University of Northern Iowa
11-11,6-5MVC
Bradley
9-13,3-8MVC
Panther women’s hoops bests Bradley at home, 69-51
2/7/2025 8:40:00 PM | Women's Basketball
UNI evens season record at 11-11 with win over Braves. Panthers host Illinois State on Sunday.
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa --- The UNI women's basketball team buried 11 three-point baskets and scored just over a third of its offense off turnovers on Friday as the Panthers defeated the Bradley Braves by a score of 69-51 inside the McLeod Center in the first-ever Panthers in Paradise game.
In addition to a strong three-point performance, Northern Iowa also pulled down nine offensive rebounds and scored 25 points in the paint, grabbing its eighth consecutive victory over the Braves.
HOW IT HAPPENED
UNI faced an early challenge from three-point range from the Braves, who sank four of their first six attempts from beyond the arc. Maya McDermott helped pace the Panther offense with seven points in the opening period while Taryn Wharton also hit from deep as Bradley took a 14-13 lead after the first frame.
Northern Iowa began to push the pace in the second quarter thanks to a strong inside game. Elise Jaeger got the Panthers rolling with an-and-one layup and made free throw on UNI's first possession of the period, as Shateah Wetering continued to push the Panthers with five points. Despite four turnovers in the frame, the UNI defense held the Braves to just 21.4% shooting, building a double-digit lead and taking a 32-22 lead into halftime.
UNI made an early statement out of the break as Emerson Green knocked down the first of five made three pointers for the Panthers in the third quarter, extending its double-digit lead to as many as 17 points. McDermott's seven points in the period were backed up by a pair of triples from Green, along with five points from Wharton. Bradley would cut UNI's lead down to nine with just under a minute to play in the frame with 14 points in the paint as the Panthers took a 55-44 lead into the fourth.
Northern Iowa's offensive efficiency continued into the final frame with a 12-4 scoring run to open the period. The Panthers scored ten of final 14 points of the game off eight Bradley turnovers, maintaining balanced scoring with both McDermott and Green scoring three points, with Wetering, Wharton Kayba Laube and Bri Robinson scoring two points to hold on for an 18-point victory.
McDermott finished the night with a game-high 17 points, five rebounds and four assists, while Green recorded 13 points and four assists. Wharton tallied 13 points and two boards and Wetering notched a 12-point, six rebound night.
ADDITIONAL NOTES
- UNI improves to 52-37 all-time against the Braves with Friday's win.
- The Panthers have made at least one three-point field goal in 554 consecutive games, a streak dating back to December 2008 during UNI's first season under head coach Tanya Warren.
- Friday marked the Emerson Green's first start of the 2024-25 season after coming off the bench for her first 16 games this year.
- Kayba Laube is now ten points away from joining the program's 1,000 career point club, looking to join Grace Boffeli, Maya McDermott and Emerson Green as the fourth active Panther to do so.
- Maya McDermont has now recorded double-digit scoring figures in 20 games of 22 games this season.
UP NEXT
The Panthers return to action on Sunday, Feb. 9 as they host the Illinois State Redbirds. Tip-off is scheduled for 2 p.m. CT inside the McLeod Center with live coverage available on ESPN+ and the Panther Sports Radio Network.
Tickets can be purchased online through the UNI Ticket Office, by calling 319-273-4849 or through email at tickets@uni.edu.
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.
