Upper Iowa returned to Dorman Gymnasium to take on the Dragons of MSU Moorehead tonight.  The Peacocks shot the ball very well in the first half, but that percentage fell sharply in the second half as the Dragons were able to rally from a six-point hole at halftime to steal a 69-63 win in Fayette.  The loss dropped UIU's record to 1-13 on the season and 1-9 in NSIC play, while MSUM improved to 9-5 overall and 6-4 in conference action.

 

Through the first six minutes, the Peacocks got out to a 13-10 lead fueled by a trio of three-pointers; two from Jeri Jacobsen and one from Heidi McKean.  McKean’s second three-pointer pushed UIU’s lead to eight, 18-10.  The Dragons ended the Peacocks’ 11-0 run with a rebound putback. At the midway point of the half, the Peacocks led by seven, 24-17, thanks to 64% shooting from the floor.  UIU maintained a six point advantage, 40-34 as the teams went to the halftime break after scoring six of the final seven points of the half.

 

Upper Iowa shot 58% in the first half.  Lyndsay Westgaard led the way with 10 points, while Cassandra Deiters and McKean each netted 8 points. The team racked up 12 assists on their 18 field goals. Angie Jetvig led the Dragons with 10 points.

 

MSU Moorehead stormed out of the locker room with a 7-2 run to climb back within one, 42-41, four minutes in, but Lana Otting knifed to the basket to slow the run with a lay in. An old fashioned three-point play by MSUM gave the visitors a one-point lead, but Jacobson was quick to answer with a layup and free throw of her own and Otting followed with a  trifecta to extend the lead back to five with thirteen minutes to play.

 

The Dragons crept back slowly and tied the game at 55-55 with seven minutes to play. Back to back layups by Jacobson and McKean gave the home team a four point cushion with five minutes on the clock. Jetvig drove through a pair of Peacock defenders and the Dragons added two free throws to take a 61-59 lead with just over three minutes to play. Jen Herrick hit her second and the team’s seventh trey as UIU retook a 62-61 lead. Two free throws and a fast break layup, as well as two blocked shots by Jetvig resulted in a 65-62 lead for the visitors with just over two minutes to play.  In the end, the visitors claimed the victory, 69-63.

Jetvig led the Dragons with a double-double as she poured in 21 points and pulled down 12 rebounds.  She also added two assists and four blocks.

Upper Iowa got four scorers into double figures led by Otting and McKean, who each netted 12.  Deiters added 11 and Westgaard finished with 10.  McKean played an all-around game adding 5 rebounds and 5 assists without turning the ball over.

The Peacocks will return to Prochaska Court tomorrow evening for a 6 p.m. match up with the Golden Eagles of Minnesota, Crookston.