The Upper Iowa University women's basketball team fell in game two of their weekend double-header against the Mavericks of Minnesota State University, Mankato after cutting their deficit to single-digits in the second half. The Mavericks made the most of a 22-11 turnover differential as they converted those takeaways into a 20-2 advantage in points off turnovers. Neither team shot well and each had over 50 team rebounds as MSU was held to a 32.9/32.3/55.6 shooting clip from the field, 3PT territory, and free throw line, while UIU was held to 26.2/25/78.6 shooting marks. Minnesota State improves to 8-5 (7-4 NSIC) on the year while the Peacocks drop to 1-13 (0-12 NSIC) this season after the 72-48 defeat.
Turning Points…
Mankato opened the game on an 8-0 run to take an early lead, but the Peacocks were able to push back with a 7-2 stretch and cut their deficit to 10-7 midway through the first quarter. After Lydia Haack opened the second period with a layup, the Mavericks used an 11-2 run to build a 15-point cushion. Upper Iowa closed the gap to 11 points at 32-21 going into the halftime break thanks to 4 points from Brooke Evenson and a layup by Cassidy Pagel as time expired.Â
Lexie Lodermeier scored the opening basket of the second half to cut the MSU lead to single digits, but Mankato would build their lead back up thanks to another 11-2 run over the ensuing four minutes of play. The teams would match one another's scoring outputs over the rest of the third quarter, but the Mavericks held a 54-36 advantage going into the fourth. The MSU lead would balloon to 28 points near the end of the final frame, but UIU finished the contest with consecutive field goals as they ultimately fell 72-48.Â
Peacock Leaders…
Haack led the Peacocks in scoring for the second consecutive game as she notched 13 points in just the first three quarters of play. The freshman also grabbed a season-high 7 rebounds while adding 3 assists and 2 steals.Â
Freshman Cassidy Pagel finished with season-highs of 9 points and 7 rebounds in 14 minutes of action. She shot 2-4 (50%) from the floor and was 5-6 (83%) from the charity stripe.
Starters Brooke Evenson and Alaina Brenning scored 6 points apiece. Brenning shot 2-4 (50%) from behind the 3PT arc while securing 5 rebounds, 1 assist, and 1 steal. Evenson pulled down a game-high 10 rebounds and added an assist and a steal as well.
Maverick Leaders… Â
Tayla Stuttley scored a team-high 13 points for Mankato. She also added 2 rebounds and 1 steal in the contest.
Rachel Shumski dropped in 11 points while tying for the team-high in both rebounds (8) and steals (3).
Maddy Olson and Shea Fuller each scored 8 points on three made field goals while both shooting 2-5 (40%) from deep. Olson supplied 3 assists, 2 rebounds, and 2 steals, while Fuller contributed 3 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1 steal.Â
Up Next…
The Peacocks will play the last two games of the 2020-21 season on their home floor in Dorman Memorial Gymnasium against the Warriors of Winona State University. The action is scheduled to tipoff at 6 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 19, and again on Saturday, Feb. 20, at 2 p.m. as Upper Iowa plays its final double-header games of the year.
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