3-20-23

OPINION

OPINION PAGE 3

CAMPUS LIFE

Student organization

Make the Change sets out to strengthen the community with kindness.

CAMPUS LIFE PAGE 4

Dancing for a chance

SPORTS PAGE 6

N.I. EN ESPAÑOL

After a year of fundraising, UNI Dance Marathon celebrated their fundraising with their annnual Big Event. After 12 hours of standing, the grand total of $128,063.12 was revealed, which will be used to provide 10,671 meals for families at the Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital.

UNI Dance Marathon raises over $128,000 for Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital

CAROLINE CHRISTENSEN Staff Writer

After a year of fundraising, UNI Dance Marathon raised a grand total of $128,063.12 for the University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital in Iowa City. The funds will be used to provide 10,671 meals for families in the hospital. The grand total Dance Marathon members fundraised was announced at their annual Big Event on March 4. The event hosted many fam-

ilies and kids who have been impacted by the Stead Family Children’s Hospital and UNI Dance Marathon. Eventgoers heard stories from families, had the opportunity to cut or shave their hair for kids in need and danced the night away until the total was revealed at midnight.

 See DANCE MARATHON , page 5

Conectando ex-alumnos con estudiantes (CATS por sus siglas en inglés) está planificando una celebración durante la semana final de marzo que se llama “Semana de donaciones”. Esta semana es una celebración de las contribuciones de donantes que ayudaron a mejorar la universidad. Uno de los eventos principales que está sucediendo durante esta semana es el Campo de banderas, una representación visual de los donantes de UNI.

Sarah Craw es la Coordinadora de Participación de Estudiantes y Jóvenes Ex-alumnos y la consejera de CATS. “En planificar por la Semana de donaciones el año pasado, miembros del Comité de Filantropía de CATS querían encontrar una forma de educar a los estudiantes sobre la fundación UNI y filantropía en UNI. Ellos determinaron que el campo de banderas agarrará la atención de los

estudiantes cuando vayan en camino a sus clases, produciendo una oportunidad para CATS a compartir más información sobre por qué y cómo miembros de la comunidad pantera donan a UNI”, dijo Craw.

El año pasado durante el evento de Campo de banderas, UNI CATS plantaron 469 banderas, cada uno representando 20 de los 9,379 donantes del año anterior.

UNI CATS to kick off “Giving Week” with Field of Flags event

ERIN MCRAE Staff Writer

Connecting Alumni to Students (CATS) is planning a celebration for the final week of March called “Giving Week.” This week is a celebration of donors’ contributions to bettering the University. One of the main events taking place during this week is the Field of Flags, a visual representation of UNI’s donors.

Sarah Craw is the Student and Young Alumni Engagement Coordinator, and the Advisor for CATS. “In planning the first Giving Week last year, members of the CATS Philanthropy Committee wanted to find a way to educate students about the UNI Foundation and philanthropy at UNI. They

determined that a field of flags would catch students’ attention on their way to class, providing an opportunity for CATS to share more information about how and why members of the Panther community give to UNI,” Craw said.

Each flag will represent 20 donors, and the color of each flag will correspond to the type of donor (alumni, friend, student, etc.).

For students interested, Craw said the display will be easy to find. “Stop by the Commons Plaza on Monday, March 27 to see Field of Flags and learn more about giving to UNI,” Craw said. “Students are encouraged to participate in Live Purple Give Gold on Thursday, March 30 by making a gift of any size to an area of campus that is mean-

ingful to them. Whether students give to their college, the Panther Pantry, the Campanile renovation or the Student Emergency (to name a few options), they help shape the tomorrow UNI needs.”

Field of Flags is one of many events that will take place during giving week, students have multiple opportunities to get involved. “This event kicks off a week of education and involvement opportunities. CATS hopes that the events help spark interest in student giving to help reach the Live Purple Give Gold student donor goal of 100 on our way to 1,330 total donors in 24 hours,” Craw said.

 See FIELD OF FLAGS, page 2

ERIN MCRAE Escritora KARINA ORTIZ Editora en español

 Ver CAMPO DE BANDERAS, página 2

CEDAR FALLS, IA MONDAY, MARCH 20, 2023

VOLUME 119, ISSUE 43

COURTESY/UNI DANCE MARATHON

COURTESY/FACEBOOK

Last year during the Field of Flags event, UNI CATS planted 469 flags, each one representing 20 of the prior year’s 9,379 donors.

