Nov. 25, 2007

Box Score

The Peacock women's basketball team finished their road trip in Kearney, Nebraska on Saturday evening, Nov. 24. UIU played the Lopers of Nebraska-Kearney in the Country Inn and Suites Thanksgiving Classic after both teams won their opening games on Friday. The Peacocks struggled on offense in the first half before finding their stride in the second half. The Lopers, ranked #26 in the latest WBCA poll, took a 34-17 lead at half and took the victory 73-56 to improve their record to 3-0. The loss drops Upper Iowa's record to 3-5.

Upper Iowa's offense found it hard to get things going against Nebraska-Kearney from the start. The Lopers forced the Peacocks into 8 of 31 (26%) shooting in the half, while hitting on 13 of 28 (46%) from the floor themselves. UIU also committed 7 turnovers in the half. Upper Iowa did, however, out rebound Nebraska-Kearney 22-21 in the first twenty minutes.

The Peacocks opened the second half by out scoring the Lopers 16-8 over the first six minutes. Upper Iowa trailed 42-33 with 14:10 to play thanks to four baskets from Andrea Downs, two from Britney Iredale, and a hoop from Paige DeVine. Upper Iowa and Nebraska-Kearney played even over the next six minutes as the Lopers led 59-48 with under eight minutes to play. That was the closest the Peacocks would get in the second half as the Lopers began to extend their lead on the way to the seventeen-point victory.

Downs led the Peacocks in scoring with 25 points. The sophomore point guard was named to the All-Tournament team for her performance on the weekend. Iredale netted 15 points for the Peacocks. Downs and Chelsea Petersen led UIU on the boards with 6 each, while DeVine and Sara Best each pulled down 5 rebounds.

Upper Iowa (3-5) will be back in Dorman Gymnasium on Monday night, Nov. 26, for a game against Waldorf College. Tip off is scheduled for 7 p.m.