Upper Iowa welcomed the Rangers of the University of Wisconsin-Parkside to Dorman Gym on Tuesday night for the team's home opener and final non-conference contest of the season.  The Peacocks used solid defense to spark a late run that gave the home team the last lead of the night.  UIU won the game 59-54 to improve to 2-2, while the Rangers dropped their first decision of the season to fall to 4-1.

The Peacocks came out and made a statement early on defense.  Upper Iowa held the undefeated Rangers to just five points over the first five and a half minutes, while working hard on the offensive end for three early buckets in the paint.  The home team held their lead for the first thirteen and a half minutes with its largest advantage coming at 14-9 following a three-pointer from Aleesha Cleaver.  After the lead changed hands several times, Lindsay Carroll knocked down here only trifecta of the night from the corner to push the Peacocks ahead 34-31 with just over a minute to play in the half.  The Rangers tied the game on a three-pointer four seconds prior to the buzzer to tie the game heading into halftime.

The teams were still tied at 40-40 five minutes into the second half as the defenses allowed only six points apiece through the first media timeout.  Both offenses continued to work at the whim of the defenses over the next five minutes, but the Rangers were able to pull away slightly moving toward the ten-minute mark.  Upper Iowa trailed by five, 47-42, midway through the second half after struggling to just 8 points in the first nine and a half minutes of the period.  However, the home team rallied thanks to a 12-3 run that spanned nearly eight minutes of gametime.  The Peacocks took a four-point lead, 54-50, with 1:55 on the clock when Carroll found her way to the hole for a lay-in.  Two free throws from Laura TerHark preserved the four-point advantage, 56-52, with 19 seconds to play, but a quick jumper from the Rangers cut the lead back to two.  Lauren Buck hit one of two free throws to put the home team back up three with 11 seconds to play giving the visitors one last attempt at overtime.  UWP's final three was blocked by Sarah Benson, who came down with it and then set the final margin at five, 59-54, with a pair of freebies with one tick on the clock.

Olivia Winkler scored 12 points on 6 of 8 shooting, while Buck also netted 12 points and added a game-high 11 rebounds for her second double-double of the season.  Cleaver chipped in 9 points, while Carroll and TerHark both recorded 8 points.  UIU won the battle of the boards 39-33 and held the Rangers to just 33.3% shooting on the night.  The Peacocks shot 42.2% from the floor, but 21 turnovers nearly cost the home squad as UWP had a 20-8 advantage in points off turnovers.

Upper Iowa will head out on Saturday to kick off their Northern Sun Conference schedule.  The Peacocks will take their shortest road trip of the NSIC season when they face the Warriors of Winona State University in Winona, Minn. at 4 p.m.