COURTESY/FACEBOOK

Robert Leonard of Iowa Capital Dispatch weighs in on the use of public money for private schools.

SPORTS Parker Keckeisen finishes as runner-up in NCAA wrestling tournament.

Traducción: UNI CATS a empezar la semana de donaciones con el Campo de banderas

FIELD OF FLAGS

continued from page 1

“The funds raised during Live Purple Give Gold help support so many impactful areas of campus and make the UNI experience what it is.”

CATS will have a social media giveaway on Wednesday and free Chickfil-a outside the commons on Thursday while supplies last from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.

For more information, visit https://alumni.uni.edu/giving-week.

COURTESY/FACEBOOK

Alumni, friends, students and more are invited to give back to the university during Live Purple Give Gold on March 30 and to participate in “Giving Week” activities which will take place the final week of March.

WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH

Editor’s note: The following article was originally published in The Northern Iowan on March 21, 1978. It gives the history at the time of the Women’s Gym, which today stands as the Innovative Teaching and Technology Center (ITTC). There is no writer credited for the piece.

CAMPO DE BANDERAS extendida de página 1

Cada bandera representará 20 donantes y el color de cada bandera corresponderá con el tipo de donante (ex-alumno, amigo, estudiante, etc.).

Para estudiantes interesados, Craw dijo que la pantalla será fácil de encontrar. “Pasa por el Commons Plaza el lunes, 27 de marzo para ver el Campo de banderas y aprender más sobre las contribuciones a UNI”, dijo Craw. “Estudiantes están alentados a participar en Live Purple Give Gold el jueves, 30 de marzo para poder crear un regalo de algún tamaño para una área del campus que es significante para ellos. Si los estudiantes quieren donar a la universidad, el Panther Pantry, la renovación del campanil o la emergencia de estudiantes (para listar algunas opciones), ellos ayudaran a moldear la mañana que necesita UNI”.

Campo de banderas es uno de los eventos que sucederá

durante la semana de donaciones, los estudiantes tienen múltiples oportunidades para involucrarse. “Este evento empieza una semana de educación y oportunidades de implicación. CATS espera que los eventos ayuden a encender un interés en donaciones estudiantiles para ayudar a alcanzar la meta de Live Purple Give Gold de 100 donantes a 1,330 donantes totales en 24 horas” dijo Craw. “Los fondos recaudados durante Live Purple Give Gold ayuda a apoyar muchas áreas del campus y hacer la experiencia de UNI lo qué es”.

CATS tendrá un sorteo de redes sociales el miércoles, 29 de marzo y Chick-fil-a a gratis afuera de los comunes el jueves, 30 de marzo mientras las provisiones duran. Será hasta las 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Para más información, visita la página web https:// alumni.uni.edu/giving-week.

NORTHERN IOWAN

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COURTESY/FACEBOOK

Ex-alumnos, amigos, estudiantes y más están invitados a dar patrás a la universidad durante Live Purple Give Gold el 30 de marzo y a participar en las actividades de “Semana de donaciones” que sucederá la final semana de marzo.

The Northern Iowan is published semi-weekly on Monday and Thursday during the academic year, except for holidays and examination periods, by the University of Northern Iowa, L011 Maucker Union, Cedar Falls, IA 50614-0166 under the auspices of the Board of Student Publications.

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Drowning public schools in the bathtub to promote GOP ideology

ROBERT LEONARD Iowa Capital Dispatch

Editor’s note: This story was originally published March 18, 2023 by Iowa Capital Dispatch.

Grover Norquist, founder and president of Americans for Tax Reform told National Public Radio in 2001, “I don’t want to abolish government. I simply want to reduce it to the size where I can drag it into the bathroom and drown it in the bathtub.”

Republicans have been remarkably successful at reducing government effectiveness since Ronald Reagan’s presidency, but to what ends?

Let’s start with one that few are talking about: the feverish desire of Republicans to transfer public money intended to promote the general welfare — our tax dollars — into private hands. Especially wealthy corporate hands.

It’s a game Republicans have played for generations. Attempts, both successful and not, to privatize Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security are the most commonly recognized, but it goes well beyond this. The privatization of prisons and major parts of the defense and space industries, for example. And now, the public schools in many parts of the country, including Iowa.

Another goal is deregulation — often to disastrous consequences, such as the historic collapse of the Texas power grid, the train derailment and toxic consequences in East Palestine, Ohio, and the SVB and Signature Bank failures.

