Defense Secures Victory for UNI over Bradley in Home Finale

Sunday, February 25

Cedar Falls, Iowa

2 p.m.

University of Northern Iowa

15-12, 11-5

Bradley (Senior Day)

12-16, 6-11

Bradley

UNI

Defense Secures Victory for UNI over Bradley in Home Finale

2/25/2018 7:33:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

FINAL STATS

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa – Led by a stingy defense on Sunday, the University of Northern Iowa women's basketball team (15-12, 11-5 MVC) closed out the home slate with a 63-50 win over Bradley (12-16, 6-11 MVC) in front of a delighted crowd at the McLeod Center.

Sunday's contest served as Senior Day for Kennedy Kirkpatrick, who scored 14 points for the Panthers in her final game at McLeod.

UNI led for most of the game, until Bradley managed to tie the game early in the fourth quarter. The Panthers bounced back to outscored the Braves 13-4 in the final period as the trio of Kirkpatrick, Megan Maahs and Mikaela Morgan combined for 19 points to lead UNI in the final quarter to secure the 63-50 victory.

The win for the Panthers moved UNI's record to 15-12 overall and 11-5 in league play, while the Braves dropped to 12-16 and 6-11 in MVC action. UNI has now won five out of its last six contests following the home sweep over the weekend.

Morgan led the Panthers with 16 points, while Kirkpatrick and Maahs chipped in 14 each to round out UNI's double-figure scorers. Maahs came one rebound shy of her 11th double-double of the season.

UNI dominated the glass overall, holding a 41-38 advantage for the game and marking the 21st opponent the Panthers have outrebounded this season. In the two games this season against the Braves, the Panthers have held Bradley to a combined 90 points.

The Panthers were led early by junior Morgan, who chipped in eight points to give UNI and early lead. The two squads combined for only 15 points in the second period, but the Panthers would enter the locker room with a 28-20 advantage.

The Braves outscored the Panthers 20-14 in the third quarter to climb back into the game, before finally tying the contest with 9:41 remaining in the fourth quarter. The Panthers wouldn't allow the Braves' momentum to continue however as the trio of Morgan, Maahs and Kirkpatrick took over to combined for 19 of UNI's 21 points in the quarter to help the Panthers pull away late.

UP NEXT
UNI heads east next weekend, as the Panthers take on Valparaiso and Loyola on Thursday and Saturday.

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 has now won its last 14 contests over Bradley.
The Panthers have held Bradley to 90 points total in their last two contests against the Braves.
The season sweep over Bradley marks the fourth foe UNI has won both conference contests against, with the other three being Evansville, Indiana State and Illinois State.
UNI has now won five out of its last six contests.
Under head coach Tanya Warren, UNI is now 73-0 when holding an opponent to 50 points or less.
UNI has now outrebounded 21 foes this season, earning a 14-7 record when doing so.
Senior Kennedy Kirkpatrick has now scored in double-figures 13 times this year.
Attendance for Sunday's game was 1,166.