FAYETTE, Iowa - Maryville (Mo.) (19-6, 13-4 GLVC) shot 52.6% from the field and outscored the Peacocks (13-12, 9-8 GLVC) 50-24 in the second half in Saturday's 79-53 loss for UIU women's hoops. Graduate Ellie Foster totaled 17 points, shooting 3-of-5 (60%) from behind the arc in the Senior Day defeat.
The Peacocks honored Foster and Amelia Valentino after the game for Senior Day. Valentino scored a season-high eight points while adding five rebounds, two steals and a blocked shot.
After being tied 29-29 at halftime, the Saints started the second half on an 8-0 run, holding the Peacocks scoreless for the first 3:34 and 0-for-7 from the field. A Foster step-back 3-pointer cut the lead to seven with 1:09 left in the quarter, but Maryville's Adalyn Ayer scored five straight points, including an and-one buzzer beater, to lead 55-43 after three.
In the fourth quarter, an Ayer 3-pointer, a Lindsey Schadewalt 3-pointer and two Claire Lueken layups capped off a 10-2 run, giving Maryville a 69-49 advantage. The Saints ended the game on a 7-0 run and outscored the Peacocks 24-10 in the fourth quarter to win, 79-53.
Maryville led 13-8 early in the game, but Foster scored five straight points to tie it up. After a Maryville 3-pointer, Valentino answered with a three of her own to tie the game once again. MU's Gracie Gopalan hit a shot late to give the Saints an 18-16 lead after one quarter.
Ava Privet tied the game at 25-25 after a layup with 3:30 to go in the half. Bryar Duwe then hit a pull-up jumper to lead, 27-25. After free throws by each team, the game was tied 29-29 at the break.
Foster added four rebounds and a steal to her 17-point night. Kendyl Lodermeier tallied her fourth double-double of the season with 10 points and 11 rebounds. She also blocked two shots.
Sydnee Nelson and Duwe each had six points and four assists. Nelson grabbed seven rebounds, and Duwe grabbed five. Privet scored four points, and Magi Bjornson made her only field goal for two points.
Schadewalt led Maryville with 19 points, shooting 7-of-13 (53.8%) from the field. Ayer added 14 points, shooting 6-of-11 (54.5%). Gopalan scored 12 points with a game-high five assists.
Maryville finished the game 30-of-71 (42.3%) from the field after shooting 20-of-38 (52.6%) in the second half. MU doubled UIU's 3-pointers, shooting 10-of-29 (34.5%). The Peacocks were 20-of-63 (31.7%) from the field and 5-of-21 (23.8%) from behind the arc. UIU made every free throw, shooting 8-for-8.
The Peacocks nearly doubled Maryville's fouls, committing 17 compared to nine. UIU had 11 fouls in the second half compared to two for Maryville. The Peacocks had 14 turnovers compared to six for the Saints, giving Maryville a 12-2 scoring advantage off turnovers.
The 26-point loss is Upper Iowa's largest in GLVC play and the team's third-largest margin of defeat this season. The 31.7% shooting mark from the field is the team's fourth-lowest this season, with the 23.8% 3-point shooting mark the team's third-lowest.
Upper Iowa did not drop in the GLVC point rating system, remaining in eighth place with a 3.18 rating. The Peacocks are ahead of Illinois Springfield (11-13, 8-8 GLVC) in ninth with a 3.06 rating and are behind Quincy (Ill.) (13-10, 10-6 GLVC) in seventh with a 3.38 rating.
UIU is on the road next weekend against McKendree (Ill.) (14-8, 11-5 GLVC) and a critical matchup against Illinois Springfield. The Peacocks are scheduled to play the Bearcats on Thursday, Feb. 19, at 5:30 p.m. and the Prairie Stars on Saturday, Feb. 21, at 1 p.m.