But why?

Because smart regulations may involve costs for corporations that impact their bottom line, yet smart regulations pro -

tect us all. By definition, the goal of corporations is to make a profit for the few, and in their purest form, they are amoral. That’s why they resist regulation. Smart regulations require companies to protect the public and internalize costs when corporations would rather externalize costs.

Smart regulations and consumer protections impose morality and the common good on those who seek to avoid it. Private Texas utility companies would rather have thousands of Texans suffer and die than spend the money to build out their infrastructure in a responsible way. Railroad companies would rather risk toxic spills that imperil life and our water supply than pay to have reliable brakes on trains, and bank regulations are seen as too onerous. All the while, Republican legislators applaud and enable it.

A third goal is reduced taxes for the wealthy. It’s a perfect formula. Underfund government, make sure it underperforms, let the underperformance be used to demonize the underfunded government efforts, and then make arguments that public money should be diverted into the private sector instead because the private sector can allegedly do it “better,” which becomes a rationale for even more private investment and lower taxes.

This is precisely what has happened with public schools in Iowa and across the nation. The slow financial strangling and demonization of public schools have set the stage for the direct infusion of millions and eventually billions of taxpayer dollars into the private sector—and that’s just Iowa.

It’s not just that the private sector will profit from the administration of these dollars and

from creating curriculum or founding schools. It’s more insidious, being also specifically about putting public money into the pockets of mostly right-wing Christians to help them go to Christian schools — many of which share Republican “values” that marginalize LGBTQ and other minority communities, diminish their historic contributions, and share perspectives on fiscal, tax and environmental policies.

It’s brilliant: Republicans using public money to fund private schools that will teach their ideology. It’s a near-perfect plan by Republicans to maintain power into the distant future by manipulating the minds of our children with taxpayer money.

of inflation. Given that the 3% increase for next year is less than half the cost of inflation, many of Iowa’s public schools are looking at some tough cuts.

At the same time, private schools across the state — the vast majority of them Christian — will soon be given an unimaginable and unprecedented infusion of taxpayer cash. Cold, hard, cash, with no strings attached.

As one friend from Oskaloosa told me, “Every year Cedar Rapids Xavier (a private Catholic High School) comes here and kicks our asses in football. Next year they will come kick our asses in trickedout custom buses.”

Beginning next year, Iowa families, almost exclusively Christian,

sight. Private schools will be able to pick their students, do anything they want with the money, while public schools have slowly been starved, and face intensifying scrutiny. Several bills currently being considered or recently passed in the Iowa Legislature propose increasing unfunded mandates that will make teaching in the public schools even more difficult. And it’s not just in Iowa. All across the nation, this scenario is playing out.

In Iowa, all but six of Iowa’s 183 nonpublic schools have a religious affiliation of some kind, the vast majority Christian, including every nonpublic school west of Des Moines. It’s these schools that will be receiving $345 million dollars a year. Who else will profit? Big Ed: private, out-of-state for-profit companies that will be making money hand over fist administering voucher programs, providing course content, and more.

Proponents say it’s about “school choice.” It’s not. School choice is a distraction. So are all of the other attacks on our public schools — on teachers, on the curriculum, on books, on librarians, on the teaching of history and values, CRT, on our LGBTQ community, and much, much more. They are distractions with devastating consequences, but distractions nonetheless.

To be sure, a great many Christians don’t share these Republican “values.” Indeed, most Americans don’t.

The Des Moines Public School system is considering cutting staff and closing buildings in the wake of Gov. Kim Reynolds’ and Iowa’s Republicanled Legislature’s budgeting decisions that have for years kept funding increases below the rate

will have access to up to $7,598 a year in an “education savings account” for private school tuition. There are no income limits after the bill is fully implemented. In three years, every private school student in the state will be eligible for those funds, with cost estimates of $345 million per year.

These public dollars will be put into private hands with little over -

To read the rest of the article, go to northerniowan.com.

PEXELS

Columnist Robert Leonard discusses a Republican push to put public money into private hands.

Make the Change spreads love and support on campus

MEG GROVE Staff Writer

Make the Change is a student-led organization at UNI focused on strengthening the community through acts of kindness.

The organization was formed in 2018 by Cam Salvador and Eric Ramos after they worked with the national organization More Love Letters and decided the UNI campus could use this type of love and encouragement.

