University of Northern Iowa Athletics
University of Northern Iowa
3-3,0-0MVC
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Kansas
6-1,0-0Big 12
Panthers come up short in game two of the Paradise Jam against Kansas
11/29/2024 4:14:00 PM | Women's Basketball
UNI women’s basketball moves to 3-3 on the season after the Panthers’ comeback falls just short.
ST. THOMAS, U.S. Virgin Islands — UNI women's basketball continued play in the Paradise Jam Island Tournament as they took on the Kansas Jayhawks in the Panthers' second game of the tournament. UNI looked to complete a comeback in the late minutes of the matchup but came up just short after the game-tying, buzzer-beating three-pointer rimmed out.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Jayhawks opened the game with back-to-back threes which was answered by a three-pointer from Kayba Laube and a jumper from Maya McDermott to give UNI a 7-6 lead early. The Panthers recorded five more points including another three from Laube to take a 12-9 lead heading into the first-quarter media timeout. Out of the break, Shateah Wetering knocked down a free throw and Kansas scored an and-one layup to end the first quarter with the Panthers up 13-12.
Four three-pointers opened the second quarter with three of them coming from Kansas to give the Jayhawks a 23-16 lead heading into the second-quarter media timeout. UNI went on a 10-5 run to cut into the Jayhawk lead before Kansas closed the first half on a 6-0 run to take an eight-point lead into halftime at 34-26.
The third quarter opened once again with four straight three-pointers including a pair from each team. Laube and McDermott knocked down the two for the Panthers. A five-point run from the Panthers brought UNI back to within five points with a score of 42-37 in favor of Kansas heading into the third-quarter media timeout. The Jayhawks edged out the Panthers down the back half of the third quarter with a 16-14 run to close the quarter with a seven-point lead at 58-51.
Taryn Wharton opened the fourth quarter with a three-pointer. Back-and-forth baskets for the two squads saw Kansas hold a 10-point lead at 72-62 with 2:25 left in the matchup and the last media timeout of the contest. Free throws and a layup from Goebel cut the Kansas lead to six before a Jayhawk free throw made it a three-possession game. Another layup from Goebel and free throws from McDermott cut the game to three points with 23 seconds to play. A three-pointer from Laube after a pair of free throws from Kansas cut the Jayhawk lead to two with seven seconds left. The Panthers sent the Jayhawks to the free throw line where they missed one of the two shots to only take a three-point lead with seven seconds to play. After getting down the court, a three-point attempt at the buzzer from McDermott took multiple bounces and sat on the rim before falling off, ending the game with Kansas on top 76-73.
Kayba Laube led the Panthers with 20 points. She shot five-for-seven from beyond the arc and added four rebounds. McDermott and Goebel were the other two Panthers in double figures with 16 and 12 points respectively. McDermott finished with eight assists while Goebel recorded five blocks.
ADDITIONAL NOTES
- UNI moves to 3-3 on the season after the 76-73 loss to Kansas. The Panthers fall to 0-6 all-time against the Jayhawks.
- Ryley Goebel moved up to no. 9 on UNI's all-time blocking list after five blocks against the Jayhawks. She passed Rachel Madrigal's (2007-12) 95 total blocks.
- Goebel set a new career-high with five blocks in the game.
UP NEXT
The Panthers wrap up the Paradise Jam Island Tournament on Saturday, November 30 with a matchup against Pittsburgh. Tipoff is scheduled for 11:30 a.m. CT and can be watched on ESPN+ or listened to on the Panther Sports Radio Network.
