THIS WEEKEND IN PEACOCK WOMEN'S HOOPS…  The Peacocks head into the second weekend of the season with a 1-1 record after splitting their two-game series with St. Cloud State University last Saturday and Sunday. The Cougars of the University of Sioux Falls enter the weekend ready to compete for the first time after last weekend's games were cancelled due to CoVID-19 testing protocols and contact tracing. The games were originally scheduled for Friday and Saturday, but the games were pushed back one day to allow the Cougars to clear CoVID-19 testing protocols.
 
ATTENDANCE POLICY & LIVE OPTIONS... Fans at the games this weekend are limited to invite only. Don't worry if you don't get the invite though... we've got you covered with several live options. Live stats and a webcast will be available through the links at UIUPeacocks.com/Live. The games will also stream live on the new NSIC Network app through Roku and Fire devices, as well as Apple and Android TV. Locally, Saturday's game will be broadcast on KCRG-TV 9.2, while Sunday's action can be found on KCRG-TV 9.3.
 
BREAKING STREAKS… Following the season-opening win at St. Cloud State, the Peacocks broke a few streaks that had been haunting them in recent years. Those streaks included the team's… first win in 17 games all-time against St. Cloud State… broke 11-game losing streak dating back to last year… broke a 45-game slide on the road dating back to Jan. 7, 2017 when UIU won at Southwest Minnesota State University... broke a 21-game skid of non-conference road games dating back to Nov. 22, 2012 when UIU won at the University of Alaska-Fairbanks… first OT win since a victory in extra time at Southwest Minnesota State on Jan. 18, 2014.
 
WEEKEND REWIND... The Peacocks earned a split last weekend at St. Cloud State earning a 75-71 overtime win over last season's NSIC/Sanford Health Tournament Champion. On Saturday, UIU trailed by as many as 12 points on several occasions in the game but rallied in the final quarter to take a six-point lead late and then earn a 75-71 win in overtime. Both teams had their fair share of turns at the charity stripe, but Upper Iowa took better advantage knocking down 21 of 25, while St. Cloud State only converted 16 of their 24 opportunities. Lydia Haack led the Peacocks in scoring with 30 points. The freshman converted nine of 16 shots from the field and added a perfect 12 of 12 at the free throw line. Jessica Musgrave recorded a double-double with 23 points and 10 rebounds. The sophomore hit eight field goals in 20 tries including one of two from behind the arc. On Sunday, both teams struggled on offense, but the home team was able to put the Peacocks in foul trouble early while earning 14 more tries at the free throw line. SCSU led for the majority of the game and in the second half pushed their lead to 26 points before a final Peacock run slimmed the final margin to 66-50. UIU was led by Katie Tornstrom and Callista Rochon-Baker, who each scored 10 points, and Jessica Musgrave, who netted 8 points and added 9 rebounds.
 
SCOUTING THE COUGARS… The Cougars have been picked to finish fourth in the 2020-21 league coaches' preseason poll. USF lost seven seniors but returns experience and several talented newcomers and will look to win a second straight NSIC South Division title. The Cougars return senior Anna Goodhope (10.6 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 705 career points and 97 threes), and juniors Hannah Jones (191 points and167 rebounds in her career) Kiara James (166 points and 74 rebounds in her career) and Krystal Carlson (235 points and 124 rebounds in her career), who all have started games. USF also added DI transfer & junior Anne Brecht (3.9 ppg, 1.3 rpg, 161 career points, 60 rebounds, 51 three pointers), from DI Green Bay-Wisconsin. Another DI transfer is Emily Petersen (142 career points, 38 3s) from Nebraska Omaha and point guard Dallie Hoskinson (9.9 ppg, 8.2 rpg, 5.1 apg, 425 career points, 367 rebounds and 222 assists) from Johnson County Community College which was 28-5 & ranked nationally a year ago.  Hoskinson had 20 double digit scoring games, 12 double-digit rebound contests and recorded three triple doubles at JCCC.