Box Score Records
 
Upper Iowa (5-11, 4-8 NSIC) || SMSU (3-13, 1-11 NSIC)
 

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Recap
 
Despite a winless 0-10 NSIC record heading into this weekend, the Southwest Minnesota State Mustangs showed why they are still a dangerous team. On Friday night, they shocked Winona State by stealing a 65-61 victory at home. Then, they took Upper Iowa to overtime on Saturday night.
 
In a game that featured 11 ties and 11 lead changes, the Peacocks, who trailed for the entire first half, were on the brink of defeat in the final seconds of the second half. With the game tied at 64, SMSU's Bree Holleman headed to the free throw line to shot two freebies with just one second on the clock.  The pressure was too big as she missed them both. UIU took that momentum into overtime as the Peacocks outscored their hosts 14-7 in the extra period to steal a 78-71 victory and earn a split for the weekend.
 
After Holleman missed her two free throws, the Peacocks found renewed life in overtime. They didn't wait long to find their lethal scoring duo of Whitney Kieffer and Carly Pagel. Much like last season, the duo was a deadly combination for opponents. Kieffer and Pagel combined for back-to-back three point plays the old-fashioned way as UIU took an early 70-67 lead in overtime. Sam Thrapp then made two big plays of her own.
 
The senior guard hit a big three from the top of the key with no time on the shot clock before taking a charge on the defensive end to force the 13th SMSU turnover of the game. Her three gave UIU a 73-69 lead with two minutes to play.
 
SMSU answered with a layup, but Kieffer wasn't going to let her team fumble away another lead. The junior scored on her team's next possession, driving to the hoop and adding a layup in traffic to keep the Peacocks out in front by four with 36 seconds to play. She then added her biggest rebound of the game as she soared to collect a loose ball after SMSU missed a three. Kieffer was fouled in the process and converted both of the freebies on the other end to put her team up by six, all but solidifying the victory.
 
SMSU missed its last attempt and Pagel added another free throw to ensure the six-point win on the road. The Mustangs converted just two three pointers in the game compared to six for UIU.
 
Kieffer led UIU in scoring with 23 points, rebounding with 9 boards and three-point field goals with two, but the junior guard also turned the ball over a team-high 5 times. Despite shooting the ball better than SMSU, 19 Peacock turnovers kept the game close. UIU finished with a 48-percent shooting clip and a 50-percent mark from beyond the arc, but it wasn't that easy in the first half.
 
SMSU came out on fire hitting six of their first eight shots to double-up UIU, 16-8, six minutes into the game. Kieffer, who struggled from the floor in the last couple of games, began just 1-of-4, but led UIU in the early minutes with 4 points. Freshman Emily Gustafson, who started the game for the first time since Nov. 17, also had four early points as she hit her only shot and both of her free throw attempts. Yet two early fouls from Gustafson forced her to take a seat on the bench as Lauren Buck and Pagel hit the hardwood.
 
The duo combined for a quick six points to steal the momentum from the home team. Buck sandwiched a Pagel free throw with her fifth three-pointer of the season and a layup.  UIU now trailed by just two, 18-16, with 10:09 to play in the opening period, but SMSU answered with back-to-back layups from Mikayla Saathoff.
 
The Peacocks went back to Pagel who drilled a jumper at the 8-minute mark to keep UIU within four, 22-18. Kieffer then cut into the deficit again as she stole the ball from Bree Holleman and converted a layup on the other end. Kieffer's steal was just the third turnover caused by UIU in the first period, while the Peacocks turned it over 8 times.
 
The Mustangs used the next three and a half minutes to go on a 6-2 run, but Laura Terhark kept UIU close with her first three of the game. Kieffer added another three at the 1:08 mark to make it just a two point game, 30-28, but the Mustangs added another layup before the halftime buzzer sounded.
UIU managed just a 34-percent shooting clip in the first half after hitting nine of 26 attempts.
 
Kieffer, who led UIU in scoring at the break with nine points, started to find her rhythm in the second half. She hit a trifecta just 20 seconds into the perioed to pull UIU within one, 32-31. The Mustangs answered right back with a 6-2 run after creating two Peacock turnovers. It took UIU the next three minutes to get back into a rhythm, but the visitors finally found their groove. Thrapp scored seven of the Peacocks' next nine points and her layup at the 14:17 mark gave the Peacocks a 42-40 lead – their first of the game.
 
The teams were neck and neck for the final 15 minutes as the second half featured 10 lead changes and 10 ties. SMSU tied the game twice over the next two minutes before retaking the lead. The Peacocks answered right back as Kieffer hit another bucket – this time, she earned a layup off the fastbreak to tie the game at 48-all with 9:05 remaining in regulation.
 
The Mustangs weren't going away. Neither were the Peacocks. Yet, just as it looked as if SMSU was pulling away, Pagel took over. With her team down by four and just 3:45 to play, the sophomore forward scored six straight points to tie the game at 64-64.
 
Holleman had a chance to win it late for SMSU at the free throw line, but couldn't connect. The Peacocks, who were playing in their first overtime game of the season, found a way to get the victory away from home.
 

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Stat of the Game
 
Saturday's victory was just the second time Whitney Kieffer has led UIU in scoring and rebounding in a single game this season. Kieffer accomplished that feat 15 times last season and 10 times during her freshman year.
 

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UIU Standouts
 
Kieffer (23 points, 9 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals), Pagel (17 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists), Thrapp (16 points, 4 assists, 2 steals, 3 rebounds), Buck (9 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 block)
 

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Up Next
 
The Peacocks will head home for next week's matchups with Concordia University St. Paul and Minnesota State inside Dorman Gym. Friday night's contest with the Golden Bears will begin at 6 p.m.