THIS WEEKEND IN PEACOCK WOMEN'S HOOPS… Upper Iowa will return to Dorman Gymnasium for the final time this season. The Peacocks will line up against Southwest Minnesota State University on Friday evening, and No. 12 University of Sioux Falls on Saturday afternoon for Senior Day. Fans are encouraged to participate in a Pink Out against the Mustangs and wear their best American gear against the Cougars.
LIVE OPTIONS… Live stats and webcast will be available for both matchups 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, Friday's game can be broadcast live on KCRG-TV 9.3, and Saturday's tilt can be broadcast on KCRG-TV 9.2.
NO PLACE LIKE HOME… Head Coach Nate Oakland's young crew of Peacocks have struggled on the road this season but seen success while playing in front of the home crowd in Dorman Gymnasium. The Peacocks have posted a trio of wins on their home court, highlighted by NSIC wins over Concordia University, St. Paul and University of Minnesota Crookston. Upper Iowa has also played several close contests including four where the game was decided by 10 or fewer points. UIU has averaged 64.4 points per game while shooting 39.6 percent against opponents at home compared to averaging just 50.2 points on 30.8 percent shooting when playing away from Fayette. The increase in scoring at home is in large part due to four players averaging more than 8.5 points, including two in double figures, while just one Peacock surpasses that average on the road. Along with scoring more at home, Upper Iowa's efforts on the glass improves as the team averages nearly four more rebounds per contest in Dorman, which slims UIU's rebounding deficit to just 2.3 boards per game.
SAYONARA SENIORS... The Peacock women's basketball program will honor five seniors in between the women's and men's contests on Saturday afternoon. Erica Armstrong, Claudia Morente, Marina Peinado, Bekka Pierson, and Kelsey Simpson have put in many hours throughout their careers and have collectively tallied 924 points, 649 rebounds, 230 assists, 96 steals and 58 blocks. Pierson came to Upper Iowa four years ago from Shell Rock, Iowa, Spaniards Morente and Peinado will finish their careers as two year members of the team, and Armstrong (2 years) and Simpson (1 year) have made contributions to the program after spending time with the Peacock volleyball and track and field teams, respectively.
SCOUTING SMSU… The Mustangs (13-10, 8-10 NSIC) come into the weekend have posted seven wins in their last nine conference tilts including a 3-1 record since hosting Upper Iowa back on Jan. 25. As a unit, SMSU is averaging 69.1 points per game (10th in NSIC) compared to opponents' 65.5 (7th in NSIC). Meleah Reinhart is leading the way with 15.0 points per contest, while Jenna Borchers (12.9 ppg) and Sadie Stelter (10.8) also average double-figure scoring and are the Mustangs' deep scoring threats with 99 three-pointers combined. The Mustangs are outrebounded by a slim edge (39.0 to 38.8) and are paced by Abuk Akoi who hauls in 8.5 to rank second in the conference. Akoi also leads the team with 51 blocks, averaging an NSIC-leading 2.2 per game. The Mustangs shoot 38.1 percent from the field, 32.7 from three, and 79.2 percent at the line (1st in NSIC). Defensively, SMSU restrict opponents to 39.0 percent from the floor, an NSIC-low 26.5 percent from distance, and 71.3 percent from the stripe.
SCOUTING SIOUX FALLS… The Cougars (22-3, 15-3 NSIC) continued their trek upwards in the Women's Basketball Coaches Association poll to No. 12 after pushing their win streak to four games with a weekend sweep of Northern State (65-61) and MSU Moorhead (66-46) in last weekend's action. USF leads the NSIC in scoring offense with 76.8 points per game and is shooting 43.0 percent from the floor (5th in NSIC), 37.9 percent from long range (1st in NSIC), and 76.5 percent at the line (3rd in NSIC). The Cougars' offense is led by Kaely Hummel who averages 17.6 points per game (4th in NSIC). Her scoring is fueled heavily by her league-leading 2.6 triples per game scored on 41.0 percent shooting from outside. On the glass, Sioux Falls allows opponents to bring down 37.1 rebounds per game while averaging 36.1 of their own led by Jacey Huinker with 8.4 per game (4th in NSIC). Other leaders for Sioux Falls include Mariah Szymanski (11.9 points, 3.0 assists, 35 steals) and Anna Goodhope (10.5 points, 4.6 rebounds, 15 blocks).
UP NEXT… Upper Iowa will play the final games of the 2019-20 regular season on the road against Minnesota State University – Mankato and Concordia University, St. Paul on Feb. 21-22.
