This Week in Women’s Basketball...

After a brief two game road trip, the Peacock Women’s Basketball team returns home this weekend for a pair of Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference games inside Dorman Gymnasium.  On Friday, the Peacocks welcome the Dragons of MSU Moorhead to Fayette before taking on the Golden Eagles of UM, Crookston inside Doc’s Palace on Saturday.  Tipoff for both matchups is set for 6 p.m.

Scouting the Dragons

The MSU Moorhead Dragons enter Friday’s game with an 8-5 record overall which includes a 5-4 mark in NSIC play and have lost three of their last four contests.  The Dragons’ lone win of 2011 came last Saturday against U-Mary, 71-63.

The Dragons’ offense is paced by the NSIC individual scoring leader in junior forward Angie Jetvig (17.8 points and 8.2 rebounds per game).

MSUM ranks as the best rebounding team in the league as they post a +11.8 rebounding margin, the only team in the NSIC in double figures in rebounding margin.  The Dragons grab nearly 41 rebounds per game (40.8) while only allowing teams to record 28.9 boards per outing.

Scouting the Golden Eagles

The Golden Eagles of UM, Crookston enter Friday’s game at Winona State with a 5-8 record overall and a 2-7 record in league matchups.  The Golden Eagles find themselves reeling coming into the weekend as they’ve dropped six of their last seven games.

UM, Crookston has three players averaging double digit points in Jamie Zelinsky (15.7 points per game), Bri Zabel (14.2) and Brittani Wiese (10.6).

The Golden Eagles are third in the NSIC in scoring offense by racking up 75.1 points per game and are the best three-point shooting team in the conference by making 39.1% of three-pointer taken.

Series History

Since transitioning to NCAA Division II, the Peacocks are 0-7 when playing the Dragons of MSU Moorhead and 3-3 when lining up against UM, Crookston.

The Last Meeting

The Peacocks met their opponents this weekend only once last year.  UIU and MSUM last met on January 23, 2010 with the Dragons winning 91-67 in Moorhead, Minnesota.

The night before, UIU and UMC played to a 70-69 score with the Golden Eagles emerging victorious in Crookston, Minnesota.

Getting a Second Chance

UIU ranks second in offensive rebounding by averaging 13 per game.  Only Minnesota Duluth tallies more offensive rebounds per game (13.15) in the NSIC.

Live Stats and Web Cast

Live stats and a web cast will be available for both games.  Visit upperiowaathletics.com for further details.

Looking Ahead

The Peacocks open a four-game stretch away from Fayette next weekend when they head west to take on Augustana and Wayne State.

Friday’s game against the Vikings of Augustana is slated for 6 p.m. while the matchup with Wayne State is set for a 4 p.m. tipoff.