EVANSVILLE - Going basket-for-basket with one of The Valley's best squads, the University of Evansville women's basketball team led late, but could not hold on in a 73-68 loss to Northern Iowa on Sunday afternoon inside Meeks Family Fieldhouse.

"We gave ourselves a chance to win. They were a couple plays better than us down the stretch, but I'm so proud of our fight and putting ourselves in position to win that game," said Aces head women's basketball coach Robyn Scherr-Wells.

Four Aces finished in double-figures on the day with fifth-year senior A'Niah Griffin pouring-in a team-best 17 points, including a career-high four three-pointers. For the fifth-time in her last six games, fellow fifth-year senior Myia Clark scored double-digits, tallying 13 points. Rounding-out the double-figure scorers, senior Abby Feit finished with 12 points, while redshirt junior Barbora Tomancova had 11 points. The Panthers were powered by Grace Boffeli, who has 17 points and 10 boards in UNI's win.

Much like Wednesday night, Evansville found its opponent's offense hot to start the game. A quick run from the Panthers to start the game was answered by the Aces as UE sat down just one at 9-8 at the midway point of the opening period. UNI responded as well, going on a 10-3 run over the remainder of the quarter to lead by eight after the first 10 minutes.

The Panthers would build their lead as large as 14 in the second quarter, continuing its first period run and jumping-out to a 27-13 lead. Evansville's resiliency showed itself again as UE cut into its deficit with a 16-5 run that brought the Aces within three as the second period neared its close. Key to the Aces run were a trio of made three pointers with Griffin, Clark, and Feit all knocking-down shots from beyond the arc to aid Evansville's comeback as the Aces trailed 37-32 at the half.

Coming out of halftime, Evansville asserted itself, trading baskets with UNI and keeping its deficit under five for much of the quarter. The Aces persistence paid off in the latter portions of the period as Evansville grabbed its first lead of the game inside the final minute of the third with senior Jossie Hudson splashing a triple from the corner to make it a 47-46 lead. Just before the quarter break, UNI earned a trip to the free-throw line and split a pair, tying the game at 47 heading into the fourth.

The back-and-forth battle continued into the fourth quarter as the final 10 minutes featured five lead changes and four ties. A key stretch with under three minutes to play saw Evansville retake the lead on a three by Feit, followed by an and-one from Clark that handed UE its largest lead of the day with 2:07 left in the game. Leading 68-64, UNI began to again find its offensive rhythm and forced difficult shots for the Aces. UNI took the lead again on a three by Kayba Laube with just shy of 90 seconds remaining and Evansville could not get its answer on the other end as the Panthers captured the win.

Evansville goes on the road next weekend to take on Bradley and Illinois State on Friday and Sunday, respectively, in central Illinois.
 

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