University of Northern Iowa Athletics
University of Northern Iowa
8-6,4-0MVC
Southern Illinois
3-10,0-4MVC
UNI women’s basketball: Panthers remain perfect in Valley play with a win over SIU
1/4/2026 4:48:00 PM | Women's Basketball
UNI Panther women’s basketball took down SIU 91-64 to open 2026.
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa --- UNI women's basketball returned home after nearly a month on the road to take on the Southern Illinois Salukis. The Panthers got out to a hot start and never looked back as UNI took home its fourth consecutive MVC victory with a final score of 91-64.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Ryley Goebel got things rolling for the Panthers with UNI's first five points of the contest to pace the Salukis' four points to open the matchup. The Panthers went on to score nine straight to take a 10-point lead at 14-4 early in the contest. The Salukis cut the Panther lead to four points out of the media timeout before the Cats ended the first quarter on a 6-2 run to hold a 22-14 advantage after the first 10 minutes of play.
UNI dominated the beginning of the second quarter with 12 unanswered points to push the Panther lead to 20 points at 34-14. The run saw a pair of three-pointers from Jenna Twedt. An 11-4 run from Southern Illinois saw the Panther lead get cut to 13 points before the Cats closed the first half with seven unanswered and held a 21-point lead heading into the locker room.
In the first half, Ryley Goebel led UNI with 15 points and eight boards. She added two blocks and a steal to her line in the first 20 minutes. Elise Jaeger brought in seven boards and recorded three steals in the first half.
Out of the halftime break, the Panthers mounted a 13-4 run to open the third quarter and extend their lead to 30 points at 60-30. After a jumbo shot from Southern Illinois, the Panthers put up another 10 straight to push their lead even further as they led by 42 points. A buzzer-beater from Mya Nicholson saw UNI hold a 36-point advantage at 73-37 with one quarter to play.
The Salukis found some traction in the final frame, edging out the Cats 27-18 over the final 10 minutes including a 17-point stretch near the end of the fourth quarter. The Panther lead was insurmountable, though, as UNI took home a 91-64 victory inside the McLeod Center to remain perfect in MVC play.
Ryley Goebel led UNI's scoring effort with 18 points. She added 10 rebounds and four blocks. Kaylynn Janes finished with 17 points while Bri Robinson scored 16 to round out UNI's double-digit scorers. Robinson finished with five assists while Elise Jaeger recorded nine boards and three steals.
"I thought we played great from start to finish," said head coach Tanya Warren. "We did a lot of good things both offensively and defensively. Our emphasis defensively was to limit second-chance points and rebound the basketball and I think we did a terrific job of that and we made some things tough for them. Offensively, we got into a pretty good rhythm. One we got up, we kind of had some unforced turnovers, but we got ourselves back into a rhythm. A very good basketball game from start to finish."
ADDITIONAL NOTES
- UNI improves to 8-6 on the season and stays a perfect 4-0 in conference play after the victory over Southern Illinois. The Panthers are now 52-35 all-time against the Salukis.
- The last time UNI was 4-0 to open MVC play was in the 2016-17 season when the Cats opened conference play with eight straight victories.
- The Panthers continued an active program-record 560-game three-pointer streak with eight triples against the Salukis.
- Ryley Goebel recorded her fifth double-double of the season and the sixth of her career with 18 points and 10 rebounds.
- Goebel recorded her third 4+ block game of the season and the 15th of her career.
- Mya Nicholson finished with a career-high eight points and three free throws in the contest.
- Lauren Walker recorded a career-high six points including her first collegiate three-pointer as well as career-highs of four boards and three steals against the Salukis.
- Kaylynn Janes scored a career-high 17 points on a career-high seven field goals with two steals, also a career-high.
UP NEXT
The Panthers head to Kentucky to take on the Murray State Racers on January 9. Tipoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. CT and will be streamed 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.
