The UNI women’s basketball team finished the season as the MVC regular season champions after defeating Evansville on Saturday, 61-48.

Madison Weekly started off the game with two three-pointers to gain the early 6-0 lead.

After an Evansville layup, Jen Keitel made two free-throws to increase the lead to 8-2. Evansville responded with a 10-0 run to end the first quarter with a 12-8 Panther deficit.

The second quarter began with the Panthers scoring a 9-0 run to gain a 17-12 lead.

The Purple Aces retaliated with an 8-2 run to get ahead once again. Hannah Schonhardt scored four points to end the half with a 23-20 Panther lead.

A Keitel layup started the third quarter to increase the Panther lead to 25-20. Evansville managed a 6-2 run to cut the lead to 27-26, but they could not get any closer.

Weekly drained a three to kickstart a 10-0 run. An Evansville three-pointer was not enough as UNI responded with a 7-0 run to end the third quarter, 44-29.

Evansville used the first seven minutes of the fourth quarter to score a 13-4 run to cut the lead to 48-42. Weekly and Stephanie Davison teamed up for five points to make some breathing room.

With time running out, the Purple Aces resorted to fouling to put pressure on the Panthers’ free throws. But the Panthers made eight out of 10 attempts to end the game with the 61-48 final score.

Weekly led the Panthers with 20 points while Keitel was second with 12. Sorenson earned a double-double thanks to her 11 points and 11 rebounds.

This title marks the second under head coach Tanya Warren, who also won the regular season title in the 2010-2011 season. The Panthers’ 15 conference victories ranks second in school history, trailing the 17 conference victories recorded by the 2010-2011 season.

The Panthers will travel to the Quad Cities for the MVC Tournament March 10-13.