UNI Caps Regular Season With 64-39 Win Over Loyola

Saturday, March 3

Chicago, Illinois

1 p.m.

University of Northern Iowa

17-12 (13-5MVC)

Loyola

7-22 (5-13MVC)

UNI

Loyola Chicago

UNI Caps Regular Season With 64-39 Win Over Loyola

3/3/2018 3:50:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

FINAL STATS

CHICAGO, Illinois – The University of Northern Iowa women's basketball team (17-12, 13-5 MVC) closed out the regular season with a 64-39 win over Loyola (7-22, 5-13 MVC) on Saturday afternoon, with the Panthers streaking heading into postseason play.

The Panthers never trailed on Saturday, leading by as much as 28 against the Ramblers and holding Loyola to a season-low 15 points in the first half.

Sophomore Megan Maahs posted her 12th double-double of the season to lead the Panthers, scoring 16 points and snagging 10 rebounds. With Saturday's effort, Maahs has now earned the most double-doubles in a season since Alex Cook earned 14 in 2003-04.

With the win, UNI has now won at least 17 games for the ninth-straight season. The last nine 17-win seasons have come under head coach Tanya Warren, with UNI owning 16 overall as a program.

The Panthers will carry a four-game winning streak into Hoops in the Heartland, having won seven out of their last eight games overall. UNI will be the No. 3 seed at next week's conference tournament, playing against No. 6 seed Illinois State on Friday at 8:30 p.m. CT.

UNI shot 47% from the floor on Saturday, while holding Loyola to just 26% for the game. The defense posted another stellar effort on Saturday, allowing under 50 points for the ninth time this season. The Panther bench also came up big, outscoring the Rambler bench 28-4 for the game.

The Panthers got off to a great start on Saturday, opening the game on a 12-0 run and holding the Ramblers scoreless until 5:15 remaining in the opening period. UNI would close out the quarter with an 18-10 lead, as Maahs shot a perfect 5-of-5 from the floor to earn 10 early points for the Panthers. UNI ramped up the defensive effort in the second quarter, holding Loyola to only five points to take a 30-15 lead into halftime.

Coming out of the break, UNI's defense held Loyola to another single-digit quarter as the Panthers pushed their lead to 49-24 after Rose Simon-Ressler chipped in seven points for the quarter. Loyola managed to get over the double-digit mark in the final quarter, but it was to no avail as UNI sored the 64-39 road victory to close out the regular season.

UP NEXT
UNI turns its focus to the 2018 MVC Tournament with the Panthers traveling to the Quad Cities as the No. 3 seed. UNI will face No. 6 seeded Illinois State on Friday at 8:30 p.m. CT.

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 five-straight against Loyola.
The season sweep over Loyola marks the sixth foe UNI has won both conference contests against, with the other five being Evansville, Indiana State, Illinois State, Bradley and Valpo.
UNI has won seven out of its last eight contests overall.
UNI never trailed over the weekend against either Valpo or Loyola.
The 15 points allowed against Loyola in the first half was the lowest first-half total for a UNI opponent this season.
Under head coach Tanya Warren, the Panthers are now a perfect 74-0 when holding opponents to 50 points or less. This season UNI is 9-0 when accomplishing the feat.
Head coach Tanya Warren has now won at least 17 games in a season for the ninth-straight season.
The Panthers have now held the opposing team's leading scorer below their season average now 16 out 18 games this season.
UNI has now outrebounded 23 foes this season, earning a 16-7 record when doing so.
The Panther bench outscored the Rambler bench 28-4.
Sophomore Megan Maahs scored 16 points and hauled in 10 rebounds for her 12th double-double of the season.
Maahs has recorded the most double-doubles by any Panther since Alex Cook earned 13 in 2003-04.
Freshman Bre Gunnels scored a career-high eight points on Saturday