Jan. 29-Feb. 2
Jan. 31 UNI vs. Southern Illinois 7:05 p.m. McLeod Center
Feb. 2 UNI vs. Evansville 4:05 p.m. McLeod Center
The University of Northern Iowa women's basketball team returns to the McLeod Center for a four-game homestand that begins with a matchup against Southern Illinois on Thursday. The Panthers take on Evansville on Saturday afternoon. KWLO 1330 AM will carry both games, with Dallas Kincaid providing play-by-play. Emily Hoeffert serves as color commentator.
The University of Northern Iowa women's basketball team will open a four-game homestand when it hosts Southern Illinois and Evansville on Thursday and Saturday.
The Panthers are coming off a pair of road losses, most recently a 66-63 defeat at Drake where the Bulldogs captured the win with a three at the buzzer. Freshman Lizzie Boeck led the Panthers with 17 points and seven offensive rebounds in that game, an effort that helped her to earn MVC Newcomer of the Week honors.
The Panthers were 0-5 against Southern Illinois and Evansville last season, although their two home losses came by a combined seven points.
Southern Illinois has been without its leading scorer, Jasmine Gibson, for its last five games. Gibson was averaging 17.1 points per game before suffering a stress fracture that has sent her to the sidelines indefinitely. Jayme Sweere is averaging 14.6 points and 6.9 rebounds per game for the Salukis. SIU is 7-10 overall and 3-4 in conference play.
Evansville has won its last five games to move to 11-7 overall and 5-2 in the MVC going into the game at Bradley on Thursday. Rebekah Parker is leading Evansville with 15.4 points per game, and she is one of four Aces to average double-digit scoring, along with Courtney Felke, Ashley Austin and Shannon Novosel.
UNI vs. SOUTHERN ILLINOIS
This is the 48th meeting between UNI and Southern Illinois, and the Salukis lead the overall series, 29-18. Last year the Salukis snapped an eight-game losing streak against the Panthers when they swept the season series against UNI. SIU fended off a UNI rally to beat the Panthers 79-74 in the McLeod Center last season. UNI trailed by as many as 17 points but pulled within three in the second half of that game. In the last meeting the Panthers held a 10-point lead in the second half but fell 49-46 in Carbondale.
Southern Illinois has been without its leading scorer, Jasmine Gibson, for its last five games. Gibson was averaging 17.1 points per game before suffering a stress fracture that has sent her to the sidelines indefinitely. Jayme Sweere is averaging 14.6 points and 6.9 rebounds per game for the Salukis.
SIU is 7-10 overall and 3-4 in conference play.
UNI vs. EVANSVILLE
This is the 30th meeting between UNI and Evansville, and UNI holds a 17-12 lead in the overall series. Evansville handed UNI three losses last season, and the Purple Aces have won four of the last five meetings. The last time the teams met in McLeod, Evansville used a go-ahead three from Robyn Jennings with 17 seconds left to take a 56-54 win. The Purple Aces won 75-49 in Evansville later in the season. The teams met in the first round of the conference tournament, where Rebekah Parke made a pair of free throws with 1.9 seconds left to give Evansville a 58-57 win.
Parker is leading Evansville with 15.4 points per game, and she is one of four Aces to average double-digit scoring, along with Courtney Felke, Ashley Austin and Shannon Novosel.
Evansville has won its last five games to move to 11-7 overall and 5-2 in the MVC going into the game at Bradley on Thursday.
JUST PLAY 20 MINUTES
So far this season, the Panthers haven't needed the second half to determine the outcome of the game. UNI has led at the half in five of their six wins, and they have trailed at the half in all 12 of their losses. The only time the halftime score has not predicted the winner was against Weber State, when the teams entered the break tied.
GOOD TO BE HOME
The Panthers will match their longest homestand of the year when the play four straight in the McLeod Center, starting with Thursday's game against Southern Illinois. The Panthers have posted a 5-3 record at home this season, but the have lost their last nine games on the road to hold a 1-9 record away from McLeod.
