University of Northern Iowa
1-0,0-0MVC
La Crosse
0-0,0-0WIAC
Panthers open season with a victory over Wisconsin-La Crosse
11/5/2024 8:22:00 PM | Women's Basketball
UNI women’s basketball opened the 2024-25 season with a 99-56 victory over the UW-La Crosse Eagles inside the McLeod Center.
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa --- UNI women's basketball hosted the Eagles of Wisconsin-La Crosse on Tuesday evening inside the McLeod Center. The matchup was the first regular-season competition between the two teams since 1982. UNI took the lead early and never let up, including an 18-8 fourth quarter to take home a 99-56 victory over the Eagles.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Panthers struck first on back-to-back layups by Preseason All-MVC First Team honoree Grace Boffeli. The teams battled back and forth down the opening stretch which led to the under-five media timeout with UNI holding onto an eight-point lead at 18-10. Three three-pointers from UNI including a pair from Kayba Laube gave the Panthers a 27-18 lead after a trio of baskets for the Eagles. A free throw from Ryley Goebel was followed by a La Crosse three-pointer to close the first quarter with UNI on top 29-21.
Out of the short break, the Panthers opened with two sets of free throws, one from Bri Robinson and one from Maya McDermott, to take a 33-21 lead. A stretch which saw two buckets from Ryley Goebel and one from Taryn Wharton put UNI up 13 at 39-26 into the second quarter media timeout. UNI finished the quarter on a 17-8 run which included a pair of three-pointers from Kayba Laube to lead the Eagles 56-34 at halftime.
Out of halftime, Maya McDermott hit back-to-back Panther layups before Grace Boffeli put up five points herself to give UNI a 63-39 lead just out of the first media timeout of the second half. Back-to-back layups from Ryley Goebel and a pair of three-pointers from UNI, one from Ellie Foster and one from Katy Reyerson, put the Panthers ahead 28 points before a steal and score from Eliana Sheplee. Kaylee Corbin knocked down a pair of free throws to end the third quarter with UNI on top of La Crosse by a score of 81-48.
UNI opened the final frame on a 15-0 run which included five different Panther point scorers. Five points from the Eagles cut the UNI lead to 43 points at 96-53. Each team scored three more points to end the matchup at 99-56 in favor of UNI.
Maya McDermott led all scorers with 18 points. She added a team-high seven assists to her total. Grace Boffeli led the UNI rebounding effort with 11 boards. She recorded 10 points for her first double-double of the young season.
ADDITIONAL NOTES
- UNI opens the season 1-0 with a 99-56 victory. The Panthers recorded their first all-time victory over La Crosse in their first matchup since 1982. Coach Warren is now 13-5 in season openers and 8-3 in openers inside the McLeod Center.
- Grace Boffeli recorded her first double-double of the season with 10 points and 11 rebounds.
- Four players scored their first points in a UNI uniform including Kaylee Corbin, Kaylynn Janes, Eliana Sheplee, and Elise Jaeger.
- Katy Reyerson made two three-pointers against the Eagles, a new single-game career high. Her six points tied a career-high.
- Bri Robinson's 10 points in the game set a new career high.
- UNI's 99 points in the win is the most by the Panthers in a season opener in program history.
UP NEXT
The Panthers hit the road for their first matchup outside the McLeod Center of the season when they take on the Green Bay Phoenix inside the Kress Center on Saturday, November 9. The game will be available to stream on ESPN+ with tipoff coming at 1 p.m. CT.
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.
