CEDAR FALLS – Karli Rucker led the way with 12 points, but for the second-straight game, every Panther that played scored as UNI held off Creighton for the 55-52 home win Saturday afternoon at the McLeod Center.
Rucker’s 12 points came on 3-8 shooting. She also tallied three assists and went 5-6 from the free-throw line. Megan Maahs had nine points and nine rebounds and Kam Finley added nine points for her effort.
As a team, UNI was 17-59 (34.7%) from the field and 9-22 (40.9%) from the three-point line.
Three Creighton players scored in double figures, led by Molly Mogensen’s 12 points. The Blue Jays were just 8-63 (28.6%) from the field and 8-26 (30.8%) from the three-point line.
UNI started off strong defensively, holding Creighton to just 2-19 (10.5%) from the field in the first quarter while building a 16-7 lead.
Creighton battled back in the second and were much more efficient offensively. The Blue Jays were 10-18 (55.6%) from the field including 5-8 (62.5%) from the three-point line in the second quarter to take a 32-27 lead into the half.
After the break, the Panthers ramped up the defense. Creighton was just 6-26 (23.1%) from the field in the second half, including 2-12 (16.7%) from the three-point line.
UNI rallied to take a 41-38 lead on a three-pointer from Nicole Kroeger late in the third, but Creighton’s Chloe Dworak answered on the other end to tie it at 41 to end the quarter.
The Panthers took the lead on a Maahs layup with just over nine minutes to play and never trailed again. Maahs gave UNI a 54-48 lead on a free-throw with 51 second remaining, but the Blue Jays were able to cut it to two (54-52) with 13 seconds remaining. Rucker hit a free throw and then UNI got a stop in the final seconds to pick up the win.
The Panthers are now 1-1 on the season. UNI next travels to Fargo, N.D. for a road game at NDSU on Dec. 2 before making the trek to Wichita State for a game on Dec. 6.
NOTES
The game was played with only family members of players and media in attendance. UNI Athletics will re-evaluate the situation with fans before the Dec. 12 home MBB/WBB doubleheader.
Emerson Green tallied four assists in the win. The freshman has played significant minutes so far in two games this season.
UNI is now 19-39 all-time against Creighton. While the Blue Jays have won more games in the series, the Panthers have won three of the last five.
Cynthia Wolf tallied three blocks, tying her career high. She already has five this season.
