UNI women's basketball starts final road swing at Belmont

UNI women's basketball at Belmont

6:30 p.m. | Feb. 23
Nasvhville | Curb Event Center (5,000)
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NASHVILLE -- The Panthers hit the road one last time in the regular season to visit a new location for the program.

UNI visits the Belmont Bruins for the first time in program history on Thursday night. The clash will help break up the jam at the top of the Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) standings as three teams are currently tied for first in UNI, Belmont, and Illinois State. In the team's first meeting in program history, the Bruins came away with a six-point victory in the McLeod Center which the Panthers hope to match at the Curb Events Center.

THE PANTHERS:
- UNI split the past week of Missouri Valley Conference action after picking up a big bounce-back win over the Bradley Braves on Saturday. The Panthers had their eighth 20+ point win of the year in the 76-50 victory against the Braves.
- The Panthers had their second-best game of the season sharing the ball in their game against Bradley. UNI had 26 assists in the win with the dynamic duo of Grace Boffeli and Maya McDermott sharing the top spot with 5 helpers apiece.
- By splitting the week with a loss against Illinois State and a win against Bradley Braves, UNI is part of a three-way tie for first place in the MVC. The Panthers, Illinois State, and Belmont all sit atop the standings with 13 wins and three losses going into the final two weeks of the regular season.
- Thursday's game is the first time the Panthers have played a game in Nashville. UNI has played three different schools based in the Nashville area in Belmont, Vanderbilt, and Lipscomb. But all three of those games were played either at home in the McLeod Center or on neutral territory.

THE BRUINS:
- After struggling in the first portion of the conferences season, Belmont has put together an impressive run during the end of January and through February. Sparked by a win against Missouri State, the Bruins haven't lost a game in 10 contests.
- The Bruins 10-game win streak is one of the longest in the country outside of unbeaten South Carolina. Belmont is currently the only team in the Valley on a lengthy win streak after snapping Missouri State's eight-game win streak on Sunday afternoon.
- Belmont hosts its last two home games of the regular season this week against both UNI and Drake. The Bruins will then close out the regular season on the road at UIC and Valparaiso.
- The Bruins are led by preseason Player of the Year junior guard Destinee Wells. Wells is averaging 17.1 points a game and has been named the MVC Player of the Week twice this season, including last week on February 13th, 2023.

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