CEDAR FALLS, Iowa – UNI women's basketball finished the third quarter with a 9-0 run to give the Panthers a 54-46 lead. UNI never looked back and rang in the New Year with an 82-71 win over the previously undefeated Illinois State Redbirds in the MVC opener Friday afternoon in Cedar Falls.
UNI led for over 34 minutes of the game, but Illinois State rallied to take a 46-45 lead with 1:49 remaining in the third before Karli Rucker hit a three-pointer to spur the run. Bre Gunnels capped the run with a putback jumper at the buzzer.