University of Northern Iowa
17-17,11-9MVC
Florida
17-17,5-11SEC
Panthers drop contest to third-seeded Florida
3/20/2025 8:16:00 PM | Women's Basketball
UNI women’s basketball concludes the 2024-25 season with an 83-71 loss to no. 3 Florida.
GAINESVILLE, Fla. --- UNI women's basketball traveled to Gainesville, Florida to take on the third-seeded Florida Gators in the first round of the WBIT. Florida jumped out to a quick start before the Panthers battled all the way back to take the lead early in the third quarter. The Gators took over late in the fourth and ended UNI's season with an 83-71 victory.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Gators rolled out hot with a 19-5 run which included 13 straight to get out big over the Panthers. UNI ended the first quarter with a 10-5 advantage to cut the Florida lead to seven points at 24-17 after the first 10 minutes of play. Maya McDermott finished the first quarter with seven straight points. The quarter saw 10 points from McDermott.
The Panther offense showed they wouldn't back down in the second quarter as the Panthers put up 21 points in the frame to the Gators' 14. A 10-point and a five-point run in the quarter saw the Panthers storm back to tie the game at 38 heading into the halftime break. A seven-point quarter from Kayba Laube brought the Panthers back into the matchup with 20 minutes remaining in the contest.
UNI continued to battle down the third quarter with an eight-point run late in the frame. A pair of triples and a pair of free throws made up the run before a late three-pointer from Kayba Laube pulled UNI back to within three points at 61-58 heading into the fourth quarter. Laube finished with 10 points in the frame.
The Gators dominated the fourth quarter with a 22-13 advantage including a pair of 5+-point runs. Florida took home an 83-71 victory to advance to the second round of the 2025 WBIT. Kayba Laube finished the matchup with 21 points. She added five rebounds. Maya McDermott and Ryley Goebel each added 13 points and Shateah Wetering was the last Panther in double fingers with 10 points. Wetering matched Laube with a team-high five boards. Ryley Goebel continued her dominant defensive season with three blocks and two steals.
ADDITIONAL NOTES
- UNI ends the 2024-25 season with a 17-17 record after the 83-71 loss to Florida.
- After 17 points in the first quarter, the Panthers broke the program record for single-season Team points which was set in the 2022-23 season. UNI recorded 2,519 points this season.
- Ryley Goebel became just the 19th player in NCAA history to record 70+ blocks and steals in a single season. Goebel's 71 steals this season ties Deb Drenth (1981-82) for seventh on UNI's single-season list.
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
