WINONA, Minn. – Winona State University's Taylor Hustad continued the torrid start to her junior campaign on Saturday evening with her sixth double-double of the year as the Warriors toppled Upper Iowa University inside McCown Gymnasium, 79-60.

Hustad recorded a career-best 25 points in the victory while matching her career high of 15 rebounds. Sydney Lodermeier was the only other player in double figures in the scoring column (11) as six different Warriors scored at least seven points in the balanced attack.

Winona State completed a successful season sweep of the Peacocks while snapping a brief two-game skid and enters 2020 with a record of 8-2 (4-2 NSIC). Upper Iowa falls to 2-10 (1-5 NSIC).

The home team started out hot on Saturday, opening the game on a 13-2 run capped off by a Caitlin Riley three pointer. The Peacocks answered with a run of their own in the waning minutes of the first quarter to keep the game close and trailed the Warriors after the first frame, 26-21. WSU shot an impressive 68.8 percent (11-16) in the quarter to maintain its lead. 

Upper Iowa scored six straight points to begin the second quarter while taking its only lead of the tilt, but the momentum was short-lived as Hustad slashed through the lane for a layup at the 7:57 mark to put the Warriors back in front. Lodermeier padded the lead with a three-pointer as Winona State would never trail again in the contest and took a 42-36 lead into the break.

The third quarter was dominated by the Warriors, as they would outscore Upper Iowa 22-10 in the frame. Junior Emily Keick sparked the offense with a layup at the seven-minute mark that started a 17-5 WSU run to blow the game wide open. Freshman Abby Callahan added a highlight moment as she came flying in off a Warrior miss for an acrobatic put-back layup. 

The difference in the game was points in the paint, as the Warriors controlled the lane and outscored the Peacocks, 46-8. WSU had just nine turnovers for the game, tied for its lowest output of the season, while forcing 12 on the other end. 

For the game the Warriors shot exactly 50 percent (33-66) from the field while holding Upper Iowa to just 32.1 percent from the floor. 

The Warriors return to action in the New York on the road with conference matchups at MSU Moorhead and Northern State on January 4-5.