Sioux Falls junior guard Marie Malloy scored a career-high 20 points and 2013-14 NSIC Freshman of the Year Sam Knecht added 12 as the Cougars defeated Upper Iowa 86-56 on Friday night at the Stewart Center in Sioux Falls, S.D.

With 16 points, UIU senior Olivia Winkler led the Peacocks in scoring, but was only one of two players in double figures as the Upper Iowa shot just 35.9% from the field.

It was a Winkler fast break layup that brought UIU (2-4, 0-2 NSIC) within three points, 25-28, with 5:23 remaining in the first half. But Malloy and the Cougars (6-0, 2-0 NSIC) went on a 13-2 run to end the half, heading to the locker room up 41-27.  

USF used another run to stretch their lead to 22 eight minutes into the second half. The Peacocks couldn't seem to get into a rhythm, shooting just 32.4% in the second half compared to 51.5% for the Cougars in the second period.

Sioux Falls outscored the Upper Iowa in transition with 14 fast break points compared to just 4 for the Peacocks. The Cougars also turned more opponent mistakes into points than UIU, outscoring the Peacocks 25-12 in points off turnovers.

The Peacocks also lost the battle on the glass, getting outrebounded by 20, 50-30. The Cougars had nearly as many offensive rebounds (15) as the Peacocks had defensive rebounds (22).

Lindsay Carroll had 11 points, including 3-of-3 shooting from three, but the rest of the Peacocks combined to go 3-of-14 from deep. Lauren Buck led UIU with 7 rebounds and added 9 points.

Upper Iowa will return to the court tomorrow night against Southwest Minnesota State in Marshall, Minn. The game will tip off at 5 p.m.