The women’s basketball team is now 10-10 in the regular season after their most recent 58-36 victory over Illinois State. Of their last 10 games, the Panthers have only lost three games. UNI fell to Drake University, as well as Missouri State and Southern Illinois at the beginning of January.

In their victory over the Redbirds, UNI struggled during the first quarter and came out short, 15-9.

However, after the first break, the Panthers limited the Redbirds’ offensive opportunities and held Illinois State to under 10 points in each of the remaining three quarters of play. UNI then ran away with the lead and scored 15 points in the second quarter, 22 in the third and 12 in the fourth, seizing the victory.

Kennedy Kirkpatrick led the scoring with 12 points and four assists, and Ellie Howell followed suit with 10 points, three assists and four steals of her own. Commanding the offensive and defensive glass was Heidi Hillyard; she recorded eight rebounds, two points and two assists.

Before their victory against Illinois State, the Panthers won again by double digits in their 51-40 victory against Bradley. This time around, it was Bradley that needed the first quarter to warm up and find their shots.

UNI was able to score early and keep it going throughout the entire game, the only exception being the third quarter, when both teams failed to score over 10 points.

Howell led this time with 16 points. She went 7-12 from the field and dropped two shots from the charity stripe.

Megan Maahs was really hoopin’ with a 10-point double-double. She snagged 15 rebounds and recorded a single assist with just 34 minutes of playing time.

Before this two-game win streak, UNI fell to Drake University in Des Moines after a final score of 81-64.

The Panthers look to end their three-game road trip with a victory at home against Missouri State on Friday, followed by another home game on Sunday against Southern Illinois.

Friday’s game will feature Karaoke Night at the McLeod Center, and Sunday’s game will promote the Kid’s Club and a family friendly evening of Panther basketball.

There are only nine games left in the regular season; five of them will be played in Cedar Falls.

By the time March rolls around, UNI may very well be competing in the MVC Tournament, which is being held in the Quad Cities this season.