Upper Iowa earned their first victory of the 2015-16 season in Dorman Gym on Friday night thanks to a 74-58 decision over the University of Missouri-St. Louis.  The Peacocks knocked down eight three-pointers and converted all but three of their 25 free throw attempts to defeat the Tritons and improve to 1-3 on the season.  UMSL dropped to 1-2 on the year after struggling from behind the arc.
 
The Tritons jumped out to an early 9-0 lead holding the Peacocks scoreless over the first four minutes, but Upper Iowa used an 11-2 run to tie the game a little more than three minutes later fueled by four points each from Carly Pagel and Sam Ofstad.  Each team knocked in a pair of field goals to close out the quarter with the score knotted at 15-15.
 
The home team took advantage of a pair of three-pointers out of the hand of Blake Bergren and five points from Whitney Kieffer to pull ahead 30-22 midway through the second quarter.  UIU's offense kept pushing and built the lead to 12, 36-24, after back-to-back triples by Ofstad and Bergren.  UIU led 38-30 at the break thanks in large part to their 5 three-pointers and a 16-8 advantage in rebounds.
 
Missouri-St. Louis cut the margin down to four points on two occasions with the latest coming midway through the third quarter.  Leading 43-39, the Peacocks went on an 8-3 run to push their lead back to nine, 51-42.  The run was highlighted by scores from four different players.  Aleesha Cleaver scored 8 points on a pair of trifectas and a layup in the final minute of the quarter as UIU took a 56-46 lead heading into the final quarter.
 
After the Tritons scored the first two baskets of the fourth quarter, the Peacocks held their guests scoreless over the next four minutes while scoring six on offense to go ahead, 62-50, with just over four minutes to play.  Over the final four minutes, Upper Iowa converted all 10 of their free throw attempts taking their largest lead of the game on their final two shots at the charity stripe to win the game 74-58.
 
Cleaver led the Peacocks with 21 points on six field goals including three triples; the senior guard added 5 rebounds and 3 assists.  Pagel also knocked in six field goals to score her 15 points; the junior center pulled down a team-high 7 boards.  Kieffer added 10 points, while Bergren chipped in 9.  Ofstad tallied 7 points, 4 rebounds and 3 assists off the bench.
 
The Tritons were led by Kelly Kunkel, who netted 17 points and grabbed 8 rebounds.
 
Upper Iowa will head out to Liberty, Mo. on Sunday, Nov. 22, to challenge the Cardinals of William Jewell College at 2 p.m.