Box Score PEORIA, Ill. - Northern Iowa took control of a four-point game at the half with a 15-2 run to open the second period as the Panthers clinched at least a share of the Missouri Valley Conference regular-season championship with a 71-61 victory against Bradley Friday afternoon at Renaissance Coliseum.
A strong defensive effort by the Braves helped keep things close during the opening 20 minutes. UNI entered the game averaging a league-low 13.6 turnovers, but had 10 turnovers at the break and finished with 18 turnovers in the game.
Bradley (13-14 overall, 6-10 MVC) led 19-15 after a pull-up jumper by junior Hanna Muegge (Hopkins, Minn.,/Hopkins) midway through the period. Northern Iowa (22-5 overall, 15-1 MVC) answered with an 8-3 spurt to go in front 28-24 and took a four-point lead at the half (32-28).
After shooting 40 percent in the first half, the Panthers connected on 6-of-9 shots to open the second half during a 15-2 spurt as UNI extended the lead to 47-30 in the opening minutes of the period. Junior MacKenzie Westcott (Williamsburg, Iowa/Williamsburg) scored five points to highlight a 10-2 Bradley run which trimmed the Panthers' lead to 49-40 as the teams traded runs.
All-Conference performer Jacqui Kalin had back-to-back baskets and Erin Brocka hit a three-pointer to cap an 11-2 Northern Iowa spurt to give UNI its biggest lead of the game at 63-44 with six minutes to play.
Bradley made a late rally attempt, going on a 10-2 run to pull within 11 at 65-54 with a minute and half to play and later cut the deficit to eight points (69-61) on a Katie Yohn (Elgin, Ill./St. Edward) three-pointer in the closing seconds. The Braves ran out of time, however, as UNI extended its win streak to 14 consecutive games with a 71-61 victory.
Muegge led the Braves in scoring with 13 points, while Westcott collected nine points, six boards, three assists a block and a career-best seven steals in the loss. Yohn joined Muegge in double figures with 10 points.
Bradley committed just 14 turnovers in the contest, but Northern Iowa converted the BU miscues into 19 points and the Panthers owned a 15-8 advantage in fast break points. The 61 points scored by the Braves were the most by a UNI opponent since Missouri State scored 69 points against the Panthers on Jan. 6.
Rachel Madrigal paced UNI in scoring with a career-high 18 points and Kalin added 16 points and six assists. Katelin Oney finished with 15 points, while Lizzie Boeck collected 12 points in 29 minutes.
Bradley continues a season-long three-game homestand Thursday with a 7:05 p.m. game against I-74 rival Illinois State.
