Nov. 30, 2008
Final Stats
Upper Iowa and Southwest Minnesota State tangled this afternoon in Sioux Falls, S.D. at the NSIC Holiday HoopsFest. The Peacocks and Mustangs played a hard fought game for thirty-four minutes and were tied at 59-59 after a UIU three-pointer with just under six minutes to play. The Mustangs closed the game out on a 15-2 run over the final six minutes. The Peacocks only hit one of their final twelve shots as SMSU pulled away for the 74-61 victory. After the loss, Upper Iowa's record dropped to 3-2, while Southwest Minnesota State improved to 6-2.
The Mustangs opened the game with by outscoring the Peacocks 12-4 over the first five minutes. However, Upper Iowa found their stride thanks to scores by Britney Iredale, Melissa Fitz, and Lyndsay Westgaard and cut the deficit back to one point, 12-11, just over a minute later. The Peacocks took their first lead of the game, 20-19, with 9:15 on the clock. SMSU responded by going on a 10-0 run over the next four minutes to claim a 29-20 lead. The Peacocks once again mounted a rally and finished the half by trimming the margin down to four points at halftime, 33-29.
The Peacocks struggled shooting the ball in the first half as they hit just 35% of their shots. Iredale was one UIU player that was able to find the net as she scored 11 points. Fitz and Westgaard each added 6 points in the opening half. Westgaard pulled down five rebounds in the first twenty minutes including four offensive boards.
Upper Iowa opened the second half and matched Southwest Minnesota State point for point in the opening minutes and took a 41-40 lead with 14:18 to play after Iredale made a jumper in the paint. The two teams were locked up at 59-59 with just under six minutes to play, but the Peacocks seemed to run out of gas and were unable to continue to score with the Mustangs. Southwest Minnesota State's game-winning run was fueled by four of five shooting from the field and seven of seven shooting at the free throw line.
For the game, the Peacocks were led by Iredale's 21 points and Andrea Downs' 14. Fitz and Westgaard both added 9 to the UIU total. UIU managed only four assists in the game. Lana Otting and Iredale each pulled down 7 rebounds to anchor the Peacocks' effort on the glass.
Upper Iowa will open their Northern Sun Conference season with two home games next Friday and Saturday nights, Dec. 5 & 6. Upper Iowa will host the Golden Bears of Concordia University, St. Paul and the Huskies of St. Cloud State University in Dorman Gym. Both games will start at 6 p.m. and can be heard live on AM 950 KOEL. The games will also be webcast on NorthernSun.tv and live stats will be available through UIU's website UpperIowaAthletics.com.
