Photo by: Jason Rubin / JMRImages
Big Fourth Quarter Pushes Panthers Past Minnesota State
12/19/2018 9:07:00 PM | Women's Basketball
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa – Three Panthers scored in double figures and the UNI women's basketball team outscored Minnesota State 24-8 in the fourth quarter to earn a 73-56 win Wednesday at the McLeod Center in Cedar Falls.
After building a nine-point lead at the half, the Panthers found themselves in a battle in the third quarter as the Mavericks rallied to cut the lead to 49-48 after the end of the third quarter.
The Panther offense came alive in the fourth as the Panthers to just eight points in the frame and pulled away for the 17-point win.
UNI was 27-62(43.5 percent) from the field. Karli Rucker led all scorers with 23 points while Ellie Howell and Mikaela Morgan added 10 each. Morgan and Rucker tied for a team-high five rebounds.
The UNI defense was stellar all game, forcing 23 turnovers a season-high for a UNI opponent. Heidi Hillyard notched a career-high five steals in the effort. The Mavericks also had just one player in double figures in Taylor Drost who ended with a team-high 20 points.
The win moves UNI to 6-4 on the season and 4-0 at home on the year. The game was an exhibition game for Minnesota State.
THE PLAYER OF THE GAME WAS…
Karli Rucker put up a game-high 23 points on 8-16 shooting. She also tallied five rebounds and six assists. She hit all five of her free throw attempts and is now 28-31 on the season.
THE PLAY OF THE GAME WAS…
Heidi Hillyard hit back-to-back layups to open the scoring in the fourth quarter and jumpstart a big fourth quarter for the Panthers that saw UNI extend the lead from one point lead to start the fourth to a 17-point victory.
THE STAT OF THE GAME...
The Panthers forced Minnesota State into 23 turnovers more than any opponent so far this season. UNI turned the miscues into 29 points.
UP NEXT…
The Panthers are right back in action Friday when UNI hosts the Omaha in the final home non-conference game of the season. Tipoff is slated for 6 p.m. at the McLeod Center.
After building a nine-point lead at the half, the Panthers found themselves in a battle in the third quarter as the Mavericks rallied to cut the lead to 49-48 after the end of the third quarter.
The Panther offense came alive in the fourth as the Panthers to just eight points in the frame and pulled away for the 17-point win.
UNI was 27-62(43.5 percent) from the field. Karli Rucker led all scorers with 23 points while Ellie Howell and Mikaela Morgan added 10 each. Morgan and Rucker tied for a team-high five rebounds.
The UNI defense was stellar all game, forcing 23 turnovers a season-high for a UNI opponent. Heidi Hillyard notched a career-high five steals in the effort. The Mavericks also had just one player in double figures in Taylor Drost who ended with a team-high 20 points.
The win moves UNI to 6-4 on the season and 4-0 at home on the year. The game was an exhibition game for Minnesota State.
THE PLAYER OF THE GAME WAS…
Karli Rucker put up a game-high 23 points on 8-16 shooting. She also tallied five rebounds and six assists. She hit all five of her free throw attempts and is now 28-31 on the season.
THE PLAY OF THE GAME WAS…
Heidi Hillyard hit back-to-back layups to open the scoring in the fourth quarter and jumpstart a big fourth quarter for the Panthers that saw UNI extend the lead from one point lead to start the fourth to a 17-point victory.
THE STAT OF THE GAME...
The Panthers forced Minnesota State into 23 turnovers more than any opponent so far this season. UNI turned the miscues into 29 points.
UP NEXT…
The Panthers are right back in action Friday when UNI hosts the Omaha in the final home non-conference game of the season. Tipoff is slated for 6 p.m. at the McLeod Center.
Team Stats
MSU
UNI
FG%
.396
.435
3FG%
.385
.250
FT%
.692
.700
RB
34
37
TO
23
13
STL
8
13
Game Leaders
Scoring
Players Mentioned
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