Upper Iowa's women's basketball team earned their first victory of the season on Tuesday night in Fayette. The Peacocks defeated the Pride of Clarke University 74-69 to improve to 1-2 on the year. The loss marked Clarke's first defeat of the season after opening the year with five straight wins.
After only scoring 32 points and 49 points in their two games last weekend, the Peacock offense exploded in the first half scoring 47 points and claiming an 11-point lead at the break. Upper Iowa scored the first six points of the game and used a 14-2 run over the first five minutes. The opening run was fueled by scores from all five starters and capped off by a Haley Martin three-pointer. By the end of the first quarter, UIU maintained their 12-point advantage and led 26-14.
Clarke rallied over the first four minutes of the quarter with a 14-4 run of their own and pulled within one bucket, 30-28, but the home team had an answer. Upper Iowa snapped the run with back-to-back scores by Bekka Pierson and three triples out of the right hand of Natalie Dinius. The 13-1 run pushed Upper Iowa's lead back to double digits, 43-29, with just over three minutes to play. When the dust settled at halftime, a basket by Savannah Domeyer put the Peacocks ahead 47-36.
The defensive adjustments made by both teams ruled the third quarter as each team only managed 12 points during the 10-minute period. UIU moved to the fourth quarter still leading by 11 points, 59-48.
Ashley Rosenstiel converted an old-fashioned three-point play to give the home team their biggest lead, 64-48, of the night just seconds into the final quarter. Over the next six minutes, the Pride began to slowly chip away at the Peacock lead. Clarke cut the margin to just three points, 66-63, with a little over three minutes to play thanks to a 15-2 run. Clarke continued to push and eventually tied the game at 69-69 on a pair of free throws by Kea Whittington.
On UIU's ensuing possession, Madison Smith found Domeyer for a driving layup that gave the Peacocks a 71-69 lead. After a defensive stand by the Peacocks, Domeyer was fouled and calmly knocked down a pair of free throws to push the team's lead to four, 73-69. One final free throw from Blair Klostermann set the final margin at five, 74-69.
The Peacocks outrebounded the Pride 48-34 including a 21-12 advantage in offensive rebounds. Upper Iowa took advantage of their opportunities and scored 22 second chance points. Martin led Upper Iowa with 10 rebounds while Rosenstiel pulled down 7 and Domeyer and Klostermann each grabbed 6. Natasha Adames pulled in 10 rebounds to lead Clarke on the boards.
Klostermann led five Peacocks in double figures with 16 points. Dinius added 12 points on 4 three-pointers, while Rosenstiel and Domeyer each knocked down 4 shots to score 11 points each and Pierson converted all 4 of her shots at the free throw line to score 10. Adames paced the Pride with 20 points claiming a double-double on the night, while Makenna Haase also earned a double-double with 17 points and 12 rebounds.
The Peacocks were able to limit their turnovers in the game registering only 15 giveaways, while assisting on 18 of their 27 made baskets. Smith led the way with 5 assists, while Pierson added 4 and Klostermann and Rosenstiel each handed out 3 helpers. Whittington dished out 8 assists for the Pride to go with her 12 points.
The Peacocks will head to the Quincy Subway Classic in Quincy, Ill. this Friday and Saturday, Nov. 17-18. Upper Iowa will face McKendree University on Friday and then challenge Quincy on Saturday.
