UNI Women’s Basketball: Panthers Defeat Racers in First Valley Slate Loss

In a thrilling rematch, the UNI women’s basketball team faced off against the Murray State Racers on January 23, 2024, at the McLeod Center in Cedar Falls, Iowa. The Panthers, seeking to avenge their first conference loss, triumphed with a decisive score of 89-74.

Game Summary

The Panthers quickly established control of the game. Elise Jaeger was instrumental, scoring seven of UNI’s first nine points, including a three-pointer that helped the team take an early 13-6 lead. Murray State responded with a late surge, cutting the deficit to one point before UNI finished the first quarter ahead at 24-19.

A strong start to the second quarter saw the Panthers extend their lead. They executed a 12-2 run, showcasing contributions from multiple players and pushing the score to 36-21. Although the Racers managed a comeback, the Panthers went into halftime leading 42-34.

Key Performers

• Jenna Twedt: Led all scorers with 20 points, including three three-pointers.
• Taryn Wharton: Contributed 15 points.
• Kaylynn Janes: Also tallied 15 points.
• Bri Robinson: Added 11 points.
• Lauren Walker: Registered a career-high of 10 points.
• Elise Jaeger: Finished with nine points, nine rebounds, and six assists.

After the half, Murray State mounted an early challenge, narrowing the gap to just two points. However, UNI responded with a series of three-pointers, re-establishing a nine-point lead at 64-52 by the end of the third quarter.

Fourth Quarter Dominance

The final quarter was marked by the Panthers’ exceptional shooting. They hit three consecutive three-pointers and maintained an impressive shooting percentage of 72.7% from the field. Twedt was particularly outstanding, scoring 11 points in the fourth alone. The Panthers closed out the game without significant challenge from the Racers.

Record and Upcoming Matches

With this victory, UNI improved their season record to 10-8 and 6-2 in Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) play. This match marked their seventh win against Murray State in all-time competition and extended their record to 564 consecutive games with at least one three-pointer.

The Panthers will look to build on this momentum in their next game against the Evansville Purple Aces on January 25, 2024. The game is set for 2 p.m. CT and will be available on ESPN+ and the Panther Sports Radio Network.

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