TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Erasing a 10 point halftime deficit, the Indiana State Women's Basketball team had a last second opportunity but couldn't convert as it dropped a 57-55 decision to Northern Iowa on Sunday afternoon at Hulman Center. Indiana State is now 13-6 overall on the 2014-15 season and 3-5 in the Missouri Valley Conference.

Senior forward Racheal Mahan led with 16 points, six rebounds and two blocks in the loss. Senior forward Jasmine Grier came off the bench for 10 points three boards and two steals and senior forward Chelsea Small grabbed a team-high seven rebounds to go along with seven points.

On the afternoon, the Sycamores compiled a 35.8 percent clip from the floor, including a 41.4 field goal percentage in the second half. ISU also outscored UNI, 33-25, in the final frame.

ISU also won the rebounding margin, 41-36, and combined for nine assists including three from redshirt junior Cierra Ceazer.

Senior guard Natasha Zurek also swiped four steals as ISU tallied 10 on the afternoon while also posting six blocks with two each from Mahan and Small.

Indiana State jumped out to an early 7-2 lead, but allowed the Panthers (10-8, 6-1 MVC) to go on a 10-0 run after an Amber Sorensen 3-pointer gave them their first lead of the game. 

Indiana State jumped out to an early 7-2 lead but allowed the Panthers (10-8, 6-1 MVC) to go on a 10-0 run after an Amber Sorensen 3-pointer.

The Sycamores went cold, going scoreless for nearly five minutes midway through the half.  Sophomore forward Rhagen Smith drained a 3-pointer at the top of the key to come back within two at the 11:29 mark. 

But the Panthers closed out the first half with another run, this time a 10-4 margin that marked the second-largest deficit at halftime this season for the Sycamores, 32-22.  ISU also committed an uncharacteristic 11 first half turnovers to lead to 12 Panther points.

UNI held an advantage for the first six minutes of the second frame, but the Sycamores chipped away as Small's runner in the lane and a Grier triple cut the lead down to 37-34.

Keeping it within four for the next three minutes of play, Grier found her way to thebasket to even the score at 41-41 with 10:27 left in the contest. It marked the start of six lead changes and two ties in the second half alone as senior forward Travecia Franklin made her way to the hoop and the Sycamores the lead with 6:34 on the clock.

Redshirt sophomore Joyea Marshall connected from long range but UNI's Brooke Brown, who posted a season-high 17 points, evened things at 50-50 with 5:23 remaining.

Brown tallied a 4-for-5 performance from behind the arc on the afternoon as she hit another 3-pointer with 3:39 to play.

ISU found Mahan in the paint on a feed from Marshall at the 3:21 mark and had opportunities on the offensive end, missing three shots the final three minutes of play.

UNI's Madison Weekly found her way through the ISU defense with 58 seconds remaining to extend its lead back to three. Looking to retaliate, the Sycamores found Grier who connected for her second triple of the day, and tied the game up at 55-55.

With nine seconds remaining, Weekly again found herself with the ball and sank the jumper at the top of the paint. Indiana State had a chance in the final seconds but a Grier 3-pointer rimmed in and out of the basket as the final buzzer sounded.

ISU continues play on its home court next Sunday when it hosts travel partner Evansville. Tipoff is set for 2:05 p.m. ET at Hulman Center.

For the latest information on the Sycamore Women's Basketball team, make sure to check out GoSycamores.com. You can also find the team on social media including Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.