FAYETTE, Iowa - Ellie Foster scored a career-high 19 points and Ava Privet scored a season-high 16 points in Upper Iowa's (1-2) home opener. The Peacocks defeated Winona State (1-2), 59-49, in Dorman Gymnasium on Tuesday night.
The Peacocks held the Warriors to only two points in the final period of play. Winona State shot 1-of-7 (14.2%) from the field with eight turnovers in the final 10 minutes. In comparison, the Peacocks shot 5-of-10 (50%) from the field with four steals.
Leading by five with 3:48 left, Foster stole the ball, leading to a driving layup by Kendyl Lodermeier. After Winona's only field goal of the period, Sydnee Nelson responded by turning the corner and getting to the rim for another layup. Privet delivered the final blow, stealing the ball and knocking down a 3-pointer from the corner to lead, 59-49, with 1:06 left.
Winona State's largest lead was in the first quarter, starting the game with an 11-5 advantage. UIU battled back to cut the deficit to 13-10 after the opening quarter.
Privet drilled a 3-pointer to start the second quarter, sparking an 11-1 run by the Peacocks to open the period. Foster knocked down back-to-back 3 pointers to make the lead 21-14, then added a layup for her third bucket in three possessions. After UIU led 27-20, the Warriors ended the half on a 10-2 run to reclaim control, 30-29.
The Peacocks came out firing in the second half. They made their first four field goals and two free throws, scoring with five different players to take a 40-32 lead. Winona State battled back, cutting the lead to 48-47 at the end of the third quarter.
Foster finished the game shooting 8-of-16 (50%) with three rebounds, two assists, two steals and a block. Privet shot 5-of-8 (62.5%) from the field and 3-of-4 (75%) behind the arc. She grabbed seven rebounds and three steals while dishing out two assists. Privet also had the best +/- of any player at +22.
Lodermeier added 10 points with two assists and a block, shooting 5-of-6 (83.3%) from the field. Bryar Duwe totaled six points, an assist and a steal. Nelson added six points with a team-high three assists while being +14 on the court. Kenzie Deaton rounded out the scoring with two points, while grabbing the second-most rebounds on the team with five.
Sadie Jarmolowicz led Winona State with 15 points, while Hailey Markworth added 10 points. Both of them led the team in rebounds with seven. Megan Schuman scored eight points, shooting 4-of-6 (66.7%) from the field.
The Peacocks shot 24-of-48 (50%) from the field, 7-of-18 (38.9%) from behind the arc and 4-of-5 (80%) from the charity stripe. The Warriors were 19-of-48 (39.6%) from the field, 4-of-15 (26.7%) on 3-pointers and 7-of-10 (70%) on free throws.
Both teams scored 28 points in the paint, with Winona State adding six second-chance points. The Peacocks outscored the Warriors, 20-14, on turnovers. The game featured seven lead changes and three ties, with UIU leading for 27:44 of the game.
Upper Iowa stays in Fayette for a matchup against Augustana (S.D.) (0-2) on Saturday at 1 p.m. for another game between old NSIC foes. Last season, the Peacocks defeated the Vikings in Sioux Falls, 79-58, in the opener.
