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March 11, 2006

Box Score

Springfield, Mo. -

University of Northern Iowa women's basketball advanced to the semifinals of the Missouri Valley Conference tournament this evening, defeating Illinois State 70-62.  Senior center Cassie Hager (Perry, Iowa) led all scorers with 20 points and added six blocks.  Two other Panthers also scored in double figures, junior forward Tara King (Ottumwa, Iowa) added 19 points and junior guard Jessie Biggs (Ottumwa, Iowa) had 15.

UNI tied a season-high for attempted free throws with 39 and connected on 69.2 percent, scoring 27 points from the line.  The Panthers final seven points in the first half and last 11 of the second period came from the stripe.

The Panthers took an early deficit, 9-2, but responded with an 8-0 run to take their first lead, 10-9.  An Amber Shelton trey then tapped off a 10-2 Illinois State run with 12:34 remaining in the first half, as the Redbirds took their last three-possession lead of the game, 19-12. UNI battled back and took a 36-35 edge into the break.

Assisted with three-pointers by junior guard Sarah Larsen (Kalona, Iowa) and King, the Panthers went on a 14-6 run to start the second half, building a 50-41 lead.  The Panthers kept a 10-point lead throughout much of the half until Illinois State came within five, 61-56, with 2:54 left.  Hager, MVC Defensive Player of the Year, then blocked the Redbirds' next shot, a Lori Trumblee three-pointer.   UNI went on to make nine of its next 12 free throws.

The Panthers were outrebounded 40-35 and shot 40 percent (18-of-45) from the field, 46.7 percent (7-of-15) from three-point range.

The No. 3 Panthers improve to 19-9, 12-6 and face home-team No. 7 Missouri State (15-14, 7-11) tomorrow at 3:35 p.m. The Bears defeated No. 2 Drake 78-62 to advance. The Panthers swept Missouri State in the regular-season and Tony DiCecco clinched his first win at Hammons Student Center against the Bears in his 11-year tenure on Jan. 29. .