CEDAR FALLS, Iowa – The University of Evansville women's basketball team struggled to overcome a slow first half in a 52-82 loss to the Northern Iowa Panthers.
A close second half wasn't enough to overcome a tough first half for the Purple Aces against preseason favorites UNI. UE kept themselves in the game by shining on the offensive glass with 15 offensive rebounds. Freshman forward Maggie Hartwig was key for Evansville in its second-half turnaround with 18 points, 11 rebounds, and tying a career-high four blocks.
Both teams struggled on offense early with a meager 6-3 score three and a half minutes into the game. The three-ball was the only shot working for either squad as Hartwig had the first for the Aces in the third minute. UNI broke out on a ten-point run after the first timeout, keeping the game away from UE in the first half. Center Barbora Tomancova added back-to-back layups to help get Evansville within 11 while Hartwig had the final bucket of the quarter for the Aces. UE headed into the second quarter down 25-11.
It was a tough second quarter for Evansville as the team scored just five points on 11.8% shooting. It took just over five minutes for the Aces to score their first basket as guard Tene Smith hit a three to end the scoring drought. Tomancova added the other bucket for UE with under four minutes left in the half on a jumper in the paint. Evansville headed into the second half with a 27-point deficit.
The Aces learned from their first half as they broke out to a 10-3 start to the third quarter. A catch-and-shoot three from guard Lexie Sinclair three minutes in forced a timeout from UNI. UE continued to have success outside the arc in the third, going 3-7 from three different players. Evansville kept the Panthers from breaking out on any major scoring run as they had the better scoring percentage in the third frame. Hartwig had the final bucket of the quarter for the Aces on a contested three-pointer with 39 seconds left.
UE started scoring early in the final quarter as well with a quick five-point run. Evansville benefited at the line in the first five minutes of the fourth three trips from three separate players. But a hot stretch outside the arc for UNI pushed the Aces deficit to 26. UE couldn't get back into the game on offense after their early streak in the 82-52 loss.
Hartwig picked up her fourth double-double of the year in her first game at Cedar Falls. Tomancova also pulled in double-digit rebounds, leading the team with 14 boards. Sinclair tied her career-high in assists with three helpers in 23 minutes while point guard Kynidi Mason Striverson added three as well.
Evansville continues its Iowa road trip with a stop in Des Moines on Saturday. The Aces take on the league-leading Drake Bulldogs at 2 p.m. from the Knapp Center on Jan. 6.
