Feb. 9, 2008

Box Score

The Upper Iowa women's basketball team traveled to Marshall, Minnesota to face the Mustangs of Southwest Minnesota State. The two Northern Sun teams matched up for their final regular season meeting of the season on Friday evening. After Upper Iowa took a four-point lead into halftime, the home team rallied back and by as many as nine in the second half before claiming a 57-52 victory. The loss dropped the Peacocks record to 6-19 overall and 2-11 in NSIC play.

After the home team jumped out to an early 5-0 lead, Upper Iowa rallied using a 15-6 run to take a 15-11 lead with 11:27 to play in the half. Andrea Downs sparked the run with 7 points and two assists. The Peacocks maintained their margin over the Mustangs for the remainder of the half taking their largest lead of the half, 25-21, when Downs drained a pair of free throws.

Upper Iowa continued to hold the lead throughout the first seven and a half minutes of the second, but a three-pointer at the 12:18 mark gave Southwest Minnesota State their first lead of the second half. With 8:23 to play the Peacocks still trailed by one, 42-41, but the Mustangs used back-to-back three-pointers to take control with a 48-41 lead. The home team extended their lead thanks to a three-pointer with 3:48 remaining, which gave the Mustangs their biggest lead of the evening, 53-44. Upper Iowa attempted one last rally pulling to within three, 55-52, thanks to a pair of Downs' jumpers, but could not complete the comeback in the NSIC match up.

The Peacocks outrebounded the Mustangs, 48-45, in the contest as the Peacocks grabbed 17 offensive rebounds. Leading the visitors on the glass was Chelsea Petersen with 13, 6 offensive, and Christa Hammel with 12, 7 offensive. Downs led Upper Iowa with 18 points, while Hammel recorded a double-double with 10 points. Petersen netted 8 points for the Peacocks.

Upper Iowa will be back in action Saturday night at Wayne State College. Tip off is scheduled for 6 p.m.