The Upper Iowa University women's basketball team played a back-and-forth game against Wayne State College in Dorman Memorial Gymnasium, but the Wildcats closed out the fourth quarter on a 12-4 run in the final five minutes to secure a 78-70 win. The close contest included 12 lead changes and 11 ties, and both teams traded scoring runs throughout the game. Peacock guard Lydia Haack led all scorers as she tallied 29 points and 6 assists, but the Wildcats secured the win thanks to four players scoring 12 or more points. WSC improves to 4-4 (3-3 NSIC) while UIU falls to 1-7 (0-6 NSIC).

Turning Points…

Guard Lydia Haack scored 7 of the first 14 Peacock points as UIU led for the majority of the 1st quarter before the Wildcats rattled off a 9-0 run late in the period. A made 3PT shot from Callista Rochon-Baker ended the run and brought the newfound WSC lead down to 19-17 at the end of one.

Upper Iowa retook the lead at 24-23 midway through the second quarter after a Lexie Lodermeier bucket, and from that point the period would feature back and forth runs by both sides. With UIU leading 26-25, Wayne State knocked down consecutive threes to secure a 4-point advantage. The Peacocks would answer with a 6-1 run to tie the game at 32 apiece, but WSC would go on to close the half on a 7-2 run and carry a 39-34 lead into the break.

After getting down seven at 46-39, the Peacocks went on a 7-0 run that culminated with a made 3PT field goal from Katie Tornstrom that tied it up at 46 with 3:28 to play in the third quarter. Upper Iowa outscored Wayne State 20-13 in the third period and scored the last four points of the period to take a 54-52 lead into the final frame.

UIU opened the final period with a made shot to go up 56-52, but Wayne State's Halley Busse hit consecutive threes to force a Peacock timeout and give the Wildcats a 2-point lead. Upper Iowa would grab their last lead of the game at 61-60 and would tie the score at 66-66 with 5:21 to play, but the Wildcats ended the fourth on a 12-4 run. WSC scored the final four points of the game and held UIU scoreless for the final 2:44 of the game en route to a 78-70 victory.

Peacock Leaders…

Haack led both teams by posting game-highs with 29 points to go along with 6 assists. She added 4 rebounds and 2 steals as well and led both teams in free throw shooting by converting 7-8 (87.5%) from the line. The freshman guard finished the weekend with 40 points, 12 assists, and 7 rebounds. 

Tornstrom scored 10 points to give UIU another double-figure scorer. Her 3 steals tied Rochon-Baker for the team high. 

Brooke Evenson tallied 9 points and 4 rebounds to finish the weekend with totals of 27 points and 11 boards.

Lodermeier shot 4-6 (66.7%) from the field, notching 8 points and 5 rebounds. She recorded 17 points and 14 rebounds over the double-header.

Wildcat Leaders…

Erin Norling scored 11 points and added 6 rebounds in the first half, finishing the game with a team-high 19 points, a game-high 12 rebounds including 4 offensive boards, and was tied for the game-high with 3 steals. She ended the weekend with 36 points and 21 boards.

Kylie Hammer shot 5-10 (50.0%) from the field and 2-3 (66.7%) from the 3PT line en route to 17 points. She contributed 5 rebounds, a team-high 4 assists, and a game-high 3 blocks. 

Busse scored all of her 13 points from the free throw and three point lines, shooting 3-6 (50.0%) from deep and 4-4 (100%) from the charity stripe. She added 4 rebounds in this matchup and finished the double-header with 36 points, 9 rebounds, and 8 assists. 

Autumn Mlinar was the fourth double-digit scorer for the Wildcats, providing 12 points for the second game in a row. She shot 4-5 (80.0%) from the field and 3-4 (75.0%) from behind the arc, adding 9 rebounds and 3 assists along the way. 

Up Next…

The Peacocks head to Sioux Falls, S.D. for a two-game set against the Augustana University Vikings. The games are scheduled to be played at 7 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 27, and 3 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 28.