The Bulldogs of Truman State University defeated the Upper Iowa women's basketball team in Fayette on Wednesday night, 74-48.  Truman State posted the big win thanks to stout defense that limited UIU's chances and an offense that pushed the ball into the paint.  The Bulldogs improved to 4-2 overall, while the Peacocks closed out the non-conference portion of their schedule with a 1-5 record.
 
Truman State jumped out to a quick 7-0 lead three minutes into the game and built their advantage to 12 points, 19-7.  Upper Iowa rallied to close out the quarter cutting the gap back to just 5 points, 20-15, thanks to an 8-1 run fueled by their defense, a three-point play from Aleesha Cleaver and a three-pointer from Madi Meier. 
 
UIU started the second quarter off slowly scoring only four points through the first six and a half minutes of action.  While the Peacock shooting was cold, the Bulldogs pushed their lead back to 12 points, 31-19, with under four minutes to play in the half.  After a three-pointer from Sam Ofstad broke UIU's drought, the Bulldogs outscored their hosts 12-3 over the final three minutes to take a 43-25 lead into the locker room at halftime.
 
After the halftime break, both defenses took control of the game.  Through the first five minutes of the third quarter UIU held a 3-2 advantage in points for the period.  Truman State broke the spell on the basket first with a quick 9-2 run in less than two minutes on the way to a 59-36 as the clock struck zero.
 
A three-pointer from Courtney Strait at the 6:10 mark gave Truman State their largest lead of the contest at 29 points, 68-39.  In the end, the Bulldogs came away with a 26-point win, 74-48.
 
The Bulldogs claimed big advantages in points in the paint (42-12), second chance points (9-0), rebounds (46-24), offensive rebounds (11-4) and blocked shots (8-2).
 
Truman State was led by Michalina Tomczak, who recorded a double-double with 19 points and 11 rebounds; the Bulldog center added 6 blocks. 
 
Upper Iowa had three players in double figures with Cleaver leading the way at 12 points; the senior guard also registered 4 steals.  Whitney Kieffer and Ofstad both netted 10 points; Kieffer pulled down 4 rebounds, while Ofstad tallied 3 assists and 3 boards.
 
The Peacocks will welcome the #11 Warriors of Winona State University to Dorman on Saturday afternoon, Nov. 28, at 4 p.m. to open their Northern Sun Conference schedule.