Box Score
Peacock fans poured into Dorman Gymnasium on Monday night to get a glimpse of this year's edition of Upper Iowa women's basketball. UIU hosted former Iowa Conference foe Wartburg College in an exhibition game on Prochaska Court. Upper Iowa rallied from a first half deficit and controlled the fourth quarter to pull away from their guests and claim the victory 66-56. Wartburg is picked to win the IIAC this season coming off their final four trip at the NCAA Division III Championship last season.
After trailing 17-12 at the end of the first quarter, the Peacocks outscored their guests 16-9 in the second frame to take a two-point lead into the locker room, 28-26. UIU did their damage in the paint in the first half with 8 points inside, while the Knights converted four three-points to account for nearly half their scoring.
The teams exchanged the lead in the third quarter, but three points over the final two minutes by
Blair Klostermann gave the home team a one-point edge, 39-38, heading into the final quarter.
In the fourth quarter, Upper Iowa used a 9-2 run to establish their largest lead of the game, 48-42, over the first three and a half minutes. The run was fueled by five points from Klostermann including a three-pointer. Miranda Murphy tried to put the Knights on her back with 16 of the team's 18 fourth quarter points, but each time the Peacocks had an answer. Three-pointers on back-to-back possessions by
Sam Ofstad and Klostermann had the home crowd on their feet and Ofstad sealed the game for UIU by scoring 7 of the team's final 8 points.
The Peacocks made the most of their 16 offensive rebounds scoring an 11-2 advantage in second chance points. Upper Iowa also shot well on the night as well converting 40.3% of their shots including 38.1% (8-21) from behind the arc and 72.7% (8-11) at the charity stripe. UIU won the rebounding battle 40-36 and came up with 8 steals on defense.
Ofstad scored a team-high 22 points thanks to four trifectas and 4-4 shooting at the free throw line, while Klostermann (16) and
Carly Pagel (15) both reached double figures as well.
Kari Fitzpatrick netted 9 points and
Ashley Rosenstiel added 4. On the glass, the Peacocks were led by Fitzpatrick and Pagel, who each cleared 9 boards. Ofstad added 4 assists and a pair of steals.
Upper Iowa will officially kick off its season in St. Joseph, Mo. at the Drury Inn Tip-Off Tournament with games against Fort Hays State and Missouri Western State on Nov. 11-12.
