University of Northern Iowa Athletics
University of Northern Iowa
2-1,0-0MVC
Ball State
4-0,0-0MAC
Panther women’s hoops pushes Ball State in 76-70 home loss
11/16/2024 5:22:00 PM | Women's Basketball
UNI shoots 61.5% in the final period in six-point loss to Cardinals. Panthers host eighth-ranked Iowa State next Wednesday.
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa --- The UNI women's basketball team challenged Mid-American Conference (MAC) power Ball State late on Saturday afternoon, but ultimately came up short in a 76-70 loss inside the McLeod Center in non-conference action.
Northern Iowa rallied from down as many as 16 points and cut the Cardinal lead down to a single possession after a strong fourth quarter shooting performance, but struggled to close the gap in the final minutes.
HOW IT HAPPENED
A defensive battle played out for both teams in the first quarter as both UNI and Ball State shot only 20% from the field in the first 20 minutes, combining to miss their first 17 three-point field goal attempts. With the Cardinals facing early foul trouble, Kayba Laube drained the Panthers' first three-point shot of the game in the final minute of the period, while Shateah Wetering beat the buzzer with a game-tying layup to end the first quarter in a 9-9 tie.
Ball State started to heat up offensively in the second period on 60% shooting and four made triples, stretching its lead to as many as 12 points. Maya McDermott heated up in the second stanza from three-point range with three made triples, cutting the Cardinal lead down to four points before BSU stretched its lead back out to nine points heading into the halftime break, 34-25.
Taryn Wharton, Elise Jaeger and Katy Reyerson got in on the action as Northern Iowa cut away at Ball State's 16-point lead, cutting the Cardinal lead down to five points with just over two minutes to play in the third period on a 7-0 scoring run. McDermott led the way for UNI with seven points in the period as BSU took a 55-45 lead into the fourth quarter.
The Panthers scored the first four points of the fourth quarter on a Laube three-point basket and a made free throw by Eliana Sheplee, keeping pace with the Cardinals in the final ten minutes of the game. Northern Iowa shot 61.5% from the field in the final period of action, cutting BSU's lead down to only three points on another Laube three with under 30 seconds to play. Ball State would however ice the game at the free throw line, sinking 15-of-16 attempts to seal the six-point win over the Panthers.
McDermott led the game with 27 points and four assists on a day where she tied her career-high with six made three-pointers. Laube notched 11 points and a pair of assists in the loss, while Wharton tallied nine point and Ryley Goebel recorded six points and four steals. Jaeger totaled five points and a team-high seven rebounds.
ADDITIONAL NOTES
- UNI falls to 0-3 all-time against Ball State with Saturday's loss.
- Maya McDermott's 27 points against the Cardinals marked her second 20+ point game of the season, and 19th of her career.
- After sinking three baskets from beyond the three-point line, Kayba Laube recorded her 200th career made three-pointer, tying Emily Berrt (2001-05) for sixth all-time in program history.
UP NEXT
The Panthers return to action next Wednesday, Nov. 20 as they host No. 8 Iowa State. Tip-off is scheduled for 6 p.m. CT inside the McLeod Center with live coverage available on ESPN+ and the Panther Sports Radio Network.
UNI women's basketball action can be followed all season long on social media on Facebook (UNI Women's Basketball), X (@UNIwbb), and on Instagram (@uni_wbb). The 2024-25 schedule and roster, along with the latest Panther news and information can be found online at UNIpanthers.com.
