CEDAR FALLS – The UNI women’s basketball team wrapped up four games in seven days with their sixth win in a row tonight, downing the Evansville Aces 78-58.
Senior forward Bre Gunnels had a career-scoring night against the Aces while center Cynthia Wolf recorded her first double-double of the season. With double-figure scoring from four different players on the roster, the Panthers saw another balanced win in their six-game win streak.
“I’m extremely proud of what this team has been able to accomplish. We just played four games in seven days and that’s extremely hard for anybody. So, I’m very proud of not only what we were able to do in terms of getting wins but the mental part of staying in the game and not giving in to fatigue. We like the position we have put ourselves in. We came into this four-game stretch wanting to take care of business at home and we certainly did that. Again, I’m extremely proud of them.”
Guard Nicole Kreoger began the game with a bang sinking a three-point shot from the right side of the arc. It would be over a minute later when the Aces got their first points of the game from the free throw line. The Panthers would answer with their own shots at the line after forward Bre Gunnels drew a foul on the next possession. Evansville would make their first layup in the third minute of the quarter and UNI would answer with a four-point run in under 15 seconds. The Aces answered with a run of their own that the Panthers would fight off with a trey from Kreoger. It’d be back and forth over the next two minutes. UNI would be able to stay on top towards the end of the quarter despite an Evansville push in the last minute going into the second 20-16.
It’d be a quick start to the second frame with guard Kam Finley making a fast three-pointer jump shot. The teams would trade layups until guard Emerson Green headed to the line. Green sank both from the charity stripe and Gunnels added on a trey 40 seconds later. Evansville would make another run in the second, scoring four points in 35 seconds. Gunnels would end the run with a second-chance layup of her own rebound. Heading into the under-five media timeout both teams would trade brief runs. It would be quiet offensively for the next five minutes with only three baskets scored in the final four minutes of the half. Gunnels would have the last basket of the first half for the Panthers with a second-chance layup. UNI would head into the second half up 40-29.
Evansville would get the second half started with a layup from starting guard and offensive leader Abby Feit. But the Panthers would pour on the heat jumping out to a 16-point lead off a seven-point run. The Aces would stop the bleeding heading into the fourth minute with another Feit layup. UNI would respond with another scoring run of four points. The final two minutes of the third quarter consisted of back and forth layups and a final free throw from Finley to bring the Panther lead to 15.
The fourth quarter would again be a show from Gunnels as she made two quick layups in the first minute, forcing an early Aces timeout. Finley would add the statement basket for UNI, stretching the lead out to 21 with just over eight minutes to go in the game. Evansville would grab a brief five-point but the Panthers continued to answer, matching the Aces almost shot for shot. Seven points in the final three minutes sealed the deal for UNI as they grabbed their sixth win in a row 78-58.
It was a strong night at the line for the Panthers as they remained perfect through the first half. Overall UNI was 15-18 (83.3%) at the charity stripe, 29-66 (43.9%) from the floor, and 5-18 (27.8%) from behind the arc. The majority of the Panthers points came in the paint with 22 shots made from the lane. UNI also excelled on the defensive side of the ball with 47 rebounds and 13 steals.
With 20 points on the night forward, Bre Gunnels had a career-high game and led the Panthers in scoring. Three other players scored in double figures including Cynthia Wolf (12), guard Karli Rucker (11), and Kam Finely (10). Wolf also recorded her first double-double of the season while grabbing 12 boards. Forward/center Grace Boffeli had 10 rebounds with Gunnels making six. Along with leading the team in scoring, Gunnels also led the Panthers in steals with three through 31 minutes.
UP NEXT:
The Panthers get two days off before taking on their next opponent, the first place Southern Illinois Salukis. It’ll be a two-game road trip for UNI, including a stop in Springfield for a game against the Missouri State Lady Bears. Tipoff against the Salukis on Feb. 11 in Carbondale is set for 6 p.m.
