Jan. 14, 2006
Box Score
Cedar Falls, Iowa -
University of Northern Iowa women's basketball erased a 14-point deficit in the first half but could not seal a victory over league-leader Indiana State, losing 74-62 this afternoon.
Junior guard Jessie Biggs (Ottumwa, Iowa) led UNI with a season-high 17 points (5-of-11), hitting three three-pointers. Senior guard Melanie Boeglin (Terre Haute, Ind.) scored a game-high 22 points.
Junior Chelsey Matthias (Readlyn, Iowa) more than doubled her career-high with 12 points, sinking three treys. UNI nailed nine three-pointers, its largest tally from behind the arc in eight games - 10 against Iowa State (12/17/05).
The Panthers outrebounded ISU 31-28 but lost the points in the paint margin 16-28. The Sycamores shot a sizzling 56.7 percent from the field in the first half, 51.9 percent overall. UNI made 40.4 percent of its field goal attempts, 32.1 percent from three-point range.
Indiana State jumped out to leads of 7-0, 18-5 and 22-8 in the first 10 minutes of the game, shooting nearly 70 percent. UNI then went on a 17-7 run. Matthias gave UNI a spark off the bench, going 2-for-3 from behind the arc in the Panthers' sprint and hitting a mid-range jumper to pull UNI within four points with 5:17 remaining in the half.
Two made free throws by senior Cassie Hager (Perry, Iowa) cut ISU's lead to two and then the Sycamores pushed their lead to six. UNI went 3-for-4 from the field to end the half, including two threes by Matthias and Biggs, and took a 39-37 deficit into the break.
The Panthers cut ISU's lead to one point four times in the second half but never took a lead. Boeglin and Rachel Meanpaa led the Sycamores with 10 and eight second half points, respectively.
With 4:36 remaining, Biggs hit a long-range trey to tighten the score, 61-60. The Sycamores responded with a 13-2 run, making 6-of-7 free throws, and sealing the win.
Indiana State is now 13-2, 5-0 in the MVC. UNI falls to 9-6, 3-3 in the Valley. The Panthers host Bradley next Saturday (1/21) at 4:05 p.m.
