Tonight Upper Iowa took on the Cougars of the University of Sioux Falls in Dorman Gymnasium. The game was tied, 39-39, in the second half before the Cougars took the lead with a big run and never relinquished it. Sioux Falls took the game by a count of 67-57 to improve to 3-1. Upper Iowa’s record falls to 0-3 on the season.

Sioux Falls stormed out to a 10-0 advantage, but the Peacocks would respond with a 9-1 run of their own thanks to balanced scoring by four different players. UIU continued to climb back and tied the game at 21-21 on a three-point play by Ashlee Bailey. The lead exchanged hands seven times before the Cougars hit a three-pointer with a minute to play to go up three. Bailey converted on a layup assisted by Olivia Meier to pull the Peacocks within one at halftime, 33-32.

Both teams hit ten free throws and ten field goals in the first half while Upper Iowa held a slight advantage on the boards, 22-18.

The scoring went back and forth to begin the second half before a three-pointer by Laura TerHark tied the game, 39-39 with 14 minutes left to play in regulation. The visitors would then take the lead and never look back outscoring the Peacocks 18-7 over a ten minute span to go up 57-46. Upper Iowa rallied and cut the deficit to six, 63-57, with 15 seconds to play, but that was as close as the home team would get. Sioux Falls claimed the 67-57 victory with four free throws in the final seconds.

The Cougars turned their plus-eight advantage in turnovers into an 11-point advantage in points off turnovers.