa women's basketball team (2-3) couldn't overcome a slow start on Sunday, as the Panthers fell to UCF (4-3) 53-43 to close out their weekend trip in Orlando.

UNI fell to 2-3 with the loss and 1-1 over the weekend, while UCF won both of its weekend contests to improve to 4-3 overall and hold serve at its home tournament.

Senior Kennedy Kirkpatrick led the Panthers with 14 points after going 6-of-16 from the field. Sophomore Megan Maahs turned in her third double-double of the season, after scoring 10 points and snagging 12 rebounds.

Despite holding the Knights under 60 points on Sunday, the Panthers were held to 27.9% shooting as a team as UNI couldn't get over the hump against UCF. The Panthers came within one point of the Knights after a 6-0 run to open the second half, but UCF bounced back to extend its lead with a 13-5 run to close the third quarter.

Unlike Saturday's game against Wyoming, the Panthers came out of the gates sluggish as UNI did not find a basket until 4:07 left in the first quarter. The Panthers trimmed the early Knight lead after Maahs buried her first 3-pointer of the season, cutting the deficit to 15-13 at the end of the first period.

UCF answered back in the second quarter, after the Knights went on an 8-1 run to begin the period and gain a 23-14 advantage. Kirkpatrick responded for UNI however, as the senior scored three-straight baskets to close out the half and trim the UCF lead to 27-22 at the break.

Following a Aliyah Gregory bucket to begin the half for UCF, UNI went on a 6-0 run to pull within one of the Knights with 6:14 remaining in the third quarter. Much like the entire game, the Knights had an answer for the Panther run as UCF outscored UNI 13-5 to close out the quarter with a 42-33 lead.

UCF held on to its advantage in the fourth quarter, as the Knights held the Panthers to only four made baskets in the final period. UCF shot 50% in the fourth quarter, with the Knights picking up the 53-43 win over the Panthers.

UP NEXT
UNI will continue its road swing as the Panthers travel to South Dakota State on Thursday, Nov. 30 at 7 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

UNI is now 1-1 all-time against UCF.
The three made 3-pointers by UNI was a season-low for the Panthers.
The Panthers are now 134-19 under head coach Tanya Warren when holding an opponent to under 60 points.
The 43 points were the lowest scoring outing by the Panthers this season.
Kennedy Kirkpatrick has turned in double-digit scoring efforts in four out of five games this season.
Megan Maahs has three double-doubles this season and four for her young career at UNI.
The nine rebounds for Ellie Howell were a season-high for the junior.