THIS WEEKEND IN PEACOCK WOMEN'S HOOPS… Upper Iowa will close out the 2016 calendar year at home on Saturday when the welcome the Warriors of Winona State University. The teams faced each other on Nov. 26 in Winona, Minn.; the Warriors rallied in the second half for a 78-61 win. The Peacocks were ahead by two points at halftime, 32-30. Fans that can't make the game in Fayette can use the online links for live stats and a webcast or tune into KCRG TV 9.2 in eastern Iowa for a live broadcast.
"KLOS"-ING TIME... Sophomore
Blair Klostermann is leading the Peacock offense with a 14.9 points per game, but in Northern Sun Conference play she has upped her game. The Dyersville product is netting 18.6 points per game against the five NSIC opponents Upper Iowa has faced this season. Thanks to her team-high 18 offensive rebounds, Klostermann is second on the team in total rebounds with 46 (5.1/game).
GETTING INTO THE CLUB... After picking up 14 points this past weekend, senior center
Carly Pagel is now just 6 points away from reaching 900 in her career. Pagel is attempting to become just the 12th Peacock women's basketball player to reach the 1,000 Point plateau and gain membership to the exclusive club. Pagel was named the NSIC Freshman of the Year in 2012-13 and scored 569 points through her first two seasons, but a pair of injuries have slowed her assault on the record book.
STEPPING UP AT THE LINE... Upper Iowa is converting on their opportunities at the charity stripe this season. As a team, the Peacocks have converted 78.5% (113-144) of their free throw attempts, which ranks 12th nationally and leads the NSIC. UIU is averaging 16 free throw attempts per game and have made 12.5 of them on average.
LOOKING FOR A FULL 40 MINUTES... The Peacocks have been playing well in the first half this season. Upper Iowa has led at halftime three times including at WSU (32-30) and both games last weekend. The team is averaging a 3.5 point deficit (33.1-29.6) at the break, but the trouble has come in the second half where opponents have outscored Upper Iowa by an average of over 12 points (42.3-30.1).
SCOUTING THE WARRIORS... The Warriors (9-2, 4-1 NSIC) lost their first game of the season in San Juan, Puerto Rico, but rattled off nine straight wins until their loss at Concordia-St. Paul last Saturday. Winona State's streak included a 78-61 victory over Upper Iowa in McCown Gym in Winona, Minn. to open the Northern Sun Conference schedule for both teams. Prior to Saturday's loss to the Golden Bears (66-59), the Warriors had outscored their NSIC opponents 71.8-55.3 to earn a 4-0 start in conference. Tara Roelofs leads the WSU offense with 14.9 points per game, while Kayla Timmerman is adding 11.3 points a contest. Three more Warriors are finding the bottom of the net with frequency including Jenny Tuttle (9.4), Hannah McGlone (8.5) and Liz Evenocheck (8). On the glass, Winona State is led by McGlone's 7.9 and Timmerman's 6.6 boards per game. Tuttle and Roelofs are distributing the ball well averaging 3 and 2.4 assists per game. Timmerman has been the eraser inside for the Warriors as well posting 2.2 blocks per game.
