Panther Women Face Creighton in Home Opener

UNI women's basketball hosts Big East foe Creighton in the home opener. The former MVC member Blue Jays are 0-1 on the season after dropping its opener to Drake 75-62. UNI and Creighton have a long history that has been dominated by Creighton, but the two teams have split the last four meetings, including a come-from-behind win for Creighton last year in Omaha.

• No fans will be allowed at Saturday's contest. The UNI Athletics Department will re-evaluate the situation ahead of the Dec. 12 home doubleheader when the Panther women face South Dakota State and the UNI men face Green Bay.

• The history between the two teams extends to the bench. Panther head coach Tanya Warren is a member of the Creighton Athletics Hall of Fame and is one of just two Creighton women's basketball players to have her number retired.

• UNI fell to Iowa 96-81 in the season opener at Iowa City. Kam Finley came off the bench to lead the Panthers with 22 points. Four UNI players hit double figures and all 10 Panthers that played, scored.

• The Panthers return their top five leading scorers and four of five starters off of last year's team. Karli Rucker led the way with 13.7 points per game, Kam Finley was second with 9.9 PPG, Megan Maahs third with 9.2 PPG, Bre Gunnels fourth with 7.0 PPG and Nicole Kroeger fifth with 6.7 PPG. In total, UNI returns 1,469 of 2,007 total points (73.2%).

• Temi Carda led the Blue Jays with 18 points and eight rebounds in their season opener. Emily Ronsiek came off the bench to score 13 and Chloe Dworak scored 11. Drake dominated the paint to the tune of a 42-16 advantage inside and built a 50-33 lead at the half before cruising for the 13-point win. Creighton did go 14-14 from the free-throw line.

• Last season, UNI closed non-conference play with the most non-conference wins in school history (8), three wins over Power-Five Schools and an undefeated home record. The Panthers defeated No. 20 Iowa 88-66, Missouri 78-73 and Iowa State 71-63.

• After one game, the Panthers are ranked fifth in three-point field goals attempted (32) and 10th in three-pointers made 11. UNI also recorded 11 steals.

• The Missouri Valley Conference Schedule is in flux after the Presidents chose to move to a series format to reduce travel, UNI will have four road series, four home series and play a home-and-home with travel partner Drake. The conference schedule will be released in early December.

• Karli Rucker is currently 20th on the all-time scoring list with 1,042 career points. She is just three points back from Cindy Harms for the 19th spot and 21 points back from Cassie Hager. She surpassed Iowa head coach Lisa Bluder (Geske) when she scored 12 points against the Hawkeyes.

• Megan Maahs is seventh all-time for rebounding with 720. She is 23 back from Erin Brocka for 6th. If she returns to her sophomore pace (322 rebounds), she can challenge record holder Alex Cook for the top spot in the record book.

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Kam Finley

Bre Gunnels

Nicole Kroeger

Megan Maahs

Karli Rucker

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