The Northern Iowa Women’s basketball team fell to the Ball State Cardinals on Saturday by a score of 76-70.
The Cardinals got off to a hot start, scoring back-to-back layups to take a 4-0 lead early.
Just under two minutes into the first quarter, the Panthers got on the board with a layup from Ryley Goebel. After a basket by the Cardinals to make it 6-2, neither team scored a basket for over three minutes. The drought ended with a jump shot from Emerson Green. With a minute left in the first quarter, the Cardinals extended their lead to 9-4 with a 3-pointer.
The Panthers finished the quarter strong with a 3-pointer by Kayba Laube and a layup from Shateah Wetering, which tied the game at nine.
After both teams traded baskets to start the quarter, the Cardinals scored six consecutive points to take a 17-11 lead early in the second quarter. The Panthers responded with a layup from Goebel, but the Cardinals connected on two free throws and a 3-pointer to extend their lead to 24-14.
The Panthers showed some urgency on offense with back-to-back 3-pointers from Maya McDermott to cut the lead to 24-20 halfway through the first half.
At the three-minute mark of the half, the Cardinals couldn’t miss from the 3-point line, connecting on two shots to extend their lead to 30-22.
McDermott hit a 3-pointer with 20 seconds remaining, cutting the lead to 34-25 going into the break.
The Cardinals started the third quarter strong with a 3-pointer to make it 37-25.
After a layup was made by McDermott, they added two more layups to extend their lead to 41-27.
Trailing 50-39 over halfway through the third quarter, the Panthers went on a 6-0 run. Goebel and Katy Reyerson connected on layups followed by two made free-throws by McDermott to cut the Cardinals’ lead to 50-45.
The Cardinals fought back, scoring five straight points to take a 55-45 lead in the fourth quarter.
Early in the fourth quarter, Laube connected on a three-pointer to cut the lead to 55-48. After a made free-throw from Eliana Sheplee, the Cardinals scored four straight points to extend their lead to 59-49.
Facing a 61-51 deficit, McDermott connected on back-to-back 3-pointers to make it a four-point game at 61-57.
Trailing 68-60, McDermott hit two free throws to make it a six-point game. After a made free-throw by Reyerson, McDermott hit a jump shot to make it a 3-point game at 68-65. After two made free-throws by the Cardinals, Laube made a 3-pointer to cut it to two at 70-68 with 21 seconds to go.
The Panthers continued to foul late, but the Cardinals made their free throws. They went on to win 76-70.
The Panthers fell to 2-1 on the season. Tonight they welcome the No. 8 ranked Iowa State Cyclones to the McLeod Center. Tipoff is at 6:00 p.m.
