Valpo Falls to UNI Monday
The Valpo women’s basketball team closed out the 2025 calendar year Monday afternoon at the ARC, returning to the heart of Missouri Valley Conference play with an 86-52 loss to visiting UNI.
How It Happened
– It was a quick start Monday for the Beacons, as Allia von Schlegell (Downers Grove, Ill./Nazareth Academy) hit a 3-pointer and Fiona Connolly (South Burlington, Vt./Brewster Academy [La Salle]) drove for a layup on Valpo’s first two possessions to give it an early 5-0 lead.
– UNI responded with a 14-2 run over the next three-plus minutes to pull in front.
– Mikayla Huffine (Rockford, Ill./Rockford Lutheran [Quincy/Iowa Western C.C.]) stemmed the tide with a triple, and when Kennedy Sproule (Niverville, Manitoba/Churchill [Bay College]) knocked down a 3-pointer with 1:43 remaining in the quarter, the Beacons were within 21-17.
– The Panthers hit two triples of their own late in the period to lead 27-17 after 10 minutes.
– A 3-pointer from Mor Shabtai (Tel Aviv, Israel/Tichonet) was part of a four-point spurt to start the second quarter for Valpo, bringing it within 27-21.
– The margin was still single digits after a free throw by Kayla Sullivan (St. Louis, Mo./Lutheran North [State Fair C.C.]) made it 31-22 with 7:37 to play in the first half, before a 13-3 run over the next four-plus minutes from the Panthers pushed their lead to 19.
– UNI was up 47-30 at intermission.
– Connolly scored on the opening possession of the second half to make it a 15-point game, but that proved to be as close as Valpo got in the second half. The Panthers held a 70-46 advantage at the end of the third quarter and scored the first eight points of the fourth quarter to pull away.
Inside The Game
– After missing Valpo’s nonconference finale due to injury, Connolly returned to action Monday and paced the Beacons with 10 points — her ninth double-digit scoring output this season.
– Two other Beacons came off the bench to match their season best in the scoring department. Kayla Preston (Omaha, Neb./Millard North) hit 3-of-5 from the floor for seven points, while Sullivan scored six points and also set a season high with six rebounds.
– Kamryn Winch (Bonne Terre, Mo./North County [Maryville]) approached a double-double off the bench as well, posting eight points and a team-high nine rebounds.
– Valpo shot 32.2% from the floor and was 5-of-21 from 3-point range while committing 21 turnovers. The Panthers hit 15-of-31 from deep — the most 3-pointers by a Valpo opponent since Oakland hit 16 Dec. 31, 2016.
– The Beacons did limit the Panthers to 38.5% shooting (15-of-39) inside the 3-point line.
Next Up
Valpo (0-13, 0-2 MVC) hits the road for the first time in MVC play later this week, visiting the Valley’s other two Indiana-based institutions. The road trip opens with a New Year’s Day matinee in Terre Haute, as the Beacons take on Indiana State at 1 p.m. CT.