THIS WEEKEND IN PEACOCK WOMEN'S HOOPS… The Upper Iowa University women's basketball team hits the road for two Northern Sun Conference matchups as they set their sights on the University of Sioux Falls and Southwest Minnesota State University. The Peacocks compete against the Cougars in Sioux Falls, S.D. on Friday, Dec. 10, at 7:30 p.m. before making their way to Marshall, Minn. to meet the Mustangs on Saturday, Dec. 11, at 5:30 p.m.

LIVE COVERAGE OPTIONS… Live stats, audio, and webcasts for the games will be produced by the home teams and 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.

LAST WEEK IN PEACOCK WOMEN'S HOOPS… Upper Iowa fell in their pair of NSIC matchups over the past week. The Peacocks could not out-maneuver Minnesota State University, Mankato on Thursday, Dec. 2. MSU held a slight 9-7 lead midway through the first quarter, but the Mavericks outscored UIU 20-4 over the final five minutes before opening the second period on an 18-0 run. The game was essentially decided in the first half after a 54-19 halftime lead for MSU, and the Mavericks claimed an 88-48 win.

Against Concordia University, St. Paul, UIU used an early 9-0 run to take a 9-3 lead, but CSP closed the opening quarter on a 16-0 stretch. Facing a 37-23 halftime deficit, the Peacocks outscored the Golden Bears 28-17 in the third, thanks to 12 points from Lydia Haack. UIU tied the score at 51 while matching their high-water mark for points in a quarter, but they were unable to take the lead as their comeback effort came up just short, falling 70-61.
 
PLAYING "POINT" GUARD… Lydia Haack puts the "point" in point guard, pacing the Peacocks with 15.3 points per game. Her scoring average ranks ninth in the NSIC, and her 107 total points are the eighth-most. Haack's 44 made field goals tie for the fifth-best mark in the conference, while her 45.8% shooting percentage ranks 10^th. The Elk River, Minn. native has scored in double-figures in five of the seven UIU games, surpassing the 20-point threshold in three of them. Haack is also providing as a playmaker as her 4.3 assists per game tie for fifth in the NSIC.

WORKING WITH WINDEX… A trio of Peacocks cleaned the glass over the last two games. Brooke Evenson led UIU with a 13-point, 10-rebound double-double against MSU, her second this season. Against CSP, Lexie Lodermeier grabbed a career-high 11 rebounds, all on the defensive side. Jessica Musgrave notched her second double-double of the year against the Golden Bears with 10 points and 10 rebounds, including a season-high five offensive boards. Evenson (6.3), Musgrave (6.2), and Lodermeier (5.7) rank 16th, 17th, and 19th in the NSIC in rebounding, respectively.

COUNTERING THE COUGARS... Sioux Falls holds a 5-3 (2-1 NSIC) record on the season. The Cougars dropped a pair of non-conference games against currently undefeated opponents to open the season, but USF has since won five of six. Last week, USF beat Augustana University 73-60 and Wayne State University 76-75. The Cougars rank third in the NSIC at 73.4 points per game, and their 8.8 margin is fourth-best. USF is led by Megan Fannin and her 17.1 points per game, which is fourth in the conference. Krystal Carlson (10.9 pts, 4.9 reb) and Dallie Hoskinson (9.9 pts, 5.4 reb) also contribute to the Cougars.

UIU VS. USF… Sioux Falls was picked fifth in the 2021-22 NSIC Preseason Coaches' Poll (one first-place vote) and fourth in the South Division. The Cougars are 18-1 all-time against the Peacocks. In two early-season matchups in Fayette last season, USF won 86-66 on Jan. 9 and 86-78 on Jan. 10. Evenson led UIU with 15 points in game one and scored 13 first-quarter points in game two, while Haack scored 22 in game two and led UIU with 36 combined points and 11 assists over the double-header.
 
MANAGING THE MUSTANGS... Southwest Minnesota State has compiled a 5-2 (2-1 NSIC) record this season. The Mustangs are just 2-2 after a 3-0 start, and they went 1-1 last week as they fell 69-65 in overtime against Wayne State before beating Augustana 72-58. SMSU averages 70.4 points per game and holds a 6.7 scoring margin. The Mustangs returned their top seven scorers from last season and all five starters, including Meleah Reinhart, the NSIC's fifth-leading scorer this season (17 PPG). Reinhart (17 pts, 5.5 reb), Sadie Stelter (13.4 pts, 5.1 reb), Jenna Borchers (11.1 pts), and Abuk Akoi (8 pts, 5.4 reb, 2 blk) are all SMSU upperclassmen contributors. SMSU is scheduled to play Winona State University before facing UIU.

UIU VS. SMSU… SMSU was voted seventh in the 2021-22 NSIC Preseason Coaches' Poll and tied for second in the South Division. The Mustangs hold a 17-13 advantage in the all-time series against the Peacocks. The series has gone back-and-forth, with SMSU going 7-1 early in the rivalry, UIU compiling a 10-1 stretch, and SMSU winning the last eight meetings. Last season, SMSU won 70-47 on Jan. 16 and 68-37 on Jan. 17 in Marshall, Minn. Haack paced the Peacocks with 15 and 13 points in the games, respectively, but UIU's 37 points were a season-low.