Hawk Panther

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Hawk Panther:
CEDAR FALLS - With all the attention focused on the success the University of Northern Iowa men’s basketball team is enjoying this season, the Panther women are quietly making some noise of their own.

Sunday’s victory over Bradley was UNI’s fourth straight win and seventh in its last 10 games. And now, after a slow start to the season, the Panthers (11-12 overall, 7-5 Missouri Valley Conference) have put themselves in position for a high finish in the league standings.

“What has allowed us to be successful is these kids have really stayed true to the wholeness of what we’re trying to do,” coach Tanya Warren said during Monday’s UNI coaches’ luncheon.

“They didn’t get down when we went through some tough times. They came to practice every day. They continued to stay true to the system, and that is starting to pay off for them.”

Statistically, UNI is doing most of the statistical things that add up to victory.

“We’re rebounding the basketball very well, which is something we’ve worked hard on,” said Warren. “We’re defending well. We’re getting to the free-throw line. We’re fifth in the country in free-throw percentage (.798). And our offensive execution has gotten a lot better. We’re not turning the basketball over as much.”

UNI can take another giant step forward this week when the Panthers host Drake Thursday and Creighton Sunday in an ESPNU game.

“It’s an important week for this program,” said Warren. “If we can get two - and we always talk one at a time - we really have a good shot to finish second, third, somewhere in that, and that is our goal. Our team has worked extremely hard to put themselves back in this position.”

Warren expects a typical intrastate battle with the Bulldogs at the McLeod Center. UNI defeated Drake, 59-46, Jan. 22 in Des Moines.

“I don’t think a lot needs to be said about that ball game,” said Warren. “We expect both teams to be ready to play. It’s always a very, very good game, and we expect nothing different Thursday night.”

WRESTLING - Lopsided wins over Northern Illinois (36-0) and North Dakota State (30-6) put a smile on coach Brad Penrith’s face Monday.

“Overall, we are wrestling well right now,” said Penrith, whose team improved to 9-12 overall and 3-2 in Western Wrestling Conference duals.

Penrith hopes to get 125-pounder Terrance Young and 184-pounder Andy O’Loughlin, who have been battling injuries, back on the mat for evaluation this week as he tries to get his lineup set for the March 6 NCAA West Regional.

UNI closes out its dual season by hosting Air Force at 2 p.m. Sunday in the West Gym.

WOMEN’S SWIMMING - UNI finished fifth at the Missouri Valley Championships, but that wasn’t a reflection on the way coach Stacey Simmer’s team competed.

“Everyone swam at least one personal-best time,” said Simmer.

Three freshmen cracked UNI’s all-time top five list - Stephanie Frederick (50 freestyle, 100 freestyle), Sarah Hedeen (100 breaststroke) and Jody Petersen (200 backstroke).

Six school records fell during the meet. Maggie Rickert broke her own 100 butterfly mark, Chelsea Hartman erased her 1,000 freestyle record during the mile swim, Josie Itzen set a new 400 individual medley record, Abby Girard wiped out the 100 backstroke mark and the 200 and 400 free relays consisting of Itzen, Rickert, Girard and Frederick set new marks, as well.

SOFTBALL - UNI opened its season by going 4-1 in the UNI-Dome Classic. The Panthers hit .323 as a team, scored 44 runs and belted seven homers.

“We learned a lot about our club,” said coach Ryan Jacobs. “We learned we can hit the ball pretty well. We also learned that we need to be able to pitch pretty well off the mound to be competitive in every game.”

Jacobs also found out that his team can bounce back from a defeat. After losing to Wisconsin-Green Bay Sunday (5-4), UNI bounced back to whip South Dakota, 10-1.

UNI travels to Clarksville, Tenn., this weekend to play outdoors at Austin Peay where the Panthers will face IUPUI, Tennessee State, Chattanooga (twice) and host Austin Peay.

WOMEN’S TENNIS - Coach Sachin Kirtane’s team swept matches against Gustavus Adolphus, North Dakota and Western Illinois over the weekend to improve to 3-1 overall.

“We’ve got to sort out some things at the bottom of the lineup,” said Kirtane.

“Our top four are playing great. We just have to do some stuff with the bottom of the lineup and get that figured out.”

The Panthers face a challenging week. They host Iowa State Wednesday at the Black Hawk Tennis Club in Waterloo, then tangle with Nebraska and Eastern Michigan Saturday and Sunday, respectively, in Lincoln, Neb.