CEDAR FALLS – UNI women’s basketball hosted its third-straight home matchup and welcomed the Evansville Purple Aces to Cedar Falls. An 11-point Aces run in the third quarter proved to be the difference maker as the Panthers couldn’t get over the hump and lost to Evansville inside the McLeod Center.
In a defensive battle of a first quarter, freshman Lauren Walker scored five of UNI’s first nine points including a three-pointer. The Cats held an 11-8 lead after the first 10 minutes of play which saw five combined blocks, three from the Panthers including a pair from freshman Maren Schmotzer. The Purple Aces edged out the Cats in the second quarter, 21-18, to see a tied game at 29 at the halftime break. Jenna Twedt was 3-for-4 from beyond the arc in the second quarter and accounted for 11 of UNI’s 18 points in the frame.
At halftime, Twedt led the Panthers with 13 points with Walker close behind with nine. Elise Jaeger brought in seven boards while Maren Schmotzer blocked three shots and Ryley Goebel blocked a pair.
An early 11-point run from the Aces opened the third quarter and gave Evansville a nine-point lead at 40-31. The Panthers were able to cut the lead to three points with 15 the rest of the way in the frame to the Purple Aces’ nine. UE held a 49-46 lead with 10 minutes to play.
In the final frame, the Panthers were just 3-for-8 from the free-throw line and were not able to convert on crucial free throws down the stretch. UNI had a chance to tie the game with six seconds remaining in regulation down by three, but could not get the ball across midcourt and were defeated for the first time this season inside the McLeod Center by a conference opponent.
Jenna Twedt led the Cats with 30 points, including six three-pointers. She made eight free throws and brought in three boards. Lauren Walker was the other Panther in double-figures with 13 points. Elise Jaeger finished with 15 rebounds and two steals while Ryley Goebel and Maren Schmotzer each had three blocks. Goebel came up with three steals to boot.
ADDITIONAL NOTES
UNI falls to 10-9 on the season and 6-3 in Valley play after the loss.
The Panthers continued an active program-record 565-game three-pointer streak with seven triples against the Purple Aces.
Sophomore Kaylynn Janes made her first collegiate start in place of the injured Bri Robinson.
Jenna Twedt’s 30 points are a career high to go along with six threes, eight field goals, and eight free throws.
Maren Schmotzer recorded a career-high three blocks against Evansville.
Lauren Walker finished with a career-high 13 points to go along with a career-high five field goals and a career-high tying four rebounds.
UP NEXT
The Panthers hit the road and head to Illinois State on Thursday, January 29. Tipoff against the Redbirds in Normal, Illinois, is scheduled for 6 p.m. CT and will be available to stream on ESPN+ or listen to on the Panther Sports Radio Network.