The executive team now consists of President Paige Parma, Vice President Ashlyn Miller, Public Relations Manager Samantha Hilbert and Treasurer Abby Brown.

Make the Change creates letter bundles to be sent to students, faculty or staff. These letters are filled with words of encouragement, support and love.

According to their website, Make the Change has written 747 letters to 51 people since being founded.

In addition, they have distributed 282 “Pass it On”

cards and “If you find this, it’s meant for you” letters along with 43 kindness rocks and 100 kindness clips.

Words have a big impact on a person, whether positive or negative. Words and their meanings alter the brain function. According to an article published by The

Center for Collaborative Awareness, using positive words increases cognitive reasoning and kickstarts the motivational centers of the brain.

Negative words do the opposite, contributing to higher stress and anxiety levels. It’s important to

speak to yourself and others in a positive way as our words affect us more than we think.

The organization and their letter bundles have an immediate impact on the recipients. The website lists a couple testimonials from people who have received these letters, sharing how it affected them. One states, “You have given me hope, and lifted my spirit,” while another says, “I read through all of the letters with a huge smile on my face. They certainly gave my heart a hug!”

Students are able to fill out a form on the Make the Change website to nominate someone to receive a letter bundle. The organization is only able to create four to five bundles in a month, so these forms are reviewed by the vice president before recipients are selected.

Once the letters are written, the executive team will screen them for any potentially harmful content before sending it out.

Make the Change has

been nominated for multiple Student Leadership Awards in the past. In 2020, the organization was a nominee for the Mental Health Ally Award, Outstanding Officer in a Student Organization and Student Organization of the Year.

The organization was also nominated for the Panther Pride Chapter of the National Residence Hall Honorary’s Outstanding Service Award in 2020.

Students can get involved by filling out an interest form on the Make the Change website or attending a meeting. The next meeting will be at 6 p.m. in the College Eye Room on Wednesday, March 22. For a full semester schedule, check out the Make the Change social media pages.

For more information about the organization or to submit a nomination form visit https://makethechangeuni.weebly.com/.

CATS Traditions Challenge

CATS (Connecting Alumni to Students) encourages all students to participate in UNI’s digital yearbook— The Traditions Challenge. Traditions need to be submitted by Friday, April 21, 2023. The Traditions Keeper Ceremony will be held Tuesday, April 25 at 5:30 p.m. in the Great Reading Room—Seerley 116. The Traditions challenge lists 63 traditions to complete on and off campus. You also have the option to create 10 of your traditions!

“The Traditions Challenge helps you make the most of your time at UNI and gives you a way to remember it forever. It’s a ‘must-do’ list of campus activities you are encouraged to participate in, many of which you will already do during your college years. You just need to document it with photos!” said Vice President of Traditions Kelsi Kruise.

The Traditions Challenge is a massive part of UNI’s cam-

pus involvement. UNI students create memories and connect with other Panthers around the world. These traditions and activities will connect students to alumni through shared experiences and continue the history at UNI.

“The Traditions Challenge was created in 2009 to replace the yearbook. [It] became the ‘create-your-own yearbook’ of your Panther experience and to use it as a guide to getting the most out of your experience at UNI.” Kruise stated.

“There are a few ways to access the Traditions Challenge, first, through alumni.uni.edu/traditions. Scroll to the section “How do I participate?” There, you will find the list of all the traditions you can complete and the presentation you can use to paste all your pictures.

In the presentation, all traditions are sectioned by themselves, so you can scroll through until you find the one you are looking for and then insert your picture.” Kruise

said.

The other way to access the traditions challenge is through the MyUNI app. When students click on the app, they will see a dashboard of portals; they can also go to the menu and see all the portals there. Students can then scroll until they see the Traditions Challenge portal and click on it.

Once the Traditions Challenge portal opens, students will see additional information about the Traditions Challenge. Traditions include eating at the dining center, attending a music or theatre event performance and much more!

Once students turn in their Traditions Challenge presentation, they will be invited to a ceremony where they will be given the title “Official Traditions Keeper.” If students complete 25 traditions, they will receive a lapel pin, and if they complete 45 traditions, then they will receive a medallion to wear at graduation!

The Traditions Challenge

allows students to experience all that UNI offers and will enable students to create lifelong memories and something to reflect on when they are out of college.

“When you participate in traditions, you are helping keep our traditions alive for the next generation of Panthers.

