Bonnie Ryan
GoSycamores.com
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. -- The Indiana State women's basketball team posted a 70-62 win over Northern Iowa on Friday night, snapping the Panthers' six-game winning streak coming into Hulman Center. With the victory, ISU improved to 15-11 (6-9 MVC) and extended its current winning streak to four games since Feb. 14.
Senior Kelsey Luna fired in 23 points and had nine rebounds to lead her team, adding four assists and four steals. The St. Louis, Mo., native also hit a pair of 3-pointers, moving her within one of the school record held by Kourtney Mennen (256). Luna has 255 triples over her four-year career, as well as 1,370 total points, which puts her at ninth on the all-time ISU scoring charts.
Sophomore Shannon Thomas also had an outstanding night with her fifth double-double of the season, scoring 14 points with 11 boards. Thomas finished 6-for-9 from the field, and sophomore Deja Matttox went 5-for-6, giving her 11 points as the Sycamores' third double-figure scorer. As a team, Indiana State shot nearly 45 percent - including 50 percent from long range - compared to UNI's 33 percent effort.
"Shannon made some big plays out there," Assistant Coach Clint Weddle said. "The one thing I liked was that Shannon played with her head up the whole game. She sprinted end to end. She was in every play, and she's really been big for us the last two or three games. There were times she isolated and got good looks, but we're swinging the ball from side to side. I'm very proud of the total team effort out there."
Northern Iowa was led offensively by Jacqui Kalin, who finished with 24 points, while Lizzie Beock totaled 15 rebounds and nine points. With the loss, the Panthers drop to 13-13 (9-6) on the year.
UNI took a 7-3 lead to open the game, but the Sycamores countered with a 3-pointer from Mattox to bring it within one, and Thomas tied it at 9-9 on a free throw. The game stalled at a tie twice more, before Mattox and Cooley combined for six points to go ahead. Kalin and Amber Kirschbaum then narrowed it to one, but a triple by Brittany Schoen kept ISU in front by four. Thomas worked inside to hit the final shot of the half, giving Indiana State a 26-20 advantage at the half.
Thomas started the second half with a jumper and freshman Taylor Whitley followed up with a three to push the lead to nine. Three more points from Whitley later gave Indiana State a 10-point lead, but triples from UNI's Rachel Madrigal and Kalin brought the Panthers within two.
Northern Iowa battled and kept the game within three for the next four minutes, before Luna hit a 3-pointer to make it 46-42. A jumper by Mattox extended the lead to six points, but Nicole Clauson knocked in a three to pull within striking distance. With 2:07 to go and the game at 54-51, Luna rattled off a triple and five free throws in a minute and a half to keep UNI at bay by eight.
Kalin and Boeck added a pair of treys and K.K. Armstrong chipped in a layup, but it was not enough to top the Sycamores in the final seconds. Cooley banked in two charity shots, coupled with four more from Luna and a basket by Thomas, finishing with a 70-62 win over UNI.
Indiana State returns to action on Sunday, Feb. 28, hosting Bradley at 2:05 p.m. at Hulman Center. Senior Day festivities will honor Kelsey Luna, Sarah Paul and Laurence Rivest after the game.