THIS WEEKEND IN PEACOCK WOMEN'S HOOPS… The Upper Iowa University women's basketball team is back at home this weekend to ring in the New Year with a pair of Northern Sun Conference games. The Peacocks host the Beavers of Bemidji State University on Friday at 6 p.m. and the Golden Eagles of the University of Minnesota Crookston on Saturday at 4 p.m. Both games will be broadcast live online and on KCRG-TV 9.2 across eastern Iowa.
 
"BLAIR SCORING" PROJECT… Sophomore Blair Klostermann is averaging 16.2 points per game to lead the Peacocks, but she has been even better in Upper Iowa's six Northern Sun Conference games scoring 20.2 points a game including 28 in the team's last game against Winona State University. Klostermann is second on the team in total rebounds with 49 (4.9/game) and is tops on the team in offensive boards with 19.
 
LONG DISTANCE PLANS... The Peacocks have four players that have been dialing long distance with success this season. Klostermann (16), Sam Ofstad (14), Ashley Ray (12) and Haley Martin (8) have combined to net 50 three-pointers while shooting 35.5% as a group.
 
GETTING INTO THE CLUB... After scoring 57 points through the opening ten games of the season, senior center Carly Pagel is just 4 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.
 
TOE THE LINE… Upper Iowa is converting on their opportunities at the charity stripe this season. As a team, the Peacocks have converted 78.1% (118-151) of their free throw attempts, which ranks 10th nationally and leads the NSIC. UIU is averaging 15.1 free throw attempts and 11.8 makes per game.
 
SERIES HISTORY... Upper Iowa is a combined 9-23 against the Beavers and Golden Eagles. The Peacocks are 5-14 overall against Bemidji State including a 4-10 mark since joining the Northern Sun Conference. UIU's last win against BSU came at home on Jan. 31, 2015 by a 74-56 count. Upper Iowa is 4-9 against Minnesota Crookston with all the games coming in conference action. The Peacocks last defeated the Golden Eagles on Jan. 18, 2013 in an impressive 91-68 victory.
 
SCOUTING THE BEAVERS… Bemidji State is coming off an 80-68 loss to Minnesota Crookston just before the holiday break. Tatum Sheley extended the active scoring lead for BSU and reached 921 points; she currently ranks 10th in the conference with 14.9 points per game. Sierra Senske follows Sheley with 842 career points at BSU, while Aimee Pelzer and Hanna Zerr are also both within 199 points of 1,000 for their career.
 
SCOUTING THE GOLDEN EAGLES... Minnesota Crookston earned their first win of the season before break with their 12-point win over the Beavers. The Golden Eagles are led by Alison Hughes and Isieoma Odor, who are combining for nearly 30 points a game. The team is averaging 64.6 points a game while shooting 36% from the floor.