CEDAR FALLS -- Playing in the final game of a grueling 10-day road trip, the BYU women's basketball team fell to Northern Iowa, 70-45, Saturday.
The Cougars were limited to just 37 percent shooting in the game, going a season-worst 24 percent from the field in the first half. Freshman guard Erin Thorn was the team's leading scorer with nine.
"We played a team that was very hot and who got a real quick jump on us," BYU coach Trent Shippen said. "They held our big scorers to under double figures and had some real big shots."
BYU was outrebounded, 42-29, and saw Northern Iowa go to the line 29 times to its 11. Northern Iowa led the entire game, taking a commanding 30-12 lead into halftime.
Northern Iowa guard Allison Starr, who set a school record with her 75th consecutive start, had an explosive game, tallying 25 points to lead her team to the win.
BYU concluded its lengthy road trip with a 2-3 record and fell to 6-3 overall. The Cougars will return to Provo briefly this week before heading back out on the road for away games against Montana and Montana State Dec. 18 and 20.