THE OPENING TIP: The University of Minnesota Duluth will host Upper Iowa University on Wednesday, Feb. 26 at 5:30 PM for the first round of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Playoffs.

SCOUTING REPORT ON UPPER IOWA UNIVERSITY: The Peacocks are coming off of being swept on the weekend by Minnesota State University (71-49) and Concordia-St. Paul (90-39). Upper Iowa University has been in a tough patch this weekend, currently on a 10-game skid. In addition to losing to MSU and CSP, they have fallen to Minot State University (73-54), Southwest Minnesota State University (82-64) and the University of Sioux Falls (72-51) in their past five games. After the weekend, the Peacocks now carry a 3-25 record on the season while going 2-20 within the NSIC, landing them in the No. 8 seed in the Southern Division of the NSIC. In the past three years, UIU has not been able to make it to the second round of post season play, taking on Northern State University twice (L, 85-42 (17-18)/L, 58-29 (16-17)) and Minnesota State University Moorhead (L,92-67 (18-19)). Steering the program in his first year with the Peacocks is Nate Oakland. Oakland, in his third year overall as a head coach (two seasons with D-III Coe College) carries a 30-51 (.370) overall all record, and a 27-26 (.509) in two seasons with Coe College.
Jessica Musgrave has been the main stay for points so far this season. Musgrave has been the only player on the Peacocks roster to average double digits in points this season. She throws down an average of 14.9 points per game while also leading the squad in rebounds. Musgrave grabs an average of 6.7 per game, almost an average of two more per game than anyone else on the team. She is the leader in steals as well, grabbing 27 on the year, and sits in third on the squad with 34 assists as well. Natalie Dinius has been the No. 2 on the squad in boards, averaging 8.3 points per game. She grabs 2.7 rebounds per game as well. Marina Peinado Balaguer is the leader on the squad in dishes, handing out 78 on the year, with Megan Peterson sitting second with 49 on the year. Disius is leading the team from beyond the arc, nailing 32.0% (49-153) on the season.

THE SERIES: The Bulldogs and Peacocks have not met in post season play in the past decade. They have met 13 times over regular season play over the past 10 years, with UMD winning every match up, including this years contest by a score of 67-57 when UIU came up to Duluth, Minn.

LAST TIME OUT: The Bulldogs swept the final weekend on the road of the NSIC regular season, solidifying a lone No. 1 seed not only in the Northern Division, but the NSIC as a whole. It was their first conference title since the 2002-03' season. UMD beat the University of Minnesota Crookston on Fri. Feb. 21 (83-59) before heading to triple overtime with Bemidji State University, outlasting the Beavers in the regular season finale (91-80).

NO. 2 IN THE CENTRAL REGION: The Bulldogs were tabbed as the No. 2 team in the Central Region of the first NCAA DII Regional Rankings. Two other teams from the NSIC, the University of Sioux Falls (No. 3) and St. Cloud State University (No. 6), also made the top-10 in the Central Region.

HOW THEY RANK: Below is a look at the Bulldogs overall record, division rank, and rank in the Women's Basketball Coaches Association DII Poll, as well as their opponent.
 

SCHOOL	OVERALL	NSIC DIV.	WBCA
UMD	21-5	1ST	NR
UIU	3-25	8TH	NR

THE BROADCAST: The game between the Bulldogs and the Peacocks will be available through live streaming capabilities at the following link:

UMDBulldogs.com/watch

Live stats are available through the same link, following the live stats button: UMDBulldogs.com/watch

THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE HOME: For the first time since the 99-00' season, the Bulldogs finished out their home games going undefeated in the regular season. Heading back to last season, UMD is riding a 22-game at home win streak.

THAT'S OUR BALL: The Bulldogs currently average 34.8 rebounds per game, a big part of that is Brooke Olson, who is sitting 15th in the NSIC for rebounds per game, averaging 6.4 per game. Katie Stark is another top rebounder, who is grabbing an averaging of 5.3 per game and Sarah Grow is averaging 5.3 per game.

YOU CAN'T SCORE ON US: The Bulldogs are ranked No. 1 in the NSIC in scoring defense, giving up an average of 60.0 points per game. That is also good for 56th across the DII landscape.

PASS ME THE ROCK: The Bulldogs are currently in first in the NSIC in assists per game, averaging 16.25, and second for total assists with 455.  Sophomore guard Maesyn Thiesen is leading the way, sitting 2nd NSIC in assists per game with 4.3 (61st in DII) and sits in third in total assists with 120. Ann Simonet has helped along the way, with an average of 3.5 per game (ninth in the NSIC) and 97 overall (seventh in the NSIC).

TOP OF THE BOARD: UMD ranked either No. 1 or No. 2 in the NSIC in every single stat category as a team in 2018-19.  Along with ranking top or number two in every category, the Bulldogs ranked in the top six nationally (DII) in seven of those categories.

POINTS ON POINTS: The Bulldogs currently rank 7th overall in overall points in the NSIC. Brooke Olson has been a big part of the attack for UMD, averaging 16.0 points per game, fifth in the NSIC.

BRICK CITY: UMD ranks second in the NSIC (18th in DII) in the blocked shots per game category (second in total blocked shots with 120 (18th in DII)), averaging 4.29 per game. Sarah Grow has lead the team in blocked shots per game (2.0, 56 total) and sits in second in the NSIC. Katie Stark has been a huge part of that stat as well, where she currently sits 10th in the conference with an average of 1.0 per game (25 total). Junior forward Payton Kahl is in the