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Jan. 19, 2008
The Peacock women's basketball team welcomed the Golden Eagles of Minnesota, Crookston to Dorman Gym on Saturday night. Both teams entered the contest looking for their first win of the conference season. The Peacocks last NSIC win came in Fayette versus these same Golden Eagles last year. After five ties and three lead changes, the Peacocks used a four-point advantage in the paint to build a seven-point halftime lead. The Golden Eagles rallied in the second half thanks to four three-pointers and 19 for 25 shooting at the free throw line. UIU was unable to take advantage of their free throw chances making only 8 of their 20 opportunities in the second half. Minnesota, Crookston pulled away in the final minutes for the win, 80-70. The UMC women scored the first two points of the game before the Peacocks went on a 9-2 scoring run which gave them the 9-4 lead. The Peacocks enjoyed another run to double their opponents, 14-7. Just a minute later, the Golden Eagles seemed reenergized and took off on their first offensive run of the game scoring four in a row to bring them within three points, 14-11. Sara Best started an exciting 7-0 run for the Peacocks by hitting a three-pointer, and less than 20 seconds later, she made an athletic steal coupled with running the length of the court and was fouled on her lay up attempt. Best made both free throws giving her five consecutive Peacock points. The women and the crowd were thrilled with the ten point lead, 21-11, after the first ten minutes of play due to their exceptional shooting of 50% (8-16) and Crookston's poor 25% (4-16) from the floor. After getting some offensive help, Crookston capped off their 8-0 run with a three from Ana Garcia. Christa Hammel led Upper Iowa for the next minute scoring 6 consecutive Peacock points and keeping the Peacocks up by two. The Golden Eagles held a one-point lead, 30-29, with three minutes left in the half. Ashley Martin and Kim Thompson exchanged assists to each other giving the Peacocks another 7-0 run and a 36-30 lead. Andrea Downs closed out the first half with a buzzer-beating three-pointer to give the Peacocks a seven point lead at half, 42-35. The Peacocks rebounded exceptionally well in the first half giving them extra chances at the boards as they held a 24-15 advantage over the Golden Eagles. The Golden Eagles outscored the women by 17 in the second half in part to better shooting; the team improved from 38% to 52% in each half. The Golden Eagles' 76% (19-25) from the free throw line in the second twenty minutes proved to be a big difference in the scoring as the Peacocks could only make 40% (8-20) of their attempts in the second half. The Peacocks did see some good offensive play from Britney Iredale in the second half as she scored 7 consecutive Peacock points. Iredale's last layup came on an impressive Downs no-look pass. The Golden Eagles closed the second half on an 18-3 run as they overcame a four point Peacock lead, with 5:17 on the clock, to win by ten, 80-70. Iredale led the Peacocks with 18 points while grabbing 7 rebounds. Downs also added 14 points and dished out 7 assists. The Peacocks did rebound well and they were led by Chelsea Peterson, who grabbed 8 boards, and Christa Hammel, who had 7. The Peacocks will remain at home in Fayette for a pair of NSIC games next weekend. UIU will host the Marauders of the University of Mary on Friday and the Wolves of Northern State University on Saturday. Both games are scheduled to tip off at 6 p.m. |
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