Feb. 13, 2009

Final Stats

When Upper Iowa and Augustana College played in Sioux Falls, South Dakota a month ago the Vikings took control of the game early and put the Peacocks in a huge hole that UIU was unable to climb out of. The rematch in Fayette tonight was a much different affair. Upper Iowa and Augustana put on an offensive clinic in the first half. The teams combined for 90 points with the visitors holding a slight two-point advantage. Augustana had just enough firepower in the second half to outlast Upper Iowa on their way to the NSIC victory, 82-75. After the loss, Upper Iowa falls to 5-18 on the season and 1-15 in conference play, while Augustana improved to 18-4 overall and 12-3 in NSIC play.

Four minutes into the game, Upper Iowa trailed Augustana by five, 11-6. The Peacocks battled back over the next three minutes to take their first lead of the game, 17-15, after going on an 11-4 run led by scores by four players. Augustana took command of the next few minutes as the visitors jumped out to a thirteen point lead, 30-17, thanks to a 15-0 run. Upper Iowa would not let the game get away and clawed back into the contest with a 12-0 run of their own. UIU's run was fueled by Lyndsay Westgaard's five points and Paige DeVine's four points. The Peacocks and Vikings matched each other's baskets for the remainder of the half. Augustana took a 46-44 lead into the locker room at halftime.

Augustana's Whitney Hofer led all scorers in the first half with 16 points. The Vikings shot 45% in the half including five three-pointers. Upper Iowa was led by Lyndsay Westgaard's 11 points and Britney Iredale's 10 points. The Peacocks hit 53% of their takes from the field and also hit five trifectas but used six less shots from behind the arc.

The Vikings opened the second half and pushed their lead to eight points, 58-50, through the first seven minutes. The Peacocks crawled back into the game once again and took a lead, 61-60, following six straight points by Iredale. The UIU lead came with 8:01 showing on the clock. The offenses began to slow as the time wound down. With five and a half minutes to play the visitors led 69-65 after back-to-back three-pointers. Each team scored five points over the next four minutes and with 1:32 showing on the game clock, the Peacocks trailed 74-70. A miscue by the Peacock defense allowed the Vikings to get a layup with just under a minute to play. Two Augie free throws pushed the lead to eight, 78-70, with twenty seconds to go. The teams exchanged free throws before Lana Otting nailed a deep ball to cut the lead to 80-75, but another two Viking free throws were the final points of the night. Augustana took the win, 82-75.

Hofer of Augustana led all scorers with 27 points on the night aided by Megan Doyle's 22 points.

Upper Iowa was led by Otting's 20 points on 7 of 10 shooting. The freshman from Cascade also handed out 7 assists on the night. Iredale and Westgaard each netted 17 points, while DeVine chipped in 12. Iredale pulled down 14 rebounds and Westgaard grabbed 9 rebounds.

The Peacocks will return to Prochaska Court tomorrow evening to face the Wildcats of Wayne State College. The tip is scheduled for 6 p.m.