VICTORY!!! That word means a lot to the Peacock women’s basketball program. Fans of the team know that the word victory hasn’t been used much the last few years. In fact, it has been used even less in Northern Sun Conference play. Tonight in Dorman Gym, UIU defeated SMSU 53-49 for quite a few ‘firsts’. The win was Upper Iowa’s first of this season… first since last January… first NSIC win since defeating Bemidji State on the road on December 13, 2008… and first home NSIC victory since defeating Northern State on January 26, 2008.

 

The home team jumped out to a 6-0 lead thanks to a pair of buckets from Jeri Jacobson and a jumper from Cassandra Deiters. UIU’s defense played strong over the first twenty minutes limiting SMSU’s opportunities. The Peacocks held their guests to just 15 points in the half. On the offensive side, the Peacocks fought through 15 turnovers in the opening frame, but shot 40% and grabbed 9 offensive rebounds.

 

Lana Otting led the Peacock scorers with 10 points on 4 of 4 shooting including a pair of trifectas. Jacobson netted 8 points, while Heidi McKean pulled down 6 boards.

 

The road team came out of the break with a renewed drive scoring six of the half’s first eight points, but UIU began to find balance the balance and maintained an ten-point advantage, 34-24, five minutes into the half.  A three-pointer from the hand of McKean at the 11:04 mark reset the Peacocks’ halftime advantage of eleven points, 42-31.  

 

A quick 9-2 run by the Mustangs pulled them within four, 44-40, with six and a half to play; the run was highlighted by a Tori Fink shot from beyond the three-point line. Two Jacobson free throws ended the drought for UIU, who had gone three and a half minutes without a point. A pair of jumpers closed the gap to just two points, 46-44, but a McKean layup with 3:06 to play padded the lead back to four. Another Fink long ball cut the margin to one, 48-47, as the clock moved under two minutes to play.

 

Jacobson put home a jumper on an assist from Jen Herrick to put the home team ahead 50-47. After a McKean free throw, the Mustangs got another driving lay in to make the score 51-49 with 35 seconds on the clock. Deiters converted two free throws for UIU for the final points of the game giving the home team a 53-49 NSIC win.

 

Leading the way for Upper Iowa was Jacobson and Otting, who each scored 14 points. Deiters dropped in 12, while McKean scored 9 points, pulled down 12 boards and handed out 4 assists. 

 

UIU’s defense held the Mustangs to under 35% shooting from the floor and just 6 offensive rebounds.  The Peacocks cleaned the glass all night by a 39-18 count. The one flaw in UIU’s game was 27 turnovers, but the team battled through them and found a way to win.

 

The Peacocks will not return to the court for a game until 2011. UIU (1-8, 1-4 NSIC) will host Northern State and U-Mary on Saturday and Sunday, Jan. 1 and 2. Both games are scheduled for a 6 p.m. tip.