Panther women earn 77-56 victory vs. Bradley

TONI FORTMANN

The UNI women rebounded after losing three straight games, defeating Bradley 77-56 inside the McLeod Center last Friday night.

CADEN SHEA, Sports Editor

The UNI women’s basketball team had a big Friday night with a dominant win over the Bradley Braves. The Panthers, who were riding a three game losing streak, found their stride in this game. UNI entered the game at a 16-9 record and wanted to get back to their winning ways by defeating the 4-20 Bradley Braves in the McLeod Center.

The Panthers started the game out hot which ended a streak of slow starts for the team. They started the game with a 6-0 run to put their struggles behind them. The Panthers were determined to keep up their hard work by ending the first quarter with a 12-2 run with statement-making three pointers from Kam Finley and Bre Gunnels. This quarter was also historic as senior guard Karli Rucker placed herself at the number three slot for most career points as a Panther. The Panthers also controlled the second quarter which helped put them at a competitive advantage of 36-19 going into the final half of play.

The Panthers continued their offensive run in the second half. They kept collecting points over the Braves and would maintain defensive pressure anytime they attempted to go on an offensive run. Towards the end of the third quarter, the Panther’s second unit was brought into the game. The Panthers ended the third quarter leading by 29 points over the Bradley Braves.

The Panthers slowed it down in the final quarter with the starters getting limited action in favor of the reserves. UNI showcased a dominant performance on Friday with a final score of 77-56 over Bradley. Finley led the Panthers in points with 15 while Cynthia Wolf grabbed the most rebounds and Maya McDermott dished the most assists. The Panthers look to capitalize on this momentum as they are set to play Illinois State, Indiana State and Evansville in the coming days as the regular season comes to an end.