THIS WEEK IN PEACOCK WOMEN'S HOOPS… The Upper Iowa University women's basketball team will host a trio of contests for their final home games of 2021. The Peacocks compete against the Crown College Storm on Tuesday, Dec. 14, at 5:30 p.m., before NSIC matchups against the Augustana University Vikings on Friday, Dec. 16, at 7:30 p.m. and the Wayne State College Wildcats on Saturday, Dec. 17, at 5:30 p.m.

LIVE COVERAGE OPTIONS… Live stats and webcasts for each game will be available through the links at UIUPeacocks.com/LIVE and included with this story. The contests will also stream live on the new NSIC Network app through Roku and Fire devices, as well as Apple and Android TV. Search for "NSIC Network" to find the app on your relevant device. Locally, Tuesday's game will be broadcast live on KCRG-TV 9.2, Friday's contest will be aired as a delayed broadcast at 11 p.m. on KCRG-TV 9.2, and Saturday's action will air live on KCRG-TV 9.2.
 
DIGITAL GAMEDAY PROGRAM… Fans can access an interactive and digital gameday program for each home contest at any time at UIUPeacocks.com/Programs. The digital programs are available to fans both at our games and those at home watching the action. QR Codes will also be located around the facility to scan with your cell phone's camera that will link you directly to that game's specific digital gameday program.

LAST WEEKEND IN PEACOCK WOMEN'S HOOPS… The Peacocks were unable to pick up a win in either of their two road NSIC matchups, falling 73-50 to the University of Sioux Falls and 75-51 against Southwest Minnesota State University. Against USF, Lydia Haack (17), Jessica Musgrave (15), and Brooke Evenson (10) each scored in double-figures, but the Cougars (29-71, 40.8%) out-shot the Peacocks (17-60, 28.3%) and were +20 on the boards, 53-33. Against SMSU, Evenson (16) and Haack (15) were the game's leading scorers as UIU led after one quarter and was only down three after two. However, the Mustangs outscored the Peacocks 28-8 in the third period to go ahead for good. SMSU finished the game with a 40-12 margin in points in the paint while out-shooting UIU 29-62 (46.8%) to 16-57 (28.1%).
 
BROOKE "THREE"-VENSON… Upper Iowa is making nearly two more (7.1 up from 5.6) three-pointers per game and is shooting 5.7% better (32% up from 26.3%) from beyond the arc compared to last season, and Brooke Evenson is a big reason why. The sharpshooting wing is averaging a career-high 11.4 points per game and has already tied last season's 16-game output of 22 makes from distance. The junior's 2.4 threes per game rank fourth in the NSIC, and her shooting has helped the Peacocks to the conference's seventh-best three-point percentage.

FIVE-FINGER DISCOUNT… Lydia Haack snared five steals against SMSU to record a career-high and single-handedly snag more steals than UIU's 4.9 per-game average. The handful of steals were the most rips by a Peacock since the 2017-18 season. Haack leads UIU and ties for 16^th in the NSIC with 1.6 steals per game.  

COMING FOR THE CROWN… Crown College carries a 3-3 (0-1 UMAC) record on the year. The Storm lost their lone game last weekend by a score of 95-52. CC averages 61.2 points (-7 margin) while shooting 35.8% from the floor, 22.9% from three, and 56.5% from the free throw line. The Storm are led by the scoring trio of McKenzie Latzke (17 PPG, 2.8 steals), Dominique Urbina (15.3 PPG, 3 assists), and Amy Martius (10.2 PPG, 6.3 rebounds). Urbina scored a program-record 45 points on 16-21 shooting on Nov. 11, winning UMAC and NCCAA player of the week awards after CC's season-opening win. Crown was picked to finish last in the UMAC Women's Basketball Preseason Poll.

VANQUISHING THE VIKINGS... Augustana (SD) holds a 3-5 (0-5 NSIC) record on the season. The Vikings opened the year with a 3-1 record, but they have not won a conference game and are on an 0-4 stretch. Minnesota State (91-86) and Concordia, St. Paul (73-71) claimed victories in their last two games. AUGIE ranks fourth in the NSIC with 72.5 points per game despite their losing record, holding a 3.1 scoring margin. Aislinn Duffy averages 14 points, leads her team in assists (3.3), and is the only player in the NSIC averaging double-digit rebounds at 12.8, good for sixth in NCAA DII. Lauren Sees leads the Vikings with 15.5 points per game, Vishe' Rabb scores 10.8 points, and Kenzie Rensch leads the NSIC with 4.4 steals. Augustana was picked third (two first-place votes) in the 2021-22 NSIC Preseason Coaches' Poll and voted to win the South Division. The Vikings are 27-0 all-time against the Peacocks, including 50-point (92-42) and 43-point (82-39) wins last season on Jan. 29 and 30, respectively.

WEATHERING THE WILDCATS... Wayne State has compiled a 6-3 (3-2 NSIC) record this season. The Wildcats 2-2 in their last four NSIC games, beating SMSU 69-65 in overtime, losing 76-75 to USF, winning 75-70 over CSP, and falling 63-52 to MSU. WSC averages 69 points per game and holds a 4.4 scoring margin. Kylie Hammer's 20.1 points per game lead the NSIC and rank 20^th in NCAA DII. Lauren Zacharias scores 12 points and shoots 47.2% from three, while Kassidy Pingel tallies 9.3 points and 7.4 rebounds. Wayne State was voted to finish 13th in the 2021-22 NSIC Preseason Coaches' Poll and seventh in the South Division, each one spot ahead of UIU. The Wildcats are 19-1 all-time against the Peacocks, including competitive 84-79 and 78-70 wins last season on Jan. 22 and 23, respectively. The losing margins were UIU's smallest, and the Peacock scoring totals were their best average against an opponent. WSC is scheduled to play Winona State University before facing UIU.