Nov. 17, 2009
Box Score
The Upper Iowa women's basketball team hosted the Lady Statesmen of William Penn University in the team's home opener on Tuesday night. The Peacocks trailed by eight points at halftime, but rallied in the second half to close the gap. Rachel Butler grabbed an offensive rebound and hit a layup in the final seconds to give the visitors the victory, 67-66. With the loss, Upper Iowa falls to 0-2 on the season, while William Penn improves to 5-2.
William Penn jumped out early on Upper Iowa taking a 10-4 lead just three minutes into the game. The lead was seven points, 21-14, midway through the first half when the Peacocks mounted a rally. UIU scored eight unanswered points including five points from Inga Briede and three from Paige DeVine. The Peacock defense held the Lady Statesmen scoreless for three minutes during their run. William Penn didn't stay down for long; WPU outscored UIU 17-8 over the final seven minutes to take a 38-30 lead into the locker room.
Upper Iowa shot a higher percentage in the first half, but a 9-2 advantage in offensive rebounds by William Penn proved to be the difference in the first twenty minutes.
The Peacocks came out of the locker room and got right back into the game. Upper Iowa started the half on an 11-3 run over the first four and a half minutes to tie the game at 41-41. The lead changed hands a few times as the clock continued to tick; neither team could get a way by more than four points. Heidi McKean got loose on an out of bounds play to give the Peacocks a 56-55 lead with 6:38 on the clock.
The Lady Statesmen reclaimed a stake on top with a pair of free throws and then tacked on three more for a 60-56 lead, but the Peacocks didn't let down. Upper Iowa was able to rally behind another Briede three-pointer and a Deiters free throw to tie the game at 60-60.
McKean scored a layup with 1:52 on the clock to give the home team a two-point lead. WPU tied the score with fifty seconds to play on a clear out for Nancy Chicas, but Deiters answered right back for UIU with her ninth basket of the game. After the Lady Statesmen pulled within one, Deiters stepped to the free throw line and calmly knocked down two free throws for a three point lead, 66-63, with twenty seconds on the clock.
Chicas raced down the court and scored another quick layup to get the visitors back within one with fourteen seconds on the clock. The Peacocks missed two free throws to open the door for the Lady Statesmen and William Penn walked right through. WPU raced down the floor again and attempted a shot that missed wildly, but Rachel Butler gathered it in and scored a put back to put the Peacocks down one, 67-66. The home team failed to get a shot off in the final seconds and the game ended in heartbreak.
For the game, the Lady Statesmen were led by Christa Subbert, who scored a game-high 29 points including six three-pointers, and Chicas, who scored 14 and handed out 8 assists. Janice Adams paced William Penn on the glass with 8 rebounds.
The Peacocks were led by Deiters', who put together her second double-double in as many games with 24 points and 12 rebounds. DeVine scored 12, while McKean and Briede added 11 points.
The Peacocks out shot their guests 45.8% to 36.4%, but William Penn's 19-4 advantage in offensive boards was the major difference in the contest. Foul trouble also played a key role as starter Kenya Howard fouled out in just fourteen minutes of action.
This weekend the Peacocks will travel to Rolla, Missouri to compete in the Lady Miner Classic hosted by Missouri S&T. Upper Iowa will play the host school on Friday night at 7 p.m. and then take the floor with Arkansas Tech on Saturday at 1 p.m. UIU's next home appearance will be an exhibition game against the South Australia Sports Institute on Friday, Nov. 27, at 4 p.m.
