Panthers get ready for MVC Tournament

The University of Northern Iowa women's basketball team finished the season with an 85-66 victory over the Wichita State Shockers and earned themselves the No. 5 seed in the Missouri Valley Conference women's basketball tournament. The Panthers (14-15, 10-8 MVC) will take on the Bradley University Braves in the No. 4 vs. No. 5 seed match-up at 2:30 p.m. Friday in St. Charles, Mo.

If the Panthers get past the Braves (16-12, 12-6 MVC) in the quarterfinals they will play again Saturday at 5 p.m., with the possibility of playing again Sunday at 2:30 p.m. with a shot at the MVC Tournament Championship and an automatic berth to the NCAA Tournament on the line.

The Panthers split the season series with the Braves, falling 74-62 in Peoria, Ill., Jan. 15, but bouncing back to knock off the Braves 84-60 in the McLeod Center Feb. 13.

"It's going to be a great game; we know that," said UNI head coach Tanya Warren. "We feel we match up well with (Bradley). It's going to be physical and we're going to have to be in tune on what it is we're trying to do defensively.

"We'll tweak a couple things in terms of our game plan, but we'll be ready to play; there's no if and buts in our minds as coaches. This team is excited to go to St. Charles."

After starting the year 4-9 and 0-2 in MVC play, the Panthers have come back to finish 10-6 in their final 16 regular season games. During that stretch the Panthers have shown more defensive intensity and are holding opponents to 62 points per game while scoring nearly 72 points per game.

UNI has been balanced all year long offensively. There have been six different Panthers that leave in led the team in scoring this year, but the most consistent performer is sophomore guard Jacqui Kalin, who is averaging nearly 16 points and three assists per game. The team's leading rebounders are juniors Erin Brocka (228) and Lizzie Boeck (180).

Today's game can be heard on KWLO 1330 AM. All of the MVC women's basketball tournament games following the quarterfinal round will be broadcast on Fox Sports Midwest or Comcast Sportsnet Chicago.