University of Northern Iowa Athletics
University of Northern Iowa
5-6,0-0MVC
Iowa
10-2,0-1Big Ten
Panther comeback comes up just short against No. 22 Iowa
12/20/2024 9:09:00 PM | Women's Basketball
UNI women’s basketball mounted a comeback against the 22nd-ranked Hawkeyes, but fall just short by in 92-86 final.
IOWA CITY, Iowa — UNI women's basketball traveled to Iowa City to take on the no. 22-ranked Iowa Hawkeyes on Friday night to wrap up the non-conference slate. The Hawkeyes jumped out to a quick lead, but the Panthers clawed their way back and battled to the end. The UNI comeback came up just short in an 92-86 loss to in-state rivals Iowa.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Hawkeyes got off to a hot start with a five-point run to open the matchup. Iowa held a 12-6 lead at the first media timeout before going on a seven-point run out of the break to take an early 19-6 lead. The Panthers put up six more points before the end of the first quarter including four from Emerson Green to cut the Iowa lead to 11 at 23-12.
Maya McDermott opened the second quarter with a layup before a nine-point run from the Hawkeyes gave Iowa an 18-point lead at 32-14 as the teams headed into the second-quarter media timeout. A 9-3, UNI run cut into Iowa's lead before back-and-forth buckets from both teams down the stretch saw the Hawkeyes hold a 53-37 lead at the halftime break. Maya McDermott and Kayba Laube finished the first half in double-figures with 13 and 10 points respectively. Laube was 3-for-4 from deep in the first half.
UNI opened the third quarter on a 10-4 run to cut the Iowa lead to 10 at 57-47. The Panthers cut the Hawkeye lead to seven by the media timeout at 62-55 before a late five-point run from Iowa gave the Hawkeyes a 12-point lead. UNI closed the third quarter on a four-point run to cut the deficit to single-digits at 62-70 heading into the final frame.
An 8-4 run opened the fourth quarter for the Panthers into the final media timeout of the matchup. UNI kept chipping away at the Iowa lead with back-and-forth buckets down the stretch. The Panther comeback fell just short as Iowa came home with a 92-86 victory. Maya McDermott led UNI with 30 points. She added four rebounds and four assists to her totals. Kayba Laube finished with 20 points while Ryley Goebel and Shateah Wetering finished with 11 points each.
ADDITIONAL NOTES
- UNI falls to 5-6 on the season and 3-27 all-time against the Hawkeyes after the 92-86 loss.
- Kayba Laube broke into the Panthers' top-three in three-pointers made with a three in the third quarter. She passed Amber Sorenson's (2011-2016) 230 threes mark.
- Maya McDermott continued her streak of double-digit scoring matchups with 30 points against Iowa. McDermott has recorded double-figure points in all 11 matchups this season. This was the second time of the season she scored 30+ with 30 points and the seventh time she scored 20+.
- UNI continued an active program-record 543-game three-pointer streak that started December 6, 2008, versus Green Bay (6-of-19) following an 0-of-14 outing from behind the three-point arc December 3, 2008, against Northern Illinois. The Panthers knocked down nine threes against Iowa to continue the streak.
UP NEXT
The Panthers open conference play with a road game at Indiana State on December 29. The matchup tips off at 1 p.m. CT and can be streamed on ESPN+ or listened to on 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.
