University of Northern Iowa
4-9,3-1MVC
Valparaiso
1-13,0-5MVC
Panthers extend win streak to three games after victory over Valparaiso
1/14/2024 3:12:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Grace Boffeli leads the Panthers in her return as the Panthers rout Valparaiso, 76-52.
VALPARAISO, Ind. --- UNI traveled to Valparaiso, Indiana to take on the Valparaiso Beacons in their first road contest of 2024. The Beacons hopped out to a quick lead, but the Panthers stormed back and dominated the rest of the way, picking up their first road contest of the season.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Beacon jumped out to a quick five-point lead off the tip. Grace Boffeli didn't waste any time in her first start back when she rattled off four points before a three-pointer from Emerson Green and a layup from Shateah Wetering to give the Panthers the 9-5 lead after a nine-point run. A three-pointer from Valparaiso ended the run before Boffeli scored her sixth point on a layup to take an 11-8 advantage into the media timeout.
Out of the break, UNI continued its run with six straight points to push the lead out to nine points at 17-8. Five points from Valparaiso cut the Panther lead until Maya McDermott knocked down her first basket of the matchup from beyond the arc to end the first quarter with a seven-point lead.
The Panthers opened the second quarter with three points including a layup from Emerson Green. A Valparaiso layup took the teams into the media timeout. Maya McDermott drained back-to-back baskets for the Panther offense out of the timeout before both Emerson Green and Ryley Goebel followed suit with their own back-to-back baskets to give UNI an 18-point lead at 36-18.
Valparaiso notched a layup before Shateah Wetering was able to get a layup to fall with three seconds left in the second quarter to claim a 38-20 lead heading into the second half.
An 8-2 run by the Panthers to open the third quarter saw the UNI lead balloon to 23 points. A pair of free throws from the Beacons ended the Northern Iowa run. Back-and-forth baskets from both teams were followed by an eight-point run by the Panthers and a 10-3 run to close the third quarter with a score of 63-34 in favor of UNI.
Valpo opened the fourth quarter with three points before a five-point Panther run. An and-one layup followed by a three-pointer from the Beacons cut the UNI lead to 25 at 68-43 heading into the fourth-quarter media timeout.
The Panthers and Beacons traded baskets down the stretch of the final frame which ended with a final score of 76-52 in favor of UNI. The Panther defense held the Beacons to 0 field goals in the last 2:42 and only gave up four free throws over that time.
Grace Boffeli led the Panther offense in her first game back since December with a game-high 16 points. She also recorded a game-high seven rebounds and shot 80% (8-for-10) from the free-throw line. Emerson Green was on fire from the field against the Beacons as she made six of her seven attempts as well as two of her three shots from beyond the arc. She finished with 15 points and five boards. Maya McDermott was the third Panther in double figures with 11 points. She added five assists and three steals to her total. Forward Ryley Goebel blocked four shots against the Beacons.
ADDITIONAL NOTES
- UNI now leads the series with a record of 13-5. They have won the last five straight.
- Forward Grace Boffeli picked up right where she left off with a game-high 16 points and seven rebounds. She is now just eight rebounds away from breaking into the Panther top-10 rebounders list.
- The Panthers picked up their first road contest of the season in Indiana.
- Guard Maya McDermott remains perfect from the free throw line in conference play this season after adding two more free throws against Valparaiso.
UP NEXT
The Panthers head home for a weekend series inside the McLeod Center which starts with a matchup against Murray State on January 19. Tipoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. CT and can be streamed on ESPN+ or listened to on the Panther Sports Radio Network.
