Jaci McCormack had 16 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists, but the Birds didnt have enough behind her as Northern Iowa topped Illinois State 64-56 in a Missouri Valley Conference game Sunday at West Gym.
The Redbirds, 5-11, 2-5 in the Valley, shot just 33 percent from the field and did a great job defensively in the first half before the Panthers used 59 percent second-half shooting and a 24-11 edge in free throw attempts to win the game. Both teams had 21 field goals including five threes, but UNI won the game at the free throw line with 17 of 24 to ISUs 9 of 11.
Holly Hallstrom, who played just three minutes in the first half because of foul trouble, finished with 11 rebounds for her third straight double-digit rebounding effort for ISU.
Megan McCracken, with 12 points, was the only other Redbird in double figures with 12 points.
Redbird coach Robin Pingeton thought the free throws were a difference.
They got to the line and we didnt until very late in the game, said Pingeton. They shot the ball well in the second half and we didnt. Both teams battled hard, but they were able to knock in some shots.
The Panthers, 11-7, 5-2 in the Valley, have beaten Illinois State eight straight times in cozy West Gym. Valley rebounding leader Alex Cook led UNI with 13 points and 18 rebounds, while Cassie Hager had 16 points, nine rebounds and four blocked shots.
The first half was a defensive battle from the start. Northern Iowa led 8-4 in the first five minutes, but
Megan McCracken drained a three-pointer and Katie Donovan followed with a driving shot to put ISU ahead for the first time, 9-8. After Alex Cook scored on a short jumper for UNI, Lashawn Johnson out-muscled UNIs 6-foot-7 Cassie Hager for a bucket-and-free throw three-pointer and an ISU lead.
After UNI took a 19-18 edge on a Tracy Ollendieck three-pointer with 4:27 left, McCracken answered with her second trey and Donovans steal-and-layup gave ISU its biggest first-half lead 23-19 with 3:50 left in the half. But the Panthers scored the final five pointsthree from the free throw lineto lead 24-23 at halftime.
ISU suffered through a six-minute scoring draught as UNI took a 32-23 lead in the first three minutes of the second half. A Holly Hallstrom bucket off a nice pass from Donovan with 16:27 remaining. But UNI stretched the lead to as many as nine heading into the final five minutes. But a McCormack bucket and an Amber Shelton three-pointer got ISU within 52-46 with 4:30 left, but six Panther free throws and a Hager basket in the next two minutes got UNI out to a nine-point lead.
The Redbirds return to Redbird Arena for a four-game home stand beginning with a 7:05 p.m. Thursday match-up with Evansville.
