FAYETTE, Iowa – Winona State University used a season-best shooting performance from beyond the arc on Saturday afternoon to hold off a fourth quarter surge by Upper Iowa University in a 65-56 win in the Warriors' first conference tilt of the season.
Winona State (5-0, 1-0 NSIC) shot 50 percent from downtown, and was led by Liz Evenocheck and Allie Pickrain who knocked down a trio of threes each en route to scoring 15 points apiece.
Pickrain, a freshman who has led the Warriors in scoring in three of the first five games of the year, scored nine of her 15 points in the second half.
WSU held its biggest lead of the day at the close of the third quarter after outscoring the Peacocks, 22-10, out of halftime. Rachel Novotny knocked down a pair of jumpers prior to the break to give the Warriors a 36-30 lead at recess.
Hannah McGlone made it six straight Warrior points on the first possession of the third quarter, and an 8-2 run overall to open the new frame gave Winona a double-digit lead for the during of the third. A three-pointer by Madison Worke sparked a 10-4 run over the final four minutes of the period. A three-pointer by Gabie Doud then capped the quarter which sent Winona to the fourth with a 58-40 advantage.
Despite converting just three field goals over the final 10 minutes of play, including five points by Pickrain, the Warrior defense did enough to deny the Peacocks' comeback bid. Upper Iowa finally cut its deficit back to single digits at 61-53 with 2:27 left in the contest, but it was too little too late for the home team.
Winona only trailed on two occasions in the ballgame, each time by a single possession early in the second quarter.
Upper Iowa falls to 2-4 (0-1 NSIC) with the home loss.
Saturday marked the first time this year the Warriors didn't win by single digits, but they still own a 25-point margin of victory over its first five games.
McGlone led WSU with seven rebounds to go along with 11 points. Doud chipped in 10 points off the bench.
The Warriors continue road conference action next weekend with a pair of games beginning with Sioux Falls on Friday, December 1 at 6 p.m.
