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March 16, 2006

Box Score

Lawrence, KS -

Making its first appearance in the postseason since 2003, University of Northern Iowa women's basketball fell 59-49 to Kansas at the Allen Fieldhouse this evening. Junior guard Jessie Biggs (Ottumwa, Iowa) led the Panthers with her second career double-double, scoring 17 points and grabbing 10 boards.

UNI outrebounded the Jays 43-35, although only shot 31.5 percent (17-of-54) from the field (17-54) and 29.4 percent (5-of-17) from three-point range. Senior forward Crystal Kemp led all scorers with 18 points and 11 rebounds.

The Jayhawks took a 23-21 lead into halftime, not leading by more than three points throughout any of the first stanza.  The Panthers took leads of 3-0 and 8-6, compliments of sophomore guard Traci Ollendieck (Cresco, Iowa) draining two treys in the first five minutes of play.  KU went up 17-14 after a three-minute scoring draught by both teams at the 6:37 mark and then senior center Cassie Hager (Perry, Iowa) recorded a conventional three-point play to tie the game, 17-17.  The Panthers and Jays traded baskets for the remaining portion of the half.

The Panthers took a five-point lead, 30-25, with 16:07 left in the second half after Ollendieck took the ball the length of the court, nabbing her first steal of the game, and Biggs (Ottumwa, Iowa) sunk a jumper. 

Two Hager free throws later extended UNI's lead to six, 37-31. KU then went on a 15-6 lead, knotting the game, 37-37, and taking a 46-41 lead with 5:13 left. KU senior guard Kaylee Brown hit a trey and four consecutive free throws in the final 2:48 minutes.  Despite Biggs tallying five points in the last 1:18, UNI could not keep up with Jayhawks' scoring.

UNI finishes the season with a 19-11, 12-6 MVC record and will graduate four seniors: Hager, Rachel Kautzky, Alicia Irons and Chelsey Matthias.  Hager finished her career with 1,063 points and 337 blocks, ranking 13th nationally. It will return four starters to its 2006-07 squad.