CEDAR FALLS, Iowa – Freshman Taylor Thiele (Aurora, Neb./Aurora) had a team-high 14 kills and also added 16 digs, but Northern Iowa topped Bradley 25-15, 27-25, 24-26, 25-13 Saturday at the McLeod Center.

Thiele turned in her third consecutive double-double and fifth in six outings as she matched a season-best with her 14 kills to go with 16 digs in the setback.  Fellow freshman Afton Sobasky (Inver Grove Heights, Minn./St. Croix Lutheran) collected a season-high seven kills along with 18 assists and 13 digs for her third straight double-double as well. 

Bradley hung with Northern Iowa early on in the first set and the teams were knotted at 14-14, before the Panthers took control with a 5-0 spurt to take a 19-14 advantage.  UNI outscored the Braves 11-1 down the stretch to take the opening frame 25-15. 

In the second set, Bradley held an 11-9 lead after a Northern Iowa attack error, but the Panthers answered with a 6-1 run to go in front 15-12.  The Braves pulled even at 24-24 and the teams were knotted at 25-25 when UNI's Leigh Pudwill gave the Panthers a 26-25 lead with a kill and a Bradley attack error finished off a 27-25 Northern Iowa win.

The Braves mounted a late push after falling behind 23-20 in the third set to take a 24-23 lead.  Cordelia Murphy (Marseilles, Ill./Marquette) and Madison Kamp (Orland Park, Ill./Chicago Christian) followed a UNI attack error with a block and Kamp tied things up at 23-23 with a kill.  A Northern Iowa ball handling error gave Bradley a 24-23 edge.  UNI's 10th attack error of the set with the score tied at 24-24 gave the Braves a 25-24 edge and a Thiele kill capped a 26-24 victory to force a fourth set.

Northern Iowa took control of the fourth set with a 9-1 run to build a commanding 22-11 advantage in what was a 13-10 contest.  Lindsey Schultz highlighted the UNI run with a kill and three blocks as the Panthers, which hit .382 in the set, cruised to a 25-13 win to close out the match. 

Kayla Haneline was one of three UNI players to reach double figures in kills, finishing with a match-high 17. 

Bradley returns to action Friday, hosting pre-season league favorite Wichita State in a 7 p.m. match at Renaissance Coliseum.