THIS WEEKEND IN PEACOCK WOMEN'S HOOPS… The Upper Iowa women's basketball team is set to open the 2019-20 campaign at the Central Region Challenge hosted by University of Arkansas at Monticello. Along with UAM and UIU, Southern Arkansas University and Lincoln University will join the action in Monticello, Ark. The Peacocks will tip off the new year with a 7 p.m. matchup against UAM on Friday before facing SAU on Saturday afternoon at 1 p.m. Live stats and webcasts are available for both matches through the links above.

NSIC PLAYER TO WATCH… Junior Natalie Dinius was named UIU's NSIC Player to Watch for this season after leading the team in scoring with 8.5 points per game last year. She hit double figure scoring 13 times last season including a season-high 16 points against Emmaus Bible College. Dinius knocked down 63 three-pointers (2.0/game) in 2018-19 to rank 6^th on the NSIC leaderboard for the second season in a row, and added 79 rebounds, 28 assists, and 13 steals.  

GLAD TO HAVE YOU BACK… Junior Savannah Domeyer also returns this season after leading the team with 1.7 blocks (3^rd in NSIC) and finishing second on the team with 8.1 points per game, 4.3 rebounds per game, and a .477 field goal percentage. Domeyer registered two double-doubles as a sophomore and had three games with 20+ points. Forward Bekka Pierson is returning for her senior season following last year's campaign where she finished third on the team in scoring (7.9 ppg), field goal percentage (.441), rebounds (3.4 rpg), and blocks (13). The Peacocks also bring back a pair of senior guards in Marina Peinado and Claudia Morente, as well as centers Erica Armstrong and Ally Fink.

FRESH FACES… Head Coach Nate Oakland will look to a mix of new faces to push the Peacocks toward a successful season this year. Upper Iowa welcomes five true freshman to the roster including Caralina Apostolou, Katie O'Brien, Brooke Evenson, Lexie Lodermeier, and Jessica Musgrave, as well as transfers Brittiney Harris and Megan Peterson and seniors Kelsey Simpson and Anna Winter.  

SCOUTING THE BLOSSOMS… Arkansas at Monticello is coming off an 8-19 overall record in 2018-19 and were picked to finish 12^th in the 2019-20 Great American Conference Preseason Coaches' Poll. Last season, UAM finished 11^th in the GAC with 62.2 points per contest and ranked fifth in opponent scoring with 65.1 points per game. The Blossoms' strongest asset last year was their rebounding; UAM was fourth in the league in defensive boards with 35.4 per contest. Head Coach Greg Long is beginning his first season with the Blossoms, and will look to a pair of key returners in Berniezha Tidwell (12.4 ppg, .433 FG, 4.4 rpg, 2.8 spg) and Nina Kizzee (5.0 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 1.4 spg).

SCOUTING THE MULERIDERS… Following a 3-25 mark in 2018-19, Southern Arkansas was picked to finish 10^th in the 2019-20 Great American Conference Preseason Coaches' Poll. Last year, SAU averaged 54.2 points per contest (12^th in GAC) compared to its opponents' 67.4 points per game (7^th in GAC). The Muleriders return nine players from last year's roster led by lead-scorer Ariana Guinn (10.2 ppg) and lead-rebounder Alyssa Crase (5.0 rpg). Head Coach Adam Collins is entering his second year at the helm.

UP NEXT… Upper Iowa will welcome McKendree University to Dorman Gymnasium for the 2019-20 home opener. Tip-off is set for 6 p.m. in Fayette.