The season is quickly coming to an end for the UNI women’s basketball team, as there are three games left and with the conference tournament lurking around the corner.

The Panthers, currently ranked third in the conference, traveled to Springfield, Mo.  on Friday, March 1, to take on the second-ranked team in the Missouri Valley Conference, Missouri State.

Going into the game, head coach Tanya Warren said in a press conference, “We know that it’s going to be a physical game, we’re going to have to rebound and we’re going to have to defend.” With that being said, the purple and gold shot well (39 percent from the field) and rebounded efficiently (30 total), but were hurt by the turnovers, giving them a new season high of 31.

The Panthers started out slow in the first quarter, as they allowed an 8-0 run to start the game.

The women of UNI quickly bounced back to end the first quarter with a close score of 14-9 despite allowing nine turnovers in the first 12 minutes. In the second quarter, the Bears continued to extend their lead, as they ended the first half ahead 27-19.

UNI came out of the half allowing yet another big run (9-3) from the Bears as the lead continued to grow, at one point reaching 36-22.

The Panther train then started rolling as they were able to rally to a 12-3 run over the next four minutes, bringing the score within five points with a minute and a half left to play in the third quarter, but before the last minute and a half could run out, the Bears clawed back, putting their lead up to nine, with the score being 46-37 at the end of three quarters.

Coming out to start the fourth, the Panthers gave MSU one more run as they brought the score within four with 5:53 remaining. Despite the late push by the UNI, the Bears proved to be too much as they pulled away with a late run and ended with a ten-point win, 58-48.

The Panthers remain in good standing for the upcoming conference tournament, as they are one game above fourth place, sitting in third.

Before returning home for the final two games prior to the conference tournament, the women of UNI will travel to Southern Illinois on March 3.