Box Score After the Peacocks and #25 Vikings of Augustana College combined for just 47 points in the first half, the two teams' offenses exploded and scored a total of 104 points in the second half. The Vikings outscored the Peacocks by five in the first half and by eight in the second to claim the 82-69 decision in Sioux Falls, S.D. After the loss, Upper Iowa falls to 7-21 overall and 4-17 in the NSIC.
Both teams struggled to score through the opening minutes as UIU inched out to a 7-6 lead after seven and a half minutes. A 9-0 run over the next five minutes put the Peacocks into a 15-7 hole, but thanks to four points from
Chelsea Garcia and a three-pointer from
Whitney Kieffer, Upper Iowa was able to cut the margin back to three, 16-13, as the clock moved under five minutes to play. The offenses both seemed to warm up heading into the break as Augie posted a 26-21 lead on the board at halftime.
In the first half, Upper Iowa registered a 9-0 advantage in second chance points, while Augustana scored a 14-0 advantage in fast break points.
Augustana tried to pul away from their guests in the second half increasing their lead to 11 points, 36-25, after just four minutes. The lead grew to as many as 17, 72-55, at its largest point, but Upper Iowa always answered the Vikings' offense down the stretch returning the gap to 12 points on many occassions. In the end, Augustana picked up the 82-69 victory.
The Vikings took advantage of advantages in points off turnovers (9-0) and on the fast break (19-2).
Kieffer scored 28 points for UIU on 9-22 shooting from the field including a pair of three-pointers. She also hit 8 of her 10 free throw attempts. The sophomore also pulled down 14 rebounds for her seventh double-double of the season.
Jennifer Herrick scored 12 points thanks to three trifectas, and
Lindsay Carroll netted 11 points.
Lauren Buck grabbed 8 boards off the bench, while Garcia added 9 points and Sam Thrapp handed out 5 assists.
The Peacocks will wrap up the regular season in the NSIC tomorrow at Wayne State College; the teams will tip off the finale at 4 p.m.
