The Upper Iowa University women's basketball played a tight final game of the season at home in Fayette. The Peacocks outscored the Warriors in the second and fourth quarters, but the difference in the game came from decisive runs by the Warriors to end the first and third quarters. The teams were evenly matched in almost every area, but Winona used a slight shooting advantage, hitting 35 shots on 52.2% compared to UIU's 30 makes on 47.6% shooting, to claim a 92-80 victory. The Winona victory gave them a 5-7 (5-6 NSIC) record to end their season, while the Peacocks ended the 2020-21 campaign with a 1-15 (0-14 NSIC) record on the year.
Turning Points…
Following a 7-3 start in favor of Winona, the Peacocks knotted the game at 9-9. WSU went on a 10-0 in the next three and a half minutes to build before senior Ally Fink subbed in for UIU and went on a personal 6-3 run to momentarily turn the scoring tide. The opening quarter concluded with a 28-17 lead for the Warriors after Allie Pickrain hit three 3PT shots in the final 2:37 for WSU.Â
Winona State opened the second period with a 7-0 run, but Upper Iowa answered with a 22-12 stretch to cut the lead to single digits at 47-39 going into the halftime break. The run featured 11 points from senior Natalie Dinius and a 5-7 (71.4%) clip from behind the 3PT arc from UIU.Â
The Peacocks came out strong in the third quarter with an 11-4 run that cut their deficit to a single point at 51-50 with 7:05 to play in the period. Upper Iowa was perfect from the field in their first 9 shot attempts over the opening 5:29 of the third. Lydia Haack scored 8 points over the stretch, while Brooke Evenson notched 7. The hot shooting led to a Winona timeout at the 5:29 mark, and the Warriors went on a 13-2 run to close the 3rd quarter up 74-61 following the break in action.Â
Upper Iowa outscored the Warriors in the final frame 19-18, but the Peacocks were unable to cut into the deficit and fell by a final score of 92-80.
Peacock Leaders…Â
Senior Natalie Dinius scored a season-high 20 points to lead the Peacocks on Senior Day. She hit 7 of 10 (70%) shots from the floor and tied a career high with 6 threes on 9 attempts (66.7%). She finished the weekend with 31 points and crossed the 800-point threshold for her career on Saturday in her final game as a Peacock.
Haack recorded 19 points on 7-14 (50%) shooting from the field and a perfect 5-5 (100%) from the charity stripe. The freshman dished out a season-high 7 assists to lead the team and secured 4 rebounds as well.
Evenson scored 16 points as she tied a career-high in makes from behind the 3PT arc, shooting 4-7 (57.1%) from deep. She tied the game-high by grabbing 8 rebounds while adding 2 assists.Â
Senior Ally Fink scored a season-high 8 points in her final game for UIU, hitting 4 of her 6 (66.7%) attempts from the field. She also contributed 3 rebounds and one assist.Â
Warrior Leaders… Â
Taylor Hustad scored a game-high 21 points as she shot 9-12 (75%) from the floor. She added a team-high 8 rebounds and had 3 assists too.Â
Allie Pickrain shot 4-6 (66.7%) and hit her only attempt inside the arc to finish with 14 points. She contributed 3 assists and 3 rebounds as well.
Emma fee recorded 12 points on 6-7 (85.7%) shooting as she grabbed 4 rebounds and snagged a steal.
Caitlin Riley scored 11 points on 3-7 (42.8%) from deep, Sydney Lodermeier notched 9 points and 6 rebounds, and Mattie Schimenz scored 8 points and contributed 7 assists.Â
Senior Tribute...
Upper Iowa women's basketball celebrated their departing seniors following Saturday's action. Here is the senior tribute video for those who may have missed it:
