EVANSVILLE, Ind. (Interstat) — Evansville edged Northern Iowa 64-63 in overtime in a Missouri Valley Conference women’s basketball game Saturday at Ford Center. The Purple Aces’ Camryn Runner made the go-ahead free throw with one second left in the extra period. Northern Iowa’s Ryley Goebel scored a game-high 23 points and blocked seven shots. Jenna Twedt added 18 points for the Panthers. Runner led Evansville with 15 points and seven assists. The Panthers led by 10 after the first quarter, but Evansville rallied, forcing overtime on a late push. Both teams shot under 35% from the floor in a defensive struggle before an announced crowd of 312. Northern Iowa fell to 13-13. Evansville improved to 7-20.

EVANSVILLE, Ind. (Interstat) — In a game defined by defensive stands and missed opportunities, the Evansville Purple Aces edged the Northern Iowa Panthers 64-63 in overtime in a Missouri Valley Conference women’s basketball game Saturday at Ford Center. The contest, played before an announced crowd of 312, was a gritty, low-efficiency affair that saw both teams struggle to find offensive consistency. Evansville improved to 7-20 overall, while Northern Iowa fell to an even 13-13. The most critical sequence of the game unfolded in the final seconds of regulation and carried into the overtime period, where Evansville’s resilience at the free-throw line ultimately decided the outcome. Northern Iowa, which led by as many as nine points in the first half, saw its advantage evaporate under a persistent Evansville defense. The Panthers’ offense, which managed just nine points in the fourth quarter, had a chance to win in the final moments of regulation. With the score tied at 59, Evansville’s Camryn Runner drove for a potential game-winning layup, but Northern Iowa’s Ryley Goebel swatted it away with 12 seconds remaining. The Panthers secured the rebound but then turned the ball over, sending the game to an extra period. Overtime was a tense, low-scoring battle. Northern Iowa’s Jenna Twedt hit a crucial three-pointer to give the Panthers a 62-61 lead with 2:47 left. The teams then traded empty possessions and free throws, with Evansville’s Mireia Mustaros making one of two with 1:04 left to tie the game at 63. The decisive play came with one second remaining in overtime. Northern Iowa’s Goebel was called for a foul on Evansville’s Runner, sending the Purple Aces guard to the line for two shots. Runner missed the first attempt but calmly sank the second, putting Evansville ahead 64-63. Northern Iowa’s desperation heave from beyond half-court was off target, sealing the one-point victory. The game was a showcase for individual defensive prowess, particularly from Northern Iowa’s Ryley Goebel. The 5-foot-11 junior from Urbana, Iowa, dominated the paint with a stat line of 23 points, seven blocked shots and nine rebounds in 33 minutes. Her presence forced numerous altered shots and was a primary reason Evansville shot just 31.9 percent from the field. Jenna Twedt supported Goebel with 18 points for the Panthers. Evansville was led by a balanced effort. Camryn Runner of Cicero, Indiana, played all 40 minutes, contributing 15 points and seven assists. Jelena Savic of Melbourne, Australia, added 14 points, including four three-pointers, and Sydney Huber of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, chipped in 11 points. Statistically, the game was a war of attrition. Both teams shot under 37 percent. Northern Iowa held a significant 38-24 advantage in points in the paint, largely due to Goebel’s interior work, but was hampered by 14 turnovers. Evansville countered by hitting eight three-pointers to Northern Iowa’s five and won the offensive rebounding battle 14-8, generating crucial second-chance opportunities. The victory marked a season sweep for Evansville over Northern Iowa, having also won 68-65 in Cedar Falls on Jan. 25. It was a result that defied pre-game projections, as statistical models heavily favored the Panthers. Northern Iowa will look to rebound next Thursday when it hosts Valparaiso. Evansville continues its homestand, also on Thursday, against Drake.

EVANSVILLE, Ind. (Interstat) — A Missouri Valley Conference rematch with revenge on its mind awaits when the Northern Iowa Panthers visit the Evansville Purple Aces in women’s basketball on Saturday. The Panthers (13-12, 7-7 MVC) arrive at Ford Center looking to avenge a 68-65 home loss to Evansville just four weeks ago, on Jan. 25. That result is a focal point for Northern Iowa, which has since gone 4-3, including a dominant 77-48 road win at Southern Illinois on Thursday. In that victory, Jenna Twedt scored 27 points, continuing her streak as the Panthers’ offensive catalyst. Over her last eight games, the guard is averaging 19.6 points, highlighted by a 30-point performance in the first meeting with Evansville. The Purple Aces (6-20, 4-10), however, have proven they can compete with the Panthers. Guard Camryn Runner was instrumental in the January upset, finishing with 17 points, seven rebounds, seven assists and two blocks. Runner remains Evansville’s engine, coming off a 26-point, eight-assist effort in a loss to Illinois State on Feb. 15. She averages a near triple-double over her last seven contests. Despite Evansville’s record, its conference play has featured narrow defeats, including four losses by five points or fewer since late January. The Aces’ only win in that stretch was an 83-59 rout of Valparaiso on Feb. 5, a game where Runner posted 22 points and 10 assists. Northern Iowa’s consistency has been an issue, following its 29-point win with a 22-point loss to Bradley earlier this month. Containing Runner and improving defensive intensity will be key for the Panthers to sweep the Indiana road trip. Tip-off is set for Saturday afternoon at Ford Center. The Panthers host Valparaiso next Thursday, while Evansville prepares to face Drake the same night.