Box Score CEDAR FALLS, Iowa - Northern Iowa hit a season-high 12 three-pointers and used a 14-4 run early in the second half to pull away from Bradley as the Panthers topped the Braves 84-60 Saturday afternoon at the McLeod Center. Bradley fell to 12-10 overall and 8-4 in the MVC, while UNI is now 11-12 overall and 7-5 in league action.
Bradley jumped out to a 7-2 lead, but Northern Iowa scored nine consecutive points to open a 31-6 run which gave the Panthers a 33-13 edge with 9:17 left in the first half. UNI connected on seven three-pointers during the spurt and opened the game a blistering 8-of-11 from beyond the arc.
The Braves would fight back and pull to within seven points at the half. Senior Jenny Van Kirk (Waconia, Minn./Waconia) knocked down three three-pointers and sophomore MacKenzie Westcott (Williamsburg, Iowa/Williamsburg) scored six points to highlight a 22-9 BU spurt which trimmed the UNI lead to 42-35 and the Braves went into the locker room trailing 44-37 at the break.
A Katie Yohn (Elgin, Ill./St. Edward)three-pointer on the opening possession of the second half pulled the Braves to within four points, but UNI answered with back-to-back three-pointers by Jacqui Kalin to quickly push the advantage back to double digits (50-40).
A Sonya Harris (Riverdale, Ill./Thornton) basket cut the deficit to single digits (50-42), but that would be as close as Bradley would get the remainder of the game as the Panthers went on a 14-4 run to build a 64-46 lead.
The Braves got no closer than 14 points down the stretch as Bradley made just five baskets in the final 11 minutes of action. UNI ended the game with a 10-2 spurt and posted an 84-60 victory to extend its season-long win streak to four games.
Westcott matched a career-high with 15 points off the bench to lead the Braves. Van Kirk was 4-for-5 from beyond the arc and tied a career-high with her four triples as she finished with 14 points. Yohn and Harris were also in double figures with 11 points each.
After the hot start from three-point range, UNI made four of its last 16 from beyond the arc. The Panthers capitalized on 22 BU turnovers, however, and outrebounded the Braves 39-26. Northern Iowa was an impressive 22-of-23 from the free throw line and received 41 points from its bench.
Six different UNI players knocked down a three-pointer with five players hitting two or more triples. Lizzie Boeck led UNI in scoring with 16 points to pace five Panthers in double figures. Kim Wypiszynski scored 15 points off the bench and Jacqui Kalin added 13 points and seven assists. K.K. Armstrong and and Rachel Madrigal each chipped in with 10 points off the bench.
Bradley returns to action Friday when the Braves play host to preseason Valley favorite Creighton at 7:05 p.m. at Lorene Ramsey Gym.
