The #11 Warriors of Winona State University remained perfect on the season with an 8-0 record (1-0 NSIC) after defeating Upper Iowa, 83-58, in the Northern Sun Conference opener for both squads. The Peacocks played a gritty first quarter and trailed their nationally-ranked guests by only one, but the Warriors defense stood tall for the opening five minutes of both the second and third quarters allowing the visitors to build a big lead. In the end, Winona State posted the 25-point win to drop UIU's record to 1-6 overall (0-1 NSIC).
Upper Iowa looked to control the tempo during the first quarter with patience on offense and it paid off. The Peacocks trailed by three, 12-9, midway through the opening frame, but a layup for
Aleesha Cleaver and a jumper from
Sam Ofstad allowed the home team to take a one-point lead, 13-12. The Warriors drained a pair of free throws to retake the lead, but
Blake Bergren had the answer on a deep three from the right wing. Jenny Tuttle put the final shot through the cylinder with 27 seconds to play as she buried a triple to put WSU ahead by one, 17-16, as the teams headed to the bench.
The Peacock offense struggled during the first five and a half minutes of the second quarter and first six minutes of the third quarter. During those 11-plus minutes, Upper Iowa only scored 5 points; the team netted 17 points in the remaining eight minutes after breaking the pair of droughts. While UIU's offense was having trouble, the Warriors took advantage outscoring the home team 41-22 during the middle two quarters.
In the fourth quarter, Upper Iowa cut the gap to eighteen, 67-49, on an old-fashioned three-point play from
Sarah Benson. Benson drove the lane on the next possesion as well finishing with an athletic layin to make it three straight possessions with a home team score.
Whitney Kieffer got the trio of scores started with a jumper. As the clock turned to zeroes, the Warriors had their largest lead of the game, 83-58, and the victory to open NSIC action.
Tara Roelofs was on fire for the Warriors hitting 10 of her 16 attempts including 4 of 5 from deep for 26 points. She was joined in double figures by Kayla Timmerman (16) and Hannah McGlone (14). Timmerman also had a game-high 9 rebounds and 6 blocks, while Connor Nagle scored 5 points, pulled down 5 rebounds and handed out 10 assists.
Kieffer led three players in double figures with 11 points, 3 rebounds and 2 assists. Cleaver chipped in 10 points, 4 assists and 3 rebounds, while Ofstad added 11 points. Three Peacocks came off the bench to combine for 19 points;
Karlee Grabau (7),
Madi Meier (6) and Bergren (6). Meier also grabbed a team-high 6 rebounds and tallied 3 assists, a block and a steal.
The Peacocks will now have a bit of time to hit the practice floor after 7 regular season games in the last 15 days. Upper Iowa will remain at home next Friday and Saturday, Dec. 4-5. UIU will host the Cougars of the University of Sioux Falls on Friday night at 6 p.m. and the Mustangs of Southwest Minnesota State University on Saturday at 4 p.m.
