Big second half lifts UNI past Jacks

Saturday, December 11

Cedar Falls, Iowa

3 p.m.

South Dakota State University

Northern Iowa

12/11/2010 7:12:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

By: SDSU Sports Info

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa - Northern Iowa put together a decisive run midway through the second half and pulled away down the stretch for an 81-60 victory over South Dakota State in non-conference women's basketball action Saturday afternoon at the McLeod Center.

The Panthers improved to 6-3 on the season, while SDSU dropped to 4-5 overall. Saturday's matchup featured two teams that played in the NCAA Tournament last season.

With the game knotted at 46-all after a basket by Ashley Eide with 12 minutes and 7 seconds remaining in the game, UNI reeled off the next eight points as part of a 13-2 run to build a double digit lead. Six different Panther players scored in the spurt that covered a little more than five minutes.

It was the Panthers' second big run of the game. SDSU took a 7-2 lead in the opening minutes of the game behind five points from Kristin Rotert, only to see UNI out-score the Jackrabbits 20-4 over the next eight and a half minutes. The Jackrabbits chipped away at the deficit and scored eight of the final 10 points of the half to pull to within 36-31 at intermission.

SDSU carried the momentum into the first portion of the second half, taking a momentary 42-40 lead on two Eide free throws before UNI regained control, outscoring the Jackrabbits 35-14 over the final 12 minutes.

Turnovers played a big role in the Jackrabbits' inability to sustain a comeback as SDSU committed 26 miscues, compared to 17 by UNI. The Panthers also won the rebounding battle, 31-22, including an 11-1 advantage on the offensive glass. Erin Brocka led UNI with seven rebounds.

Four Panthers scored in double figures, led by Jacqui Kalin with 18 points. Lizzie Boeck scored 15, with Katelin Oney and Rachel Madrigal tallying 12 and 10, respectively.

Rotert was the lone Jackrabbit player in double figures with 21, and also pulled down a team-high seven rebounds. Eide scored nine off the bench as SDSU reserves nearly equaled the starters' total with 27 points.

Both teams shot the ball well from the field and the free throw line. UNI ended the afternoon 25-of-54 from the field, 46.3 percent, including 8-of-22 from three-point range. At the line, the Panthers made 23-of-27 attempts, 85.2 percent.

SDSU actually shot at a higher percentage, but attempted 15 fewer shots. The Jackrabbits were 19-of-39 from the field, 48.7 percent, including 6-of-16 from long range. SDSU converted 16-of-19 tries at the line, 84.2 percent.

The Jackrabbits return home for two games next week, hosting Arizona State at 7 p.m. Thursday and the University of Iowa at 5 p.m. on Dec. 18.

NOTES: The all-time series is tied at 3-3 ... UNI ended a three-game losing streak against the Jackrabbits ... SDSU dropped to 7-5 against Missouri Valley Conference opponents since moving to Division I at the start of the 2004-05 season ... Rotert moved into 23^rd place on the SDSU career scoring list with 1,169 points, passing Rachel Halsrud (1,154 points from 1991-94) ... the Jackrabbits are 1-4 this season when trailing at the half and 1-4 when committing 20 or more turnovers ... SDSU's starting backcourt of Macie Michelson and Jill Young combined for one point and only played a combined 18 minutes ... Tara Heiser played a season-high 25 minutes, contributing seven points and a team-high three assists ... SDSU committed a season-high 26 fouls