MINNEAPOLIS - The Cedar Rapids Connection of K.K. Armstrong and Katelin Oney combined for 44 points Sunday afternoon, but it wasn't enough to save the University of Northern Iowa in the championship game of the Women's Basketball Invitational.

The Panthers squandered a 13-point lead and lost to Minnesota, 88-74, at Williams Arena.

Armstrong scored 24 points and finished her career as the ninth-leading scorer in UNI history. Oney tossed in 20 points. Armstrong and Oney, both seniors, starred together in high school at Cedar Rapids Washington.

Armstrong and Rachel Madrigal played in their 128th games for Northern Iowa, setting a school record.

The Panthers finished with a 19-15 record. Minnesota finished 19-17.