Continuing this legacy will allow you to hold a special title, ‘Official Traditions Keeper.’ This is important because it shows that your experience at UNI was meaningful, and you want to allow future generations to have that same shared experience.” Kruise said.

DIAMOND ROUNDTREE Campus Life Editor

Courtsey of Make the Change Make the Change’s impact can be seen across campus. If students want to get involved, they can visit the Make the Change website – makethechangeuni.weebly.

Panther Portrait: Dance Marathon

DANCE MARATHON

continued from page 1

A statement sent out by UNI Dance Marathon reads, “There are truly not enough words to express our gratitude to everyone who made this day and this entire year so successful. Thank you to our passionate leadership team, our enthusiastic Morale Captains, our hard working committee members, our selfless volunteers, our generous sponsors, and our most inspiring miracle families.”

The statement also emphasizes the importance and impact UNI Dance

Marathon had this year.

“Dance Marathon has the power to change the lives of every single person involved. We’ve all heard that before, but this Big Event proved that in a big way. Tears were shed, hair was cut, lives were changed, and hearts were filled. What a beautiful thing to be able to say that we all experienced that together. Thank you for being the people that you are and for another successful year of advocating for kids’ health.”

Applications to join UNI Dance Marathon’s leadership team are officially open, and are due March 24 at 5 p.m.

Keckeisen secures runner-up finish at NCAAs

DREW HILL Sports Writer

After a good start for the UNI wrestling team, with each of the seven wrestlers who made the NCAA Championships winning their first match, six fell in their second match and went to consolation brackets. Parker Keckeisen, though, made it all the way to the 184pound championship as the one-seed before falling to two-time defending NCAA champion threeseed Aaron Brooks of Penn State.

Keckeisen had finished third in the previous two years, so grabbing silver gave him a new best finish. He also now holds three of the top 10 seasons by winning percentage ever for UNI and is the three-time defending Big 12 champion at 184 pounds.

“Parker set the bar incredibly high. The consistency that he comes in with, what he’s done and will continue to do isn’t going to change. He loves the process and he loves the sport even when it tears your heart out. It’s still something that you’re

SOFTBALL

grateful for,” said Head Coach Doug Schwab.

Keckeisen started off his run with a 12-3 major decision win over Anthony Carmen of Maryland. He followed it up with a 4-2 decision over Tate Samuelson of Lehigh, a 3-2 decision over Isaiah Salazar of Minnesota and a 4-1 decision over Trey Munoz of Minnesota. He eventually fell to Brooks 7-2 in the championship to finish with a 4-1 record.

The other six UNI Panthers who made the NCAA Championships all won their first matches to give UNI a spotless 7-0 record in round one. However, the other wrestlers besides Keckeisen dropped their second matches to fall to consolation brackets.

In the 133-pound bracket, Kyle Biscoglia won by pinning his opponent in 6:02. However, he then dropped an 8-4 decision to eventual fourthplace finisher Dalton Fix of Oklahoma State. He won two matchups in the consolation bracket with 6-1 and 7-4 decisions, but finally lost 7-1 to finish with a 3-2 record.

In the 141-pound

bracket, Cael Happel won his first match in a 3-2 decision but lost a 1-0 decision in his second. He followed it up with a 10-5 decision win and a 7-3 decision loss to finish with a 2-2 record. In the 149-pound bracket, Colin Realbuto won his first match in a 9-3 decision but lost his next two in a 9-2 decision to eventual runner-up Sammy Sasso of Ohio State and a 10-7 decision to finish 1-2. At 157 pounds, Derek Holschlag began with a 4-3 decision win, but dropped two in a row in a 6-2 decision loss and a 17-9 major decision loss to finish 1-2.

Austin Yant started with an 8-1 decision win at 165 pounds. He dropped a 15-4 major decision to eventual runner-up David Carr of Iowa State. He started off his run in the consolation bracket with a 10-5 decision win and a 10-0 major decision win, but finally fell in a 10-2 major decision to finish 3-2. Finally, in the 285-pound bracket, Tyrell Gordon won a 2-1 decision to start his run, but lost a 9-0 major decision to eventual fourth-place

finisher Tony Cassioppi of Iowa. He then won a 6-1 decision before falling in a narrow 2-1 decision to finish 2-2.

