WICHITA, Kan. - Senior guard Morgan Boyd led Wichita State with 16 points and eight rebounds, but they weren't enough for the Shockers to edge Missouri Valley Conference-leading Northern Iowa Friday.

The visiting Panthers took the lead for good late in the first half of the women's basketball game en route to a 77-57 win in front of a crowd of 1,562 at Charles Koch Arena.

Northern Iowa improved to 9-1 in conference play and 16-5 overall, led by Jacqui Kalin's 19 points. Four other Panther players also finished with double-digit scoring totals as Northern Iowa shot 52.8 percent overall from the field. The Panthers grabbed a 36-16 edge in points in the paint Friday.

Wichita State fell to 4-6 in the Valley and 10-11 overall after entering the game in sixth place in the conference standings. Sophomore guard Jessica Diamond added 11 points for the Shockers, who outrebounded Northern Iowa, 38-37.

The Shockers shot 68 percent from the free-throw line, compared to Northern Iowa's 57.1 percent.

A three-pointer from Alicia Sanchez tied the game, 10-10, just over five minutes into the game.

BreAnna Dawkins' free throw with 11:25 left in the first half boosted the Shockers to a 13-12 lead - Wichita State's first lead of the game.

Back-to-back field goals from Jazimen Gordon and Diamond midway through the first half extended the Shockers to a 17-14 lead.

Neither team was able to push past a three-point lead through the first 10 minutes of play, as Northern Iowa and Wichita State exchanged leads in the tight game.

The Panthers opened up the game by scoring the final seven points of the half to grab a 32-27 edge by halftime - the largest lead of the game for either team to that point.

K.K. Armstrong led all scorers with 10 points for the Panthers in the opening 20 minutes. Boyd paced the Shockers with seven points and five rebounds.

Northern Iowa hit the first two field goals of the second half to extend to a nine-point lead in the opening minutes. A Michelle Price layup at the 18:31 mark ended a five-minute scoring drought for the Shockers that started late in the first half.

A Diamond jumper followed to cut Northern Iowa's lead to five points, 36-31. Boyd's three-pointer from the right corner cut the Panther lead to two points.

About six minutes into the second half, Chynna Turner's two successful free throws brought the Shockers within one point of the Panthers, 40-39.

Rachel Madrigal's three-point play regained a 45-40 lead for the Panthers. Her layup and free throw that followed extended the Panthers to a 10-point lead at the 11:06 mark.

Northern Iowa took a 15-point lead on a layup from Katelin Oney at the 8:49 mark.

The Panthers' lead jumped to 72-52 after two converted free throws from Kalin with 5:24 to go in the game.

Northern Iowa's largest lead of the game - 22 points - came with 4:34 left in the game.

The Shockers continue their homestand when they welcome the Braves of Bradley to Charles Koch Arena on Sunday, Feb. 6, with tip-off set for 2:00 p.m.

- Wichita State -