Northern Iowa freshman forward Jen Keitel posted a 19 points and grabbed 10 assists in Vinton Merchants/McCurry’s 86-55 victory over Pelling/Culver’s in the Game Time League season-opener at the North Liberty Recreation Center on Wednesday.

The 6-3 Panther posted a double-double, going 7-for-12 from the field and 4-for-4 from the free-throw line.

Keital’s Northern Iowa teammate forward Amber Kirschbaum notched a double-double of her own by picking 17 boards to go along with 15 points.

Iowa freshman guard Sam Logic got involved in the winning effort by putting up 9 points along with 4 rebounds and 2 assists. Logic said that getting through the first game is a chore, but it helps get the team rolling for the rest of the season.

With about five minutes remaining in the contest, Logic was fouled in the act of shooting and came down awkwardly on her left ankle. She was able to hobble to the free-throw line.

She said that that the incident was no big deal.

"It was just one of those instant pains," Logic said. "I landed on it a little goofy, but it’s all good."

Northern Iowa freshman guard Sharnae Lamar led all scorers with 21 points, 7 rebounds, and 4 assists. Fifteen of Lamar’s points came after the intermission, but the game was well out of reach by then.

Iowa freshman guard Melissa Dixon, who was on the losing end of the lopsided defeat, said there will be better days for her team in the future and that the first game with a new squad is usually rough.

"Next week, we’ll be better," she said. "In the first week, everyone is getting used to playing with each other."

Some of the buzz in the league surrounded graduated Bradley forward MacKenzie Wescott, who some said was drafted higher than expected in the Game time draft. Westcott was the ninth pick overall, going before several Northern Iowa athletes.

Wescott opened her summer with a 9-point performance in addition to 8 rebounds in the winning cause.

Logic disagrees with the critics, saying Wescott earned her high draft selection.

"I don’t know who was saying anything bad about it, but she’s one of the better players," Logic said. "She deserves to be picked as high as she was."

Logic said she enjoys seeing the Williamsburg, Iowa, native on the court, whether as teammates or opponents.

"I love how Mac plays," Logic said. "We played against her at Bradley this past year. She’s a hard-core hustler who won’t give up on anything."

Iowa freshman center Bethany Doollittle was unable to play because of an injury she sustained from a moped accident in Iowa City on her way to practice on Wednesday morning. Doolittle said that though she was unable to participate in the game, she sees how the summer league can benefit players now and in the upcoming season.

"Because we aren’t with our own team, we have to work on fundamentals and learn to mesh quickly with other people," she said. "Getting this practice in the summer definitely helps up bond as a team more during the year.