CEDAR FALLS – UNI took on the Murray State Racers on Friday night inside the McLeod Center and came away with a 95-75 victory. The Racers came into the matchup as the top team in the Valley and the most potent offense in the nation until the Panthers went to work and led from the jump in an impressive display of complete basketball.
The Panthers came out swinging with a 5-0 run to open the matchup. Shateah Wetering was the first Panther on the board with a three-pointer followed by a steal by Maya McDermott which resulted in a layup on the other end. A three-pointer from Murray State ended the UNI run before another seven-point run from the Panthers to take a 12-5 lead early in the first quarter.
Back-and-forth baskets found the Panthers ahead by eight points at 17-9 before UNI went on a 10-point run to push their lead to 18. Murray State knocked down four points to cut into the Panther lead before Kayba Laube put the final touches on the first quarter with a layup to take a 29-13 lead into the second frame.
The Racers opened the second quarter on an 8-2 run with the last six points being scored by their season’s leading scorer Katelyn Young. UNI responded with a nine-point run including a pair of free throws from McDermott and an and-one layup from Grace Boffeli to push the lead out to 19 points at 40-21.
Four points from Murray State were answered with Emerson Green’s 10th point and Maya McDermott’s 10th point back-to-back to claim a 21-point lead at 46-25. UNI finished the first half on a 9-2 run after a Murray State layup to hold a 55-29 lead heading into halftime.
Out of the break, the Racers struck first with a jump shot before Emerson Green answered with a layup. Three-pointers rained down from both teams including five threes from Murray State and a three-point play as well as two from the Panthers to see a 15-point lead in favor of UNI at 65-50. Back-and-forth buckets to end the third quarter saw UNI hold onto its 15-point lead with a score of 69-54 heading into the final frame.
The Panthers and the Racers traded points on the first 12 possessions of the fourth quarter into the media timeout. The Panthers held on to an 83-67 lead heading into the final five minutes of the contest. UNI was electric from beyond the three-point line down the stretch with Kayba Laube knocking down two and Cailyn Morgan knocking one down for the Panthers to finish the matchup with a 20-point margin and a score of 95-75.
Guard Emerson Green led the Panther offense with a game-high 23 points on 11-of-15 shooting from the floor. She added six assists and four rebounds to her total. Both Kayba Laube and Maya McDermott crossed the 20-point mark with 20 points from each of them. Laube shot 6-of-9 from beyond the arc which tied her career high for three-pointers made. Forward Grace Boffeli led the matchup with 13 rebounds. She added 10 points and two blocks to her totals as well.
ADDITIONAL NOTES
UNI remains undefeated against the Racers with a 5-0 record including a 3-0 record in Cedar Falls.
The Panthers scored a season-high 29 points in the first quarter.
Grace Boffeli recorded her 700th career rebound in the third quarter. That tied her for No. 10 on the program’s all-time rebounding list. She finished with 13 rebounds and now owns No. 10 on the list outright.
UNI finished with three players over 20 points. The last time that happened was January 28, 2023, in a 94-81 victory over Southern Illinois where Emerson Green recorded a career-high 26 points, Grace Boffeli finished with 24 points, and Maya McDermott finished with 21.
Maya McDermott continued her perfect streak from the free throw line in both the McLeod Center and conference play. After her six free throws tonight, McDermott has made all 21 free throws inside the McLeod Center and all 18 in conference play.
Grace Boffeli recorded her second double-double of the season with 10 points and 13 rebounds.
UP NEXT
The Panthers stay home and will face the Belmont Bruins inside the McLeod Center on January 21. Tipoff is scheduled for 2 p.m. CT and can be streamed on ESPN+ or listened to on the Panther Sports Radio Network.