UNI as a team fin -

won the team title with 137.5 points.

ished in a tie for 16th with Wisconsin. They finished with 29 points, 1.5 points behind Minnesota for 15 and 0.5 points ahead of Air Force and Oklahoma State in 18th. Penn State

With only two of the seven qualifiers listed as seniors, UNI will look forward to bringing back a large portion of their team with the potential to build off valuable experience in the 2023 NCAA Championships next season.

UNI sweeps the Racers to open conference play

ADAM JOHNSON Sports Writer

This weekend UNI softball had a series on the road against Murray State. This was a three game series which featured a double header on Friday, March 17, and a

single game on Saturday, March 18. This series opened up the conference schedule for the Panthers, and they were able to start the conference schedule off right, as they swept the Racers.

In the first game, neither team was able to get anything going in the first two innings. Both sides would manage at least one base runner, but were not able to bring them across the plate. Things changed in the top of the third inning when Madison Parks hit a double to drive in the first run of the game. In the fourth inning, the Panthers added another run on a home run by Brooke Snider. In

the bottom, the Racers got a run, and it was 2-1 after the fourth. The rest of the way, the Panthers would add some security. They added another run in the fifth and the sixth. Addison McElrath hit a home run in the sixth. The Panthers added all these runs and didn’t give up any more. The Panthers won the first game of the day, 4-1. Kailyn Packard picked up the victory in the circle.

In the second game, the Racers threatened with two base runners in the bottom of the first, but Samantha Heyer got out of the situation without giving up a run. In the top of the second, the

Panther bats got things going. They put together three hits and managed two runs in the inning. The Panthers added another run in the top of the third. Neither side could get anything going offensively the rest of the game. The score at the end of the third was the same as it was at the end of the game. The Panthers grabbed the victory, 3-0. Heyer pitched a tremendous game, not giving up a single base runner following the first inning. She had 13 strikeouts.

In the final game of the series, the Panthers started strong by getting one run in the first. They added another run in the

second, and two more in the third. Heyer was pitching again and was not giving anything up. In the fifth, the Panthers got two more runs, and with a 6-0 lead, it looked like they were going to complete the sweep. The Panthers completed their dominant series performance when they scored 11 runs in a crazy seventh inning. They took the final game of the series 17-0, completing the sweep.

The Panthers are winners of four in a row now, and will play next in a three game series at UIC in Chicago, Ill. The series starts on Friday, March 24, and will conclude on Sunday, March 26.

COURTESY/UNI ATHLETICS

Parker Keckeisen capped off another outstanding season with the best finish of his career, finishing as the national runner-up at 184 pounds.

COURTESY/UNI ATHLETICS

Samantha Heyer (2) was very impressive over the weekend, not allowing a single run in two games pitched.

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL - MVC

Panthers fall to Bruins in MVC semis

PAUL NOBLE Sports Writer

The UNI women’s basketball team traveled to Moline, Ill., for the annual Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) Women’s Basketball Tournament, also known as Hoops in the Heartland. The Panthers defeated UIC in the quarterfinal round, 73-57, before falling to Belmont 69-62 in the semifinals.

UNI’s first game was against the UIC Flames on Friday, March 10. The Flames came out hot in the first quarter against the Panthers, knocking down four of eight threes and taking a 20-17 lead to close the first quarter.

However, after the first quarter, it appeared the Panthers just needed some time to knock the rust off. In the second quarter, the Panthers opened with a 15-3 run highlighted by a Cailyn Morgan 3-pointer to bring the score to 32-23. The Flames rallied, but UNI still held a 35-30 lead to close the half.

UNI struggled to shoot the ball effectively from the field in the third quarter, as their field goal percentage

was down to 33%, but the Panthers cashed in on 10 of 12 free throw attempts to maintain their lead and headed into the fourth up 54-46.

The Flames came out swinging in the fourth and

opened up on a 5-0 run to get within three of the Panthers, but the UNI women responded with a 17-2 run of their own to bring the score to 71-53. The Panthers finished the rest of the game strong

and ended up clinching the victory, 73-57. Grace Boefelli led the Panthers with 23 points while Emerson Green and Rachael Heittola pitched in 11 and 10 points, respectively.

Saturday’s matchup for the Panthers was intense. The UNI women took on Belmont for the third time this season. Belmont, who posted a 2-0 record against the Panthers in the regular season, was too much for UNI once again as they posted a 69-62 victory.

The UNI women started out hot from behind the arc in the first quarter as they put in seven 3-pointers from six different Panthers, but the Bruins went toe to toe with UNI as Belmont only trailed 21-19 to end the first.

