THIS WEEK IN PEACOCK WOMEN'S HOOPS… The Upper Iowa women's basketball team is set to host McKendree University for the 2019-20 home opener in Dorman Gymnasium on Wednesday evening. The Peacocks are returning home after competing in the Central Region Challenge last weekend, while the Bearcats played a pair of games at the Prairie Stars Tipoff Classic for their opening weekend.

LIVE OPTIONS… Live stats and webcast will be available for Wednesday night's matchup through the links at UIUPeacocks.com/Live or the game can be streamed live on the Stretch Internet App for fans with Roku, Amazon Fire, Apple or Android televisions. In addition, the game can be broadcast live on KCRG-TV 9.3.

PEACOCK LEADERS… The Peacocks were led by a mix of newcomers during the first weekend of the season. Jessica Musgrave led the team in both scoring and rebounding with 24 points and 12 boards. The freshman from Toledo, Iowa shot 47.4 percent from the field and 85.7 percent at the line, and pulled down seven offensive rebounds over the weekend. Megan Peterson also played well for UIU with 14 points, five rebounds and a pair of assists, Caralina Apostolou rounded out Upper Iowa's double-figure scorers with 12 points, and Brooke Evenson tallied 11 rebounds, five points, a team-high four blocks, and a steal.

A LOOK AT THE SERIES… The two teams will be meeting for the third time in as many years on Wednesday with both teams searching for the go-ahead win in the series. Upper Iowa won the first matchup 70-63 in 2017-18 but dropped a 74-47 decision to McKendree last season. Two years ago, the Peacocks knocked down 11 three-pointers led by Natalie Dinius who went 4-of-5 beyond the arc. Upper Iowa took a 33-32 lead into the half and was able to outlast the Bearcats late efforts by converting seven of eight free throws down the stretch. Last season, Bekka Pierson shot 58.3 percent from the field (7-12) and added three free throws to lead all scorers with 17 points. The Peacocks went into the locker room trailing by just four, 29-25, but the UIU offense struggled to generate offense in the 3rd quarter as they were held to 1-for-7 shooting in the frame. Meanwhile, McKendree made a blistering 63.2 percent of shot attempts to score 31 points and take a 60-33 lead into the final 10 minutes. Both teams then traded 14 points in the 4^th quarter and the Bearcats claimed the 27-point victory in their home opener. 

SCOUTING THE BEARCATS… McKendree is off to a 2-0 start after beating Purdue University-Northwest (60-46) and Tiffin University (84-77) last weekend. The Bearcats shot 44.1 percent from the field and averaged 72.0 points per contest led by Jordan Heberg (17.5 ppg), Jenna Krause (11.5 ppg), and Callie Pohlman (10.0 ppg). On the glass, Madison Hart pulled down 17 rebounds and Heberg added 10 of her own as McKendree out-rebounded its opponents 82-73. Pohlman led the team in both assists (10) and steals (5), and Brianna Johnson turned away a pair of shots. McKendree was picked 8^th in the 16-team Great Lakes Valley Conference preseason poll for the second season in a row.   

UP NEXT… Upper Iowa will head to Quincy, Ill. for the Subway Classic hosted by Quincy University on Nov. 22-23. The Peacocks will face Quincy on Friday at 7 p.m. and Maryville University on Saturday at 1 p.m.