THIS WEEKEND IN PEACOCK WOMEN'S HOOPS… Upper Iowa opens the new decade and calendar year on the road against Northern State University and Minnesota State University Moorhead in a pair of cross-division matchups. The Peacocks will first visit the Wolves on Friday night for a 5:30 p.m. clash before making their way to Moorhead, Minn. on Saturday to take on the Dragons at 4 p.m. Live options are available at UIUPeacocks.com/Live for fans unable to attend the games.
MID-SEASON MOMENTUM… The Peacocks ended the 2019 slate with a 79-60 loss at Winona State University, but saw some success and momentum prior to the holiday break. After opening the season 0-8, Upper Iowa found its groove in the final two weeks of action and went 2-2 overall with wins over Concordia University, St. Paul (65-63) and North Central University (87-68). UIU averaged 70.8 points and 37.3 rebounds during the four-game stretch compared to 51.3 points and 35.4 boards over the first eight contests. Additionally, the Peacocks shot seven percent better from the floor (40.9-33.9) and were 15.2 percent more efficient from distance (39.4-24.2) to close out the year.
SEASON STAT LEADERS… Team leader in italics
- Jessica Musgrave - 15.8 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 16 steals, 48.0% FG
- Megan Peterson - 9.1 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 2.3 apg, 32.8% 3FG
- Natalie Dinius - 7.5 ppg, 2.4 rpg, 32.8% 3FG
- Bekka Pierson - 6.2 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 7 blocks, 38.0% FG
- Brooke Evenson - 5.2 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 8 steals, 6 blocks, 28.8% FG
- Marina Peinado - 3.0 ppg, 2.4 apg, 6 steals, 92.3% FT
SCOUTING NORTHERN STATE… Northern State enters the weekend with a 7-5 overall record and 3-3 mark in league action. The Wolves are averaging 65.3 points per game this season while grabbing an average of 5.0 more rebounds than their opponents and holding their foes to 64.3 points per contest. NSU is shooting 43.2 from the floor and 36.2 percent from distance to rank sixth and third, respectively, in the league. Additionally, the Wolves convert 73.9 percent of their attempts at the foul line to rank fifth in the NSIC. Northern State's scoring has been fueled by three Wolves who have combined for nearly 60.0 percent of total offense; Lexi Wadsworth leads the effort with 14.1 points per game, Brianna Kusler averages 13.2 and Jessi Marti chips in 10.3 points. The trio also leads the team in the rebounding column with Kusler hauling in a team-leading 8.1 per game. NSU is 4-3 on its home court this season.
SCOUTING MSU MOORHEAD… The Dragons currently sit in second place in the NSIC North Division with a 10-3 overall record and 5-1 record in the conference. MSUM is outscoring its foes 72.6 to 56.5 and has one of the best rebounding units in the nation with the fifth-best margin of +14.4. The Dragons rank 21st in all of NCAA DII with 44.9 rebounds per game in large part due to averaging 32.7 defensive rebounds per game which is the fourth most in the division. MSUM is led by Megan Hintz who has been named NSIC North Division Player of the Week on three occasions this season. Hintz averages 7.9 rebounds (6th in NSIC) and 16.2 points per game (6th in NSIC) while shooting 58.7 percent from the field (1st in NSIC), 40.9 percent from downtown and 91.4 percent at the line (4th in NSIC). Sarah Jacobson has also been productive for the Dragons with 9.9 points and 6.2 boards per game, while two other players average more than five rebounds per game and four average more than seven points. The Dragons are 5-0 at home this season and have won 86.1 percent of their contests in the Nemzek Fieldhouse since the start of the 2014-15 season.
UP NEXT… The Peacocks will suit up at home for the first time in 2020. Upper Iowa will host Augustana University on Jan. 10 and Wayne State College on Jan. 11 for a pair of NSIC South Division rematches.
