NORMAL, Ill. — A cold-shooting start for the Northern Iowa women’s basketball team spelled disaster for the Panthers as Illinois State scored an 88-77 triumph in Thursday’s MVC clash.

Northern Iowa shot 5-for-16 in the first quarter and fell behind 26-12 after Illinois State shot the lights out. The Redbirds were 10-of-17 from the field, making three 3-pointers in the opening period on their way to a double-digit lead.

The Panthers (5-11, 4-3) pushed back to win the next two periods, but not by enough to ever see the lead again. Illinois State (12-6, 5-3) led for nearly the entire game and by no fewer than seven in the second half.

DeAnna Wilson shot 11-for-16 from the field to lead Illinois State with 26 points. Kate Bullman added 15 points, Abbie Aalsma added 13 and Shannon Dowell 12.

Maya McDermott poured in a game-high 29 points to pace the Panthers, going 12-of-23 from the field. Grace Boffeli’s double-double of 20 points and 10 rebounds helped her eclipse 1,000 points in her career, while Emerson Green added 12 points in the loss.

DRAKE 77, BRADLEY 65

PEORIA, Ill. — Drake women’s basketball chalked up its ninth straight win, beating Bradley 77-65 on Thursday in MVC play.

The Bulldogs (15-4, 8-0) got 29 points from point guard Katie Dinnebier, who eclipsed 1,000 points for her career in the process.

Dinnebier shot 9-of-14 from the floor and 8-of-8 at the free-throw line to lead all scorers with 29 points. Anna Miller added a double-double of 19 points and 11 rebounds, and Grace Berg tallied 12 points.

Waterloo native Halli Poock paced Bradley (5-14, 1-7) with 19 points, and Isis Fitch added 14 points off the bench.