WISCONSIN DELLS, Wis. - Upper Iowa women's basketball (0-2) fell in the second game of a back-to-back to Michigan Tech (2-0) by a score of 70-30 in the Justagame Fieldhouse on Saturday night. The Huskies' defense smothered the Peacocks, holding UIU to 10-of-49 (20.4%) from the field.
The Peacocks were led in the scoring column by junior guard Sydnee Nelson with seven points. Freshman Kendyl Lodermeier finished with six points, shooting 3-of-6 (50%) from the field. Bryar Duwe added three points and secured a team-high six rebounds in the contest.
Ellie Foster and Amelia Valentino each tallied five points on the night. Duwe, Foster and Valentino were the lone Peacocks to connect from deep as UIU hit just 3-of-23 (13.0%) of its three-point attempts.
Upper Iowa got off to a fast start against the Huskies, scoring the game's first five points on a three from Foster and a jumper from Lodermeier. Michigan Tech would fight back into the game quickly, scoring 13 of the next 18 points to take a three-point lead into the second quarter.
Michigan Tech showed its prowess defensively in the second quarter, holding Upper Iowa to 2-of-13 (15.4%) shooting in the frame and taking a 25-15 lead into the locker room. The Huskies' run was as large as 13-2 before a Nelson and-one gave the Peacocks some momentum heading into the half.
The Huskies turned it up offensively in the second half while continuing to make Upper Iowa work for every shot on the other side of the floor. Michigan Tech outscored Upper Iowa 45-15 after halftime, shooting 50% from the field. MTU connected on 3-of-4 (75%) three-point attempts in the fourth quarter after being held to 0-of-8 (0%) in the first three quarters.
Janie Tormanen led Michigan Tech in scoring with 16 points, connecting on 7-of-9 (77.8%) of her shots from the field. Kaitlyn Maxwell and Kendall Standfest each recorded double figures as well, scoring 14 and 11 points, respectively. Kloe Zentkowski led the Huskies with 11 rebounds, adding four points in 18 minutes off the bench.
Michigan Tech found an advantage on the glass in the game, outrebounding Upper Iowa 44-22, including 10 offensive rebounds. The Huskies established themselves at the free-throw line as the game wore on, converting 21-of-27 (77.8%) of their attempts compared to Upper Iowa's 7-of-11 (63.6%) mark.
Upper Iowa aims to bounce back as it begins a three-game stretch inside Dorman Gym over the next 10 days. The Peacocks face Winona State (Minn.) on Tuesday at 6 p.m. for the 2025-26 home opener before matching up with Augustana (S.D.) on Saturday at 1 p.m. and Clarke on Nov. 24 at 2 p.m.
