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Panthers topple Valpo behind balanced effort

Karli Rucker

VALPARAISO, Ind. — The Northern Iowa women’s basketball team overcame 19 turnovers and a rough shooting day to take down Valparaiso 64-56 in Sunday’s Missouri Valley Conference clash.

Karli Rucker scored a team-leading 14 points and Bre Gunnels had a double-double to pace the Panthers (15-8, 8-3) to victory. Each of nine UNI players to see court time scored as bench points proved to be a critical advantage in the MVC win.

Gunnels finished with 11 points and 10 rebounds and Nicole Kroeger added another 11 points as UNI remained third in the Valley standings. The Panthers shot just 6-for-27 from 3-point land (22.2 percent) and were 14-for-21 at the free-throw line, but Valparaiso (6-17, 2-9) still wasn’t a match.

The host Crusaders finished 19-for-58 from the field (32.8 percent), hampered by a 4-for-19 performance from 3-point land (21.1 percent), and got outscored 20-10 in bench points.

Meredith Hamlet led Valpo with 17 points, while Allison Stoller and Grace Hales added 11 points apiece.

Heidi Hillyard and Abby Gerrits both scored eight points in reserve roles for the Panthers, who play on the road Friday against Drake. Tipoff is set for 6 p.m. inside the Knapp Center.

UNI 64, Valparaiso 56

At Valparaiso, Ind.

N. IOWA (15-8, 8-3) — Rucker 4-12 6-9 14, Kroeger 5-12 0-0 11, Gunnels 3-4 3-4 11, Morgan 3-6 0-0 6, Hagen 1-20-0 2, Iverson 1-2 0-0 2, Wolf 1-4 0-0 2, Hillyard 3-6 0-0 8, Gerrits 1-7 5-8 8. TOTALS 22-55 14-21 64.

VALPARAISO (6-17, 2-9) — Hamlet 7-16 2-3 17, Frederick 1-11 3-3 5, Stoller 3-10 5-8 11, Ellenson 1-3 0-0 2, Hales 3-8 4-4 11, Meredith 0-1 0-0 0, Pitts 0-1 0-0 0, Schofield 4-8 0-0 10. TOTALS 19-58 14-18 56.

N. IOWA 9 14 18 23 — 64

VALPARAISO 9 12 12 23 — 56

3-Point Goals–UNI 6-27 (Hillyard 2-2, Gunnels 2-3, Gerrits 1-6, Kroeger 1-8, Iverson 0-1, Morgan 0-2, Wolf 0-2, Rucker 0-3), Valparaiso 4-19 (Schofield 2-5, Hales 1-2, Hamlet 1-3, Ellenson 0-1, Meredith 0-1, Stoller 0-3, Frederick 0-4). Rebounds–UNI 44 (Gunnels 10), Valparaiso 31 (Stoller 7). Assists–UNI 12 (Morgan 5), Valparaiso 6 (Frederick 2). Total Fouls–UNI 16, Valparaiso 20. Fouled Out–Stoller. A–576.

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