Women's Hoops Picks Up Key Win Over Bradley

Saturday, February 22

Cedar Falls, Iowa

2 p.m.

University of Northern Iowa

16-10,8-7MVC

Bradley

19-6,10-4MVC

Bradley

UNI

Women's Hoops Picks Up Key Win Over Bradley

2/22/2020 5:46:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score Photo Gallery

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa - Strong defense and an offensive surge in the third quarter helped to lift UNI over to a key 64-57 Missouri Valley Conference win over Bradley.

Nine Panthers scored in the win, led by Karli Rucker with 16 points. UNI struggled offensively in the first half, hitting just 2-18 from the three-point line, but the Panther defense held Bradley to just 28 points to keep UNI in the game.

The two teams traded leads throughout the first half. The Panthers had leads of 10-3 with 5:45 to play and 12-5 with 3:26 left in the first quarter and held on to a 14-11 lead at the end of the frame. Bradley grabbed the lead in the second quarter with 8:18 to play in the second. Bradley extended the lead to 28-21 at the half.

The Panthers went on an offensive tear in the third quarter. A Megan Maahs three-pointer pulled the Panthers within two with 5:24. Abby Gerrits hit a jumper that brought the Panthers within one with 3:06 in the third. Then, a three by Rose Simon-Ressler put the Panthers ahead 38-36 with 2:20 to play. A Gerrits and-one extended the Panthers lead to 41-38 with nine seconds left in the quarter.

In the fourth quarter, the Panthers pulled ahead 46-40 on a Kam Finley three with 7:36 to play, forcing a Bradley timeout. Cynthia Wolf landed a three pointer with 4:45 remaining, giving the Panthers a 51-44 lead. A Rucker three was quickly followed by a jumper from Bre Gunnels to give UNI an eight-point lead with 2:32 to play.

The lead forced Bradley to foul down the stretch and UNI went 8-10 from the free throw line in the final 1:29 to push the final score to 64-57.

UNI held Bradley to one of their lowest scoring outputs of the season, holding them to just 57 points. The Braves have scored 57 or less points only three other times this season. Coming into the game, Bradley was shooting 40.8% away from home. UNI held them to 34.8%.

The Panthers were 21-61 (34.4%) from the field and 8-29 (27.6%) from the three-point line, including 6-11 from distance in the second half.

UNI outrebounded Bradley 46-41, including a game-high 12 from Gunnels, her season high. Gunnels also had three of the Panthers' eight team blocks.

Three Bradley players scored in double figures, led by Chelsea Brackmann with 15.

The Panthers sit fourth in the MVC with an 8-7 mark. There are three games remaining on the slate, including the Valparaiso, Loyola road swing and a senior night game at home against Drake on March 6.

NOTES
UNI
Nine Panthers scored.
Bre Gunnels had 12 rebounds and three blocks.
Karli Rucker led the Panthers with 16 points, including 6-6 from the free throw line.
The Panthers shot 14-16 from the foul line.
The Panthers are 9-2 when Karli Rucker is the leading scorer.

BRADLEY
Tatum Koenig shot 4-9 from the field, including 4-7 from three. She had 14 points.
Chelsea Brackmann led the Braves with 15 points and seven rebounds.
Bradley was 16-0 for leading at halftime coming into today's game.

UP NEXT
The Panthers go on the road this week, with a final road trip of the season at Valparaiso and Loyola. Both the Crusaders and the Ramblers have records of 15-10.