THIS WEEKEND IN PEACOCK WOMEN'S HOOPS… Upper Iowa will look to bounce back after dropping the NSIC opener to Winona State University when they host Wayne State College and #24 Augustana University in Dorman Gymnasium on December 7-8. Tip-off is set for 5:30 p.m. on Friday and 3:30 p.m. on Saturday.

LIVE OPTIONS… Fans who can't make it to the game have several options to follow the action from home or on the go. Upper Iowa will provide a webcast and live stats, which fans can access through the links above or UIUPeacocks.com/Live. Friday's game against Wayne State can be broadcast live on KCRG-TV 9.3 while Saturday's doubleheader will be broadcast on KCRG-TV 9.2. The games can also be streamed live on the NSIC Channel through Roku, Amazon Fire, Apple and Android TV's.

GIVE ME FIVE… In UIU's most recent contest against Winona State, Natalie Dinius converted three triples in the first quarter en route to a season-high shooting percentage of 42.9 percent beyond the arc. Dinius now has recorded three 3-pointers in five straight contests for the Peacocks and leads the NSIC in total 3-FG's made with 17. In just eight games, the sophomore is a third of the way to matching her 2017-18 season total, which finished 6^th in the NSIC.

CRUNCHING THE NUMBERS… The Peacocks have struggled in the second half of contests this season. Upper Iowa has both scored and allowed 129 points in the first half of games this season, but has been outscored 289-230 after half-time in eight matches. In UIU's five losses, opponents have outscored the Peacocks by an average 13.6 points in just the 3^rd quarter as opposed to the 1^st (2.8), 2^nd (1.4) and 4^th (1.2) quarters. In those frames, Upper Iowa's foes made the necessary adjustments at halftime to shoot 53.8 percent from the field while grabbing 7.6 offensive rebounds to pull away from the Peacocks.

SEASON STAT LEADERS… Team leader in italics

• Natalie Dinius – 10.3 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 1.8 apg, 4 steals, 29.8% 3FG
• Bekka Pierson – 9.9 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 0.6 apg, 4 blocks, 1 steal, 56.9% FG
• Savannah Domeyer – 9.6 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 15 blocks, 8 steals, 61.5% FG
• Emma Gaber – 6.8 ppg, 2.0 rpg, 1.9 apg, 5 steals, 29.3% FG
• Casey Miles – 5.5 ppg, 2.4 apg, 9 steals, 41.7% FG
• Haley Martin – 5.3 ppg, 7.1 rpg, 3 blocks, 5 steals, 36.4% FG

SCOUTING WAYNE STATE…  The Wildcats have started the 2018-19 season 4-2 overall and dropped their NSIC opener to Augustana (81-73) last weekend. Wayne State is coached by Brent Pollari in his first season at the helm. Wayne State is averaging 70.5 points per game, 40.5 rebounds per game and is shooting 38.8 percent from the field. The Warriors have five individuals averaging double-digit points in Brittany Bongartz (15.0), Erin Norling (14.7), Halley Busse (13.0), Haley Vesey (12.0), and Andrea Larson (10.2). Amelia Ivester is WSC's lead rebounder and averages 9.0 boards per game. Busse has converted a team-high 52.1% of her shot attempts and averages 4.3 assists to lead the team and rank 3^rd in the NSIC.  The Wildcats were tabbed 10^th overall and 6^th in the NSIC South Division in the 2018 NSIC preseason coaches' poll.   

SCOUTING AUGUSTANA…  The Vikings have opened the 2018-19 campaign 8-1 overall and are currently ranked 24^th in the D2SIDA poll released on Dec. 4. Augustana's lone blemish was to the #21 Central Oklahoma (59-55) at the Puerto Rico Clasicó. The 2018 NSIC Tournament Champions used a late rally to top Wayne State (81-73) last weekend in the NSIC opener. The Vikings are shooting 44.4 percent from the field (1^st NSIC) to average 80.1 points (1^st NSIC, 20^th in NCAA DII) while pulling down 32.6 defensive rebounds per game (1^st NSIC, 7th in NCAA DII). AU's total rebounds (408) is the 5^th highest total in the nation, total assists (151) is the 12^th largest and total steals (117) ranks 4^th. Abby Hora (12.2 ppg), Shellby Selland (12.2 ppg) and Lynsey Prosser (12.1 ppg) are the Vikings' lead scorers through nine games. Selland has pulled down 84 rebounds (9.3 per game) to lead the team and sit 4^th in NSIC and 19^th in NCAA Division II rankings. Hana Metoxen (1^st NSIC, 4^th NCAA DII) and Prosser (7^th NSIC, 28^th NCAA DII) have combined for nearly 42% of Augustana's steals. The Vikings were selected 4^th overall and 3^rd in the South Division – picking up a first place vote in each – in the 2018 NSIC preseason coaches' poll.   

LOOKING AHEAD… The Peacocks will continue Northern Sun Conference play on the road against Concordia University, St. Paul and Minnesota State University – Mankato. Upper Iowa will line up against the Golden Bears on Fri. Dec. 14 at 5:30 p.m. before facing the Mavericks on Sat. Dec. 15 at 3:30 p.m.