The Northern Iowa women’s basketball team fell to the Creighton Bluejays on Sunday 75-71.
The Panthers took an early 6-5 lead in the first quarter due to made layups by Shateah Wetering, Ryley Goebel and Maya McDermott. After the Bluejays went on a 6-0 run, the Panthers cut the game to two points with baskets by Kiani Lockett and Eliana Sheplee.
With less than a minute in the first quarter, Wetering made a 3-point basket to take a 17-16 lead. Both teams traded two-point baskets to end the quarter, making the game tied at 19-19.
The Panthers quickly regained the lead to start the second quarter, with a McDermott 3-point basket making it 22-19.
With just over seven minutes in the quarter, the Bluejays went on a 6-0 run to take a 29-25 lead.
The Panthers responded with two made free throws by Kayba Laube and a layup by Kaylee Corbin to tie the game back up at 29-29. The Bluejays took a 33-31 lead going into halftime.
The Bluejays started the second half with a 3-point basket and a made jumper to extend their lead to 38-31.
Facing a 40-35 deficit with just over seven minutes to go in the quarter, the Panthers tied it up at 40 with baskets from McDermott, Goebel, and Jaeger.
Tied at 44 with 4:36 left in the quarter, the Panthers went on a 5-0 run with made free throws from Laube and a 3-pointer from Taryn Wharton to take a 49-44 lead.
Approaching the end of the quarter, the Bluejays went on a 7-0 run to take a 51-49 lead. The Panthers regained the lead 54-53 going into the fourth quarter with crucially made free-throws by Bri Robinson and Wharton.
After the Bluejays regained the lead 57-54, Laube made a 3-point basket to tie the game back up at 57-57.
Shortly after, the Bluejays went on a 9-0 run to regain the lead at 66-57. Facing a 68-60 deficit late in the fourth, the Panthers cut the game to one point with seven straight points from McDermott.
The late run wasn’t enough for the Panthers and the Bluejays went on to win 75-71.
The Panthers fall to 4-4 on the season. They travel to Brookings, South Dakota to take on South Dakota State on Saturday at 2p.m. on ESPN +.
Over break, the Panthers will travel to Carver Hawkeye Arena to take on the No. 21 ranked Hawkeyes on Dec. 20. Then, they’ll travel to the Hulman Center to take on the Indiana State Sycamores on Dec. 29. The Panthers will kick off the new year with two games in the McLeod Center, taking on Valpo on Jan. 2 and UIC on Jan. 4