The Panthers got their first points other than 3-pointers with 9:02 remaining in the second quarter after a Ryley Goebel steal and fast break layup. UNI continued to look strong and increased its lead to 34-28 after a Kayba Laube 3-pointer with 4:18 remaining in the half. The Bruins, however, finished the half on a 10-0 run to retake the lead, 38-34.

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL - WNIT

Maya McDermott put the team on her back to start the third quarter, scoring six of her 15 points on UNI’s first five possessions of the third quarter to tie things up at 40. The Bruins and Panthers battled through the rest of the third, but right when it looked like Belmont was starting to pull away again, Boffeli knocked down a 3-pointer with 49 seconds remaining in the quarter to bring the Panthers back within two.

The Panthers laid it all out on the line in the fourth and battled Belmont as the quarter saw four lead changes. The Panthers and Bruins were all tied up at 55 with 3:39 remaining, but Belmont would outscore UNI 14-7 in the last three minutes of play to defeat the Panthers, 69-62.

While UNI failed to win the Missouri Valley Conference and punch their ticket to the NCAA Tournament, they did earn a trip to the Women’s National Invitation Tournament (WNIT). UNI opened play in the WNIT on March 16, hosting Colorado State.

UNI batters the Rams in WNIT opener, falls to Cornhuskers

CADEN SHEA Sports Writer

The UNI Panthers are off to a great start as they take on the Women’s National Invitational Tournament (WNIT). UNI battled the Colorado State Rams in the first round of action on their homecourt in Cedar Falls. In the second round on March 19, the Panthers lost to the Nebraska Cornhuskers in Lincoln, Neb.

The Panthers defeated the Rams in spectacular fashion in their first round. The Panthers handled Colorado State with ease as they defeated their opponent 88-76. The Panthers played excellent defense in their attempt to win the tournament. Defense is something that the Panthers have greatly improved upon throughout the season and it will continue to improve as they make their way through the postseason.

Grace Boffeli excelled once again as she accomplished her 15th double-double of the season, nabbing a sea -

son-high 15 rebounds and securing 16 points.

The Panthers started the game on fire from behind the arc, making three 3-pointers within the first five minutes of play. The Panthers were the commanders of the pace early on, forcing the Rams to play catch up. The Rams would battle back and forth with the Panthers but UNI would finish the quarter on top 24-21.

The second quarter would be the best period for the Panthers. The Panthers went 100% from three in this quarter, showcasing their offensive prowess against the Rams. The Panthers struck with everything they had and then some. The defense was one of the key contributors for the Panthers’ success in this quarter. They held the Rams to a mere two points in the last three minutes of the quarter. The Panthers finished the half on top, 56-37.

The Panthers attempted to slow the pace in the second half. Neither team

could get anything to fall at first in the third quarter but that would change thanks to a 3-pointer by Emerson Green. The two teams would duel it out this quarter as the Rams looked to close UNI’s lead to no avail. The Panthers went into the fourth quarter with a 75-58 lead.

The Panthers were on defensive mode in the fourth quarter as they looked to remain in firm control of the game as they had the previous 30 minutes of play. The team worked together to close out the last couple scoring barrages of the Rams and finish the game with a dominant score of 88-76.

Besides Boffeli’s double-double, there were many other notable performances in the game. Maya McDermott went five-forsix from behind the arc and finished with a game-high 21 points. Kam Finley had 19 points and Green had 17. McDermott also led the team in assists with five. Their next opponent, the Cornhuskers, came

into the game with a regular season record of 17-14 while the Panthers with 23-9. The Cornhuskers are led by Australian guard Jaz Shelley who averages 14.6 points, 6.1 assists and over one steal per game.

Nebraska knocked off Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) team Missouri State in the first round, making this their second MVC opponent in just as many games.

This loss marks the end of a fantastic season for the Panthers. Nebraska’s win means that they will continue their journey in the WNIT in the Super 16 where they will face the winner of Missouri and Kansas.

STEPH STARK/NORTHERN IOWAN

Maya McDermott (0) pitched in 15 points, tied for a team-high, during UNI’s 69-62 loss against Belmont in the semifinals of the MVC Tournament.

STEPH STARK/NORTHERN IOWAN Emerson Green (4) totaled 19 points in UNI’s 88-76 victory over Colorado State in the first round of the WNIT on Thursday.

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