UNI Panthers’ Jenna Twedt

Northern Iowa Athletic Communication

BROOKINGS, S.D. — The Panther women’s basketball team traveled to South Dakota to take on South Dakota State in their first road test of the season. The Cats never led as the Jackrabbits were red hot from the floor, handing UNI its first loss of the 2026-27 season, 76-54.

HOW IT HAPPENED

The Jackrabbits held an early lead over the Panthers through the first three minutes of action, ending in a timeout by head coach Tanya Warren. An eight-point run by SDSU following a pair of buckets on each side saw the Jackrabbits hold a 12-4 lead at the first media timeout of the matchup. Jenna Twedt and Elise Jaeger recorded UNI’s first two baskets. Out of the break, the Cats went on a 5-2 run to cut into the deficit, including the Panthers’ first triple of the game off the hands of Kaylynn Janes. Back-to-back triples from Mya Nicholson cut the SDSU lead to five points late in the frame, before a pair of free throws from the Jackrabbits closed the quarter with SDSU on top 22-15.

UNI held a slim, 7-5 advantage to open the second quarter until the frame’s media timeout, cutting the lead back to five points. Jenna Twedt hit her first three-pointer of the game in the stretch. A layup from Mya Nicholson after the media timeout cut the SDSU lead to three before a seven-point run from the Jackrabbits ballooned their lead to 10 points late in the second quarter. Jenna Twedt scored two more points for the Panthers in the frame as the Cats trailed 36-26 heading into the locker room at halftime.

Mya Nicholson and Jenna Twedt led the Panthers with eight and seven points, respectively, in the first half. Elise Jaeger brought in 10 rebounds in the first 20 minutes, leading both teams midway through game action.

South Dakota State continued to stay hot in the second half, while the Panthers struggled to find an offensive rhythm over the final 20 minutes of play. The third quarter saw the Jackrabbits outscore the Panthers by just two points at 16-14 before a fourth-quarter barrage from the red-hot Jack offense. SDSU shot 50.9% from the floor, including 41.7% from deep in the contest and outscored the Cats 40-28 in the second half of action.

Jenna Twedt led UNI with 18 points. Elise Jaeger was UNI’s only other double-figure scorer against SDSU with 12 points. The forward added 16 boards and three steals for her first double-double of the season. Callie Levin and Abby Tuttle tallied a team-high three assists each.

“We are a young team that is learning how to win in these moments,” said head coach Tanya Warren. “When we had opportunities to make plays and close the gap, we made some mistakes that we have to learn from. I am confident we will grow from this, and continue to get better!”

UP NEXT

The Panthers head down the road to Iowa City, Iowa to take on the Iowa Hawkeyes on Thursday, November 12. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. CT with coverage available on FoxOne and on the Panther Sports Radio Network with Chris Kleinhans-Schulz.

ADDITIONAL NOTES

• UNI is 1-1 overall this season and falls to 5-15 all-time against SDSU after the loss in Brookings.
• Elise Jaeger recorded her first double-double of the season with 12 points and 16 rebounds, tying a career high in rebounding. It is the ninth double-double in her collegiate career. She also tied a career high with six field goals.
• Harper Whetstine, Emily Larsen, and Le’Sedra Williams all saw their first action in a Panther uniform at South Dakota State.
• Taylor Franck recorded six points at SDSU, her first collegiate points. She finished with her first collegiate field goal and free throws in her three minutes of action.
• Mya Nicholson tied a career high with eight points. She recorded a career-high three field goals, including a career-high-tying two three-pointers in a career-high 19 minutes.
• Anna Greene recorded her first collegiate point against the Jackrabbits with a free throw in the fourth quarter. She played a career-high five minutes against SDSU and brought in her first collegiate rebound.