UNI Panthers Dominate Valparaiso Beacons in Women’s College Basketball Game
UNI women’s basketball hosted the Valparaiso Beacons in UNI’s first conference game inside the McLeod Center of the season on January 2. The Panthers opened hot and stayed hot all game long finishing with a 93-70 victory to stay a perfect 2-0 in Missouri Valley Conference play.
The Beacons opened the matchup with three three-pointers to a pair of Panther layups to take a 9-4 lead. UNI went on an eight-point run to take a 12-9 lead heading into the first-quarter media timeout. Back-to-back layups from Valpo were followed by an 11-point run to close the first quarter with UNI on top 23-13. The run saw five points from Maya McDermott.
The Beacons opened the second quarter with five points before a 20-6 Panther run which gave UNI a 43-24 lead. Back-and-forth buckets for both teams saw UNI close the first half on a pair of free throws from Kayba Laube to take a 50-30 lead into the halftime break. The Panthers shot 64.3% (18-for-28) in the first half including a 50% (3-for-6) clip from beyond the arc.
Valparaiso opened the third quarter on a 7-3 run before back-and-forth buckets saw UNI hold a 16-point lead at 59-43 heading into the second media timeout of the third quarter. Out of the break, Ryley Goebel recorded six points in a 16-8 Panther run to close the third quarter with UNI ahead by 24 at 75-51 heading into the final frame.
The final frame saw a slower quarter for the Panthers with only 18 points scored including a three-pointer from Kayba Laube and five free throws from Bri Robinson. Ryley Goebel and Maya McDermott led UNI with 20 points each. Goebel was 10-for-10 from the field and added four assists to her total. Kayba Laube and Emerson Green were the other two Panthers in double figures with 17 and 13 points respectively. Laube added seven defensive boards.
UNI improved to 7-6 on the season and 2-0 in conference play with the 93-70 victory. The Panthers also moved to 15-5 all-time against the Beacons and 8-1 at home. Ryley Goebel recorded a career-high 20 points on a career-high 10 field goals as she was perfect from the field (10-for-10). Kaylee Corbin recorded a career-high three free throws. Bri Robinson recorded a career-high four steals. UNI continued an active program-record 545-game three-pointer streak that started December 6, 2008, versus Green Bay (6-of-19) following a 0-of-14 outing from behind the three-point arc December 3, 2008, against Northern Illinois. The Panthers knocked down six threes against Valparaiso to continue the streak. Maya McDermott continued her streak of double-digit scoring matchups with 20 points against Valparaiso. McDermott has recorded double-figure points in all 13 matchups this season and has scored 20+ in eight of this season’s matchups.
The Panthers continue conference play inside the McLeod Center on Saturday, January 4 when UNI hosts UIC. Tipoff is scheduled for 2 p.m. CT and can be streamed on ESPN+ or listened to on the Panther Sports Radio Network.
