THIS WEEKEND IN UIU WOMEN'S BASKETBALL… The Upper Iowa University women's basketball squad tips off their 2022-23 season with a pair of home matches. They start off with Southern Arkansas University on Friday, Nov. 11 at 7:30 p.m. Their second contest of the Central Region Challenge is against University of Arkansas at Monticello on Saturday, Nov. 12 at 7:30 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, both Upper Iowa games will be aired live on KCRG-TV 9.2. The station will also cover the Lincoln vs. Southern Arkansas matchup on Friday at 5:30 p.m. and Lincoln vs. Arkansas Monticello on Saturday at 5:30 p.m. 
 
DIGITAL GAMEDAY PROGRAMS… Fans can access an interactive and digital gameday program for UIU's 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.
 
NSIC PRESEASON COACHES' POLL…The Northern Sun Conference has released the 2022-23 NSIC Women's Basketball Coaches' Preseason Poll and the Peacocks are picked eighth in the NSIC South and 15^th overall. Minnesota State University, Mankato was selected by the league coaches as the preseason favorite; the Mavericks received 216 points, garnering eight first place votes to sit three points ahead of the University of Minnesota Duluth. The Bulldogs had 213 points and seven first place votes. Augustana University was third with 182 points and the other first place vote. 
 
GIVE HAACK THE ROCK… Junior Lydia Haack returns to Peacock basketball as she is coming off last season averaging 12.4 points and 3.9 assists per game. Haack was named a NSIC Player to Watch in the most recent coaches' poll for the upcoming season. "Lydia is truly a special point guard," added Head Coach Justin Maass. "Most importantly, she is a great person, very strong academically, and is one of our hardest workers. On the court she is able to control the game and be the floor general we need. Lydia has great court vision and her teammates know that if they get open she will get them the ball. She can get to the paint at will and for her size she can finish with the best of them. Lydia has worked incredibly hard this pre-season and I am excited to see her compete in the NSIC this year."
 
BACK IN THE LAB…Supplementing Haack, three additional Peacocks return that were big contributors a season ago led by Brooke Evenson, who averaged 10.4 points and 5.9 rebounds per game. Mia Huberty returns for her second season after notching 7.9 points per game; Huberty was particularly effective down the stretch with 12.3 points per game over the last eight contests. Post Lexie Lodermeier will also be back in Peacock blue after averaging 4.9 rebounds and 3.9 points per game as a junior. Upper Iowa returns a deep bench and has added some new faces that will have an immediate impact on the floor and become familiar faces for Peacocks fans in no time
 
SCOUTING THE MULERIDERS…Southern Arkansas University was voted 11th in the Great American Conference in the conference's 2022-23 Preseason Coaches' Poll. Fifth-year head coach Adam Collins leads a SAU squad that posted a 3-15 overall and 8-14 conference record with four of their losses within three points of a victory. The Muleriders concluded their season at home against Arkansas Tech in a tough 65-80 loss. SAU will return six of their eight top scorers from the previous season. Leading the way for them is Diamond Morris who tallied the second most points for the team last season with 11.0 points per game along with hauling in 3.2 rebounds per contest. 
 
SCOUTING THE BLOSSOMS… University of Arkansas at Monticello was picked 12th in the Great American Conference in the conference's 2022-23 Preseason Coaches' Poll. After a 0-28 record last season, the Blossoms named David Midlick as their new head coach. Alongside him is Marissa Webb as the new assistant coach. Bailey Harris is their returning leading scorer, averaging 9.5 points per game last season. She also contributed 5.4 rebounds per contest. The team will bring back a mixture of returners along with some fresh faces. 
 
DOWN THE STRETCH… After the opening tournament in Dorman Memorial Gymnasium, UIU will head toward Kansas City, Mo. to challenge Rockhurst University and William Jewell College on Nov. 16 and 17. Upper Iowa will close out their non-conference schedule at home against Truman State University on Nov. 19 at 2 p.m.