HONORS FOR BOECK
Freshman Lizzie Boeck earned Newcomer of the Week honors on Jan. 28. The Milwaukee, Wis., native picked up the award following a week where she averaged 13.5 points and 4.5 rebounds. Boeck shot 54.5 percent from the floor in UNI's games against Creighton and Drake. On Jan. 24, she scored 10 points and collected two rebounds against Creighton. Against Drake, the freshman scored a career-high 17 points on 8-of-14 shooting. She also grabbed seven rebounds, all on the offensive end, and collected two blocked shots in that game. Boeck is averaging 7.5 points and 3.3 rebounds this season.
ONE WIN SHY
UNI head coach Tanya Warren needs one win to match the highest win total by a first-year head coach in the Division I era at UNI. In 1996-97, Tony DiCecco finished 7-20 in his first year at the helm.
BET ON 63
In four of the Panthers' last five games, UNI has ended regulation with 63 points. The Panthers and Indiana State were knotted at 63 at the end of regulation in Terre Haute earlier this month, but ISU outscored UNI 10-6 in the extra period to claim the win. The Panthers topped Wichita State 63-30 at home before falling 71-63 at Creighton on Jan. 24.
SENIOR LEADERSHIP
UNI senior Traci Ollendieck has stepped up for the Panthers over the last three games. Ollendieck is averaging 14.3 points per game in that span, including 18 points against Wichita State and 19 points, 17 in the second half, at Creighton. She is 8-of-20 from three-point range in the last three games, averaging 2.7 threes per game. The team's lone upperclassman has also been strong on the boards lately, averaging 7.7 over that span. Ollendieck is averaging 8.8 points and 4.8 rebounds per game for UNI this season, and she leads the Panthers with 20 steals on the season.
THIRTYSOMETHINGS
UNI gave up just 30 points against Wichita State on Saturday, the fewest points allowed since moving to Division I in 1982. It was the second time this season the Panthers held an opponent to fewer than 40 points, and the fourth time since moving to Division I. This was the fewest points allowed by UNI since topping Luther 31-30 on Feb. 17, 1973.
GUARDING THE BOARDS
A trio of Panther guards has been clearing the boards for UNI over the last seven games. Danielle Wubbens, Traci Ollendieck and Nicole Clausen combined for an average of 15.7 rebounds per game during that stretch. Ollendieck is the Panthers' second-leading rebounder on the season, averaging 4.8 per game.
BY MENNEN
Alexa Mennen has turned into a new player as the Panthers have entered MVC play. In UNI's 11 non-conference games, Mennen averaged 2.8 points and 1.8 rebounds per contest. In the Panthers' five league games, however, the sophomore is averaging 10.0 points, third on the team, and a team-leading 5.6 rebounds per contest. She is shooting 58.3 percent from the floor during that span, and she has collected two blocked shots and four steals in league play.
BELL JOINS PANTHERS
Des Moines native Charmaine Bell has transferred from Northern Illinois to join the Panther team. The 5-10 guard owns several school records at Roosevelt High and was twice named state tournament MVP. She will sit out the rest of this season and the fall 2008 semester, according to NCAA rules. At this time she is planning on redshirting all of next season so she will enter the 2009-10 campaign with three full years of eligibility.
HOME COOKING
The Panthers have fared much better at home than on the road this season. The Panthers hold a 5-3 mark in the McLeod Center, while they are 1-7 on the road. In their eight road games, the Panthers are averaging 52.9 points per game, while their opponents are scoring 68.6 points per game. Conversely, at home UNI scores nearly 10 more points per contest, averaging 62.8 while holding opponents to 11 fewer points per game, an average of 57.5. On the road, the Panthers are outrebounded an average of 36.9 to 29.1, a rebounding margin of -7.8. At home, however, the UNI holds a 37.9 to 35.6 rebounding advantage, a margin of +2.3.
One of the biggest differences on the road has been in free-throw shooting, where the Panthers' opponents have had nearly twice UNI's free-throw attempts. UNI is 63-of-97 (65 percent) from the stripe while on the road, while their opponents are 129-of-172 (75 percent) from the free-throw line. At home, the Panthers have taken 148 attempts, making 111 (75 percent), while opponents have taken 121 free throws, making 93 (77 percent).
FANTASTIC FRESHMAN
Jacqui Kalin is putting together a stellar season in her first year in a Panther uniform. The 5-8 guard is leading UNI with 11.8 points per game, and she has scored 14.4 points per game in UNI's last five outings. She also leads the Panthers with 54 assists (4.5/game), and 33.4 minutes per contest. The point guard is second on the team with 4.3 rebounds per game. Kalin was named MVC Newcomer of the Week on Dec. 3 following a week where she averaged 14.0 poitns, 4.5 rebounds and 5.0 assists per game.
BACK ON TRACK
The Panthers started the season as one of the hottest three-point shooting teams in the nation, shooting 37.2 percent from behind the arc and averaging 8.75 threes per game through their first eight games. After making a school-record 17 threes against UMBC, the Panthers' three-point shooting went cold, connecting on just 19-of-90 (21.1 percent) from three-point range over the next five games. The Panthers looked to be back on track against Indiana State, shooting 45.8 percent from long distance, and making 11 threes in the overtime loss. The Panthers have made 115 threes on the season, making them 67 shy of the team record for threes in a season. UNI needs to average 4.8 threes over the next 14 games to tie that mark.
STARTING ROTATION
In their 12 games so far this season, the Panthers have used five different starting lineups, and 10 different Panthers have found their way into the starting five. Of the nine players currently suiting up for UNI, eight have started. Danielle Wubbens and Jacqui Kalin are the only Panthers to start every game this year.
PUT ON YOUR RALLY CAPS
The Panthers are still looking for their first second-half comeback of the season. UNI has trailed at the half in all seven of its losses this season. UNI has come back to take second-half leads against Iowa, UMBC and South Dakota State, but were unable to hold on in those games.
DOUBLING UP
Erin Brocka recorded her first career double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds in the Panthers' win over Weber State on Nov. 16.
SHARING THE WEALTH
In UNI's first four games, the Panthers had four different leading scorers. In each of those instances, the Panther who led the way also set a career high for scoring. Danielle Wubbens scored 14 to lead UNI to a win over Colorado State. Kristin Iehl set a new career mark with 15 points against Minnesota. Nicole Clausen scored 15 points to lead the Panthers past Weber State, and Clausen and Jacqui Kalin each scored 14 points to lead the Panthers against Iowa, a career mark for Kalin.
LONG DECEMBER
The Panthers hit the road for five straight away contests in December and were unable to collect a win during that span. UNI held second-half leads against both UMBC and South Dakota State but the home team was able to come away with the win in both games. The Panther offense struggled during the month, and UNI averaged just 49.8 points per game in those five contest.
KEEFE LEAVES
University of Northern Iowa senior forward Megan Keefe has left the team, head coach Tanya Warren announced last week. Keefe is leaving due to personal reasons, and she will remain enrolled in classes at UNI.
Keefe has played in 90 games for the Panthers in her career, averaging 5.6 points per game. She has started seven games this season, averaging nearly 25 minutes per game.
NEW ERA
In April, Tanya Warren became the seventh head coach of the UNI women's basketball program. Only two Panther coaches have posted winning records in their inaugural campaigns. Wanda Green finished 4-1 in the programs first season, 1968-69, and J.D. Anderson led the Panthers to an 18-10 season in 1980-81. Both seasons occurred before the Panthers moved to Division I. Warren needs eight wins to earn the most by a Panther first-year head coach in the Division I era.
YOUNG GUNS
With 11 of 12 players on the roster being freshmen and sophomores, UNI will rely on its young players to contribute right away this season. The Panthers started three freshmen and one sophomore in their win over Colorado State. Sophomore Danielle Wubbens led the Panthers with 14 points, and sophomore Nicole Clausen came off the bench to score 13. Erin Brocka scored 11 points and grabbed seven rebounds in her collegiate debut, and freshman Jacqui Kalin scored eight points and dished out six assists.
HOME SWEET HOME
The Panthers open the year with a four-game home stand, tying its longest home stand of the year. The Panthers play five home games in the first month of the year, only venturing outside the McLeod Center for a Nov. 28 matchup at Western Illinois.
ONE GAME, ONE WIN
Tanya Warren earned her first career victory as a head coach when the Panthers topped Colorado State 72-58 Friday night. Only two other Panther head coaches won their debut games, Wanda Green in 1968 (the programs' first season) and J.D. Anderson in 1980. Warren is the first to accomplish the feat since UNI joined the Division I ranks in 1982.
PANTHERS SIGN THREE
UNI signed three players this November. Indy Uhlenhopp from North Butler High School and Katelin Oney and Kaitlin Armstrong from Cedar Rapids Washington High School have all agreed to play for the Panthers in 2008-09.
Indy Uhlenhopp is a three-time all-state, all-district and all-conference selection at North Butler High School. The 5-11 guard was also named to the all-state tournament team in 2005-06 and 2006-07, helping North Butler finish as 2A state champions in 2006 and 2007.
Katelin Oney averaged 15.9 points and 3.4 rebounds per game as a junior. She was a first-team all-Mississippi Valley Conference selection and a second-team all-state pick that year. Along with Oney,
Kaitlin "K.K." Armstrong helped Cedar Rapids Washinton reach the state semi-finals in 2006-07, and finish as state runners up in 2005-06 and 2004-05 in class 4A. As a junior, Armstrong averaged 13.5 points and 2.6 rebounds per game, along with 2.2 steals and 2.8 assists.
INSIDE OUT
Danielle Wubbens spent most of the 2006-07 season in at the post. With the addition of several posts to the roster, the 5-8 sophomore has been able to move back to her natural position on the perimeter.
USED TO WINNING
UNI's four in-state freshmen all join the Panther squad after tasting success in high school Erin Brocka helped North Butler win back-to-back 2A state titles. Jacqui Kalin led Sioux City North to a 4A championship in 2007, and Nelia Olson's IKM finished second in 1A in 2007, a year after winning the state title. In class 3A, Rachel Madrigal helped Decorah finish undefeated in the regular season.
PANTHERS PICKED SEVENTH
In a conference filled with teams with 3 or more starters returning, league coaches, SIDs and media members voted UNI to finish seventh in the standings this year.
CHUCK MADNESS
In 2008, the Missouri Valley Conference will hold the women's basketball tournament at a neutral site for the first time. The league's 10 teams will each head to St. Charles, Mo., from March 13-16 to fight for the automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. The four-day tournament will be held at The Family Arena. Tournament information can be found at www.mvcstcharles.com.
THE LAST TIME OUT
DES MOINES, Iowa -- Drake's Jordann Plummer hit a three at the buzzer to edge the University of Northern Iowa women's basketball team, 66-63 in the Knapp Center Sunday afternoon. It was a back-and-forth game from the beginning, featuring eight ties and 22 lead changes.
The Panthers (6-12, 2-5) rallied from a seven-point second-half deficit to take a one-point lead with less than two minutes remaining. Lizzie Boeck led the way for the Panthers, scoringa career-high 17 points and collecting seven rebounds. Jacqui Kalin finished with 14 points and four assists for UNI, and Traci Ollendieck scored six points while grabbing eight rebounds and dishing out four assists.
The teams shared two ties and exchanged leads 10 times through the game's first 11 minutes, with neither team holding more than a three-point lead until a pull-up jumper from Jill Martin put Drake in front 23-18 with 8:10 left in the first half.
Lizzie Boeck connected on a turnaround jumper, to make it a one-possession game. Jacqui Kalin found Danielle Wubbens ahead of the pack on a fast break, and Kalin knocked down a jump shot from the elbow to return the lead to the Panthers, 24-23 at 4:37. On UNI's next trip, Nicole Clausen hit a baseline jumper to cap an 8-0 run by the Panthers that put them in front, 26-23 with 3:33 to play.
Lindsay Whorton ended UNI's run and pulled the Bulldogs within one with a 15-foot jump shot that made it a one-point game, 26-25 with 3:50 on the clock.
Jill Martin made a pair of free throws to give the Bulldogs a 27-26 lead at the three-minute mark. Boeck returned the lead to the Panthers with a jumper on the block, but Martin hit a three from the left baseline to put the Bulldogs in front by two, 30-28.
Ollendieck scored her first points of the game with a three from the top of the key at 1:30 that put UNI in front, 31-30.
A pair of free throws from Lauren Dybing gave Drake a 32-31 lead, but Clausen put UNI back in the lead with a putback with 40 seconds left.
With 15 seconds on the clock, Dybing connected on a short jumper. Away from the ball, Clausen was whistled for a foul. Drake was in the double-bonus, sending Kristin Turk to the free-throw line, and her free throws completed a four-point possession for the Bulldogs that put Drake in front, 36-33.
Kalin drove the length of the floor and connected on a pull-up jump shot with three seconds remaining to send UNI into the locker room trailing, 36-35.
On UNI's first possession of the second half, Ollendieck found Clausen cutting to the basket, and her layup put UNI back in front. Boeck scored on the Panthers' next trip to give the Panthers a three-point lead.
With UNI in front 41-38, Drake used a 6-0 run to take a 44-41 lead. Clausen tied the game for the Panthers with a three from the right baseline, but a three from Drake's Kelsey Keizer put Drake back in front by three, 47-44 at 14:50. With UNI trailing 49-46, Ollendieck connected from long range to tie the game at the 13-minute mark.
The game was tied 51-51 when Drake rattled off six straight points to build a 57-51 lead with nine minutes to play. Ollendieck found Erin Brocka on the baseline, and her jump shot ended the Drake run and pulled the Panthers within four, 57-53 with 8:11 on the clock.
Martin and Brocka traded free throws to keep the difference at four points. Drake took a seven-point lead when Dybing was fouled as she scored, and the free throw put the Bulldogs in front, 61-54 with 6:52 to play.
UNI used a jump shot from Kalin and a putback from Boeck to trim the Drake advantage to 61-58. Kalin made it a one-point game with a pair of free throws that brought the score to 61-60 with 2:44 remaining.
A three-point attempt from Ollendieck rimmed out, but Boeck was there to collect the offensive board and put it back to cap an 8-0 run by UNI that gave the Panthers a 62-61 lead with 1:57 on the clock.
Whorton put the Bulldogs back in front with a jump shot with 1:01 left.
Lizzie Boeck was sent to the free throw line for the Panthers with 17 seconds left, and the freshman connected on the second attempt to tie the game.
The Panthers did not allow the Bulldogs to take a shot inside on the game's final possession, but Plummer, who had not made a shot in the game, drained the contested three to allow Drake to come away with a win.
PANTHERS ON THE RADIO
UNI is in a multi-year agreement with KWLO 1330 AM (Star 1330) to broadcast UNI women's basketball.
PRESS LUNCHEON
Each Monday, UNI's in-season coaches speak at noon in the back room of Pepper's Sports Bar and Grill, located on 18th Street in Cedar Falls. The public and media are invited to attend and hear what Tanya Warren and the other coaches have to say about their teams.
SCOREBOARD PHONE
For the 15th consecutive season, the MVC will utilize its scoreboard phone. By calling (314) 699-6821, fans and media can obtain scores from team sports seasons. Audio scores also may be obtained by visiting www.mvc-sports.com.
