Panthers Fend Off Salukis for 71-63 Win

Sunday, February 4

Cedar Falls, Iowa

2 p.m.

University of Northern Iowa

Southern Illinois (Kids Club Day)

Panthers Fend Off Salukis for 71-63 Win

2/4/2018 4:50:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

FINAL STATS

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa – Juniors Ellie Howell and Mikaela Morgan combined for 33 points on Sunday, as the University of Northern Iowa women's basketball team (11-11, 7-4 MVC) earned a hard-fought, 71-63 win over Southern Illinois (12-10, 7-4 MVC) to close out the home weekend.

UNI led by as much as 19 points on Sunday, but SIU fought back to tie the game at 47-47 entering the fourth quarter. The Panthers outscored the Salukis 24-16 in the final period, while shooting a blistering 77.8% for the quarter to seal the 71-63 victory.

The Panthers improved to 11-11 overall and 7-4 in league action, while the Salukis fell to 12-10 and 7-4 in conference play. UNI is now 5-1 in MVC games at the McLeod Center this season.

Howell led the Panthers with 17 points on Sunday, while also grabbing five rebounds. Morgan chipped in 16 points, with 12 of those coming in the second half. SIU's Nicole Martin led all scorers on Sunday with 22 points.

The Panthers knocked down seven 3-pointers to only three for the Salukis, while also out muscling SIU on the glass, 40-25. The Salukis averaged 36.4 rebounds per contest entering Sunday's game.

After only getting to the free throw line six times during Friday night's loss to Missouri State, the Panthers were much improved on Sunday as UNI earned 21 trips to the charity stripe. The Panthers were an impressive 8-of-10 from the line when it mattered most in the fourth quarter.

The Panthers jumped out to a 12-2 lead to open the game, thanks to five early points from sophomore Megan Maahs. Fellow sophomore Heidi Hillyard capped the first quarter with a mid-range jumper at the buzzer to continue the first quarter momentum as UNI held an 18-6 advantage heading into the second period.

UNI posted another hot start to open a quarter in the second period, as the Panthers raced past the Salukis with a 9-2 to stretch out their lead. UNI would build its lead to as much as 19 points midway through the second quarter, before SIU outscored UNI 16-5 to trim the lead back down to single digits entering the locker room.

Coming out of halftime, the Salukis outscored the Panthers 9-3 to inch back into the game before finally taking their first lead of the day at the 1:20 mark of the third quarter. The two squads traded a pair of baskets to cap the quarter, leaving the score knotted at 47-47 entering the final quarter.

Trailing 49-47 early in the fourth quarter, Rose Simon-Ressler kicked off an 8-0 run after knocking down a 3-pointer to give UNI a 55-49 with 7:42 left in the game. From that point on, the Panthers staved off each Saluki surge, as the Panthers earned eight points from the charity stripe and earn the 71-63 win at home.

UP NEXT
The Panthers hit the road next weekend for Indiana as UNI faces Indiana State and Evansville on Friday and Sunday.

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 snapped a two-game losing streak to SIU.
Overall, the Panthers have won five out of their last seven games this season.
The Panthers outrebounded the Salukis, 40-25, marking the highest margin for UNI in MVC action.
The 25 rebounds is the lowest total allowed by the Panthers this season.
UNI has now outrebounded 16 foes this season, earning a 10-6 record when doing so.
Junior Ellie Howell earned her team-best 13^th game in double figures, after scoring 17 on Sunday.
Howell has earned nine of her 13 double-figure games in MVC action.
Attendance for Sunday's game was 1,387