University of Northern Iowa
13-13,8-7MVC
Missouri State
21-5,13-2MVC
Panthers lose heartbreaker in overtime to Missouri State
2/20/2025 8:35:00 PM | Women's Basketball
UNI women’s basketball dropped an overtime matchup to the Valley’s top-ranked Lady Bears, 75-72.
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa --- UNI women's basketball opened a four-game home stand with a matchup against Valley-leading Missouri State on Thursday evening. The Panthers and the Lady Bears battled even through 40 minutes forcing the Panthers' first overtime matchup of the season. A three-point advantage from the Lady Bears in the extra period gave Missouri State a 75-72, overtime victory inside the McLeod Center.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Panthers opened the contest with back-to-back buckets before a 7-2 run from Missouri State gave the Lady Bears a 7-6 lead early. A 12-12 matchup at the first media timeout saw the Cats hold an 8-5 edge down the back half of the first quarter to hold a 20-17 lead into the second quarter. Emerson Green recorded eight points in the first quarter on a perfect 4-for-4 from the floor.
Seven points from UNI, including five from Green, opened the second quarter to give UNI a 10-point lead at 27-17. A 15-2 run from Missouri State gave the Lady Bears a three-point advantage at 34-31 late in the second quarter before the frame finished with a closely-contested 6-5 tilt to the Panthers. Missouri State led the Panthers by two and a score of 39-37 at the halftime break. Green ended the first half with 17 points on 8-of-10 shooting including 1-of-2 from deep.
Emerson Green opened the second half on a four-point run before back-and-forth buckets through the third quarter saw UNI hold a two-point lead heading into the fourth quarter. A bucket by Maya McDermott tied the game at 67 at the end of regulation after a tightly contested fourth quarter to force overtime. The Lady Bears held a three-point advantage at the final buzzer to leave the McLeod Center with a 75-72, overtime victory.
Emerson Green led the Panthers with 28 points. She added seven rebounds and six assists to her total. Ryley Goebel was the other lone Panther in double figures with 20 points. She added seven boards as well.
ADDITIONAL NOTES
- UNI falls to 13-13 overall and 8-7 in conference play. The Panthers are now 31-63 all-time against the Lady Bears.
- Maya McDermott crossed the 500-point threshold for the season with her first bucket of the game. She has recorded 500+ points in back to back seasons after 506 points last season.
- The matchup was the Panthers' first overtime game of the season and first since Hoops in the Heartland in 2024 in an overtime loss to Drake in the semifinal matchup.
- Emerson Green finished with a career-high 28 points and a career-high tying six assists.
- Ryley Goebel tied her career high with 20 points.
- This is the Panthers' first game with multiple players recording 20+ points since this season's Valparaiso matchup which saw Ryley Goebel and Maya McDermott each score 20.
UP NEXT
The Panthers take on the Southern Illinois Salukis inside the McLeod Center on Saturday, Feb. 22. Tipoff is scheduled for 2 p.m. CT with streaming available on ESPN+ with the ability to listen 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.
