The Peacock women's basketball team went on the road on Saturday to Winona, Minn. to take on the Warriors of Winona State University for the second time this season. UIU was looking for revenge after dropping their home contest to WSU, but the Warriors would complete the sweep of Upper Iowa with a 68-55 victory. WSU held a commanding lead at halftime, and thanks to 53% shooting from the floor, held a lead they would never surrender. With the loss, Upper Iowa drops to 2-10 on the season, and 0-6 in the Northern Sun Conference.
Both teams got off to good shooting starts in the opening quarter in McCown Gymnasium. The hometown Warriors hit their first five shots from the floor in a back-and-forth start to the game, and at the first media timeout, both teams were a combined 10-14 from the floor. Winona State stretched the lead out to 16-10, but an 8-2 spurt by the Peacocks tied the game at 18 with 1:50 to play in the frame.
The Warriors then went on a 7-0 run to end the frame, and after an injury delay, hit a shot with 4 seconds left to lead 25-18 at the end of the first. Five first-quarter turnovers hurt UIU on offense in the frame.
The home team kept their offensive firepower into the second period, scoring 11 points in the first five minutes of the quarter. Winona State kept the pressure on, outscoring Upper Iowa 18-8 in the quarter to take a 43-26 lead into the locker room. WSU put together an 11-0 run to end the period, and did not allow a point to UIU after the 7:50 mark of the period.
The Peacocks shot just 3-13 (23.1%) from the floor in the second quarter, while WSU took advantage of 6-14 shooting (42.9%). UIU's eight first-half turnovers proved to be a difference as well. Winona State kept their red-hot offense going, converting 17-30 first-half shots (56.7%).
The Warriors jumped out to an 18-point lead with transition points to start the third quarter, but the Peacocks came storming back with a 11-3 run to get within 10, 50-40, with 3:09 to play, and had outscored the Warriors 14-7 in the period to that point. After the media timeout, WSU went on a 6-0 run that ended the third quarter and opened the final period.
The Peacocks outscored their opponent in the fourth quarter, 15-13, with seven of those points coming at the free throw line. UIU struggled to regain their form from the field, converting just 11-54 shots after starting 6-13 in the first quarter. The Peacocks shot 29.8% (17-57) for the game, and attempted 34 three-point attempts for second time this season, but connected on just nine.
Blair Klostermann led the way for UIU with a game-high 19 points on 7-18 shooting. The junior converted four three-pointers after hitting just 10 all season coming into the game. Her five rebounds tied
Ashley Rosenstiel for a team-best as well.
Angelica De Paulo added nine points off the bench, while
Haley Martin scored six on 2-7 from behind the arc.
Upper Iowa will have the holiday break off now for about a week, and then will return to action over the New Year's weekend. UIU will head to Bemidji, Minn. on Saturday, Dec. 30 to battle the Bemidji State Beavers before heading to Crookston, Minn. to square off with the Golden Eagles of UM Crookston on Sunday, Dec. 31. Both games tip off at 1:30 p.m.
