University of Northern Iowa Athletics
University of Northern Iowa
8-8,4-2MVC
Belmont
10-7,6-0MVC
UNI women’s basketball: Panthers drop second-straight MVC matchup in Nashville
1/11/2026 4:30:00 PM | Women's Basketball
UNI Panther women’s basketball falls at Belmont, 81-62
NASHVILLE --- UNI women's basketball wrapped up a road trip Southeast with a matchup at Belmont on Sunday. The Bruins jumped out to a quick lead before the Cats cut the lead to single digits heading into the halftime break. The Panthers got within one point early in the second half, but Belmont ran away with the contest late in the third quarter and closed out the fourth to take home an 81-62 victory.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Belmont jumped out to a quick lead with a 9-2 run to open the contest. The Bruins continued to respond to Panther buckets with threes and built up a 14-point lead by the end of the first quarter which saw a 26-12 lead for Belmont. The Bruins were 4-for-6 (66.7%) from beyond the arc in the first frame.
The Cats got rolling in the second quarter with a number of big time three-pointers down the stretch, including two from Kaylynn Janes, to cut the Belmont lead to six points by halftime. A buzzer-beating triple from Janes ended the second quarter with the Bruins holding a slight advantage at 40-34. Both Ryley Goebel and Kaylynn Janes led second-quarter scoring with six points apiece.
At the break, Ryley Goebel led UNI with 10 points and five rebounds. Jenna Twedt recorded eight points in the first half including a 2-for-2 performance from beyond the arc. Elise Jaeger was tied with Goebel with a team-leading five boards while Bri Robinson picked up four assists in the first 20 minutes of action.
Out of the locker room, the Panthers cut the Belmont lead to one at 44-43 with a 9-4 run including three-pointers from Elise Jaeger and Jenna Twedt and a three-point play from Bri Robinson. The Bruins mounted a 21-5 run to close the third quarter with a 17-point lead and a score of 65-48 heading into the final frame.
Belmont edged out the Panthers in the fourth quarter with a 16-14 advantage that gave the Bruins an 81-62 victory in Nashville. Jenna Twedt led Panther scoring with 15 points which included a trio of three pointers. Ryley Goebel was the only other Panther in double-figures with 14 points. She added seven boards. Elise Jaeger led the Panther rebounding effort with 13 and Bri Robinson dished out a team-high four assists.
ADDITIONAL NOTES
- UNI drops to 8-8 overall and 4-2 in Valley play after the loss to Belmont and is not 1-8 all-time against the Bruins.
- The Panthers continued an active program-record 562-game three-pointer streak with eight triples against the Bruins.
- Abby Tuttle recorded her first collegiate block.
UP NEXT
The Panthers are back inside the McLeod Center on Sunday, January 18 when they host the Bradley Braves. Tipoff is scheduled for 2 p.m. CT and will be available on ESPN+ and 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 2025-26 schedule and roster, along with the latest Panther news and information can be found online at UNIpanthers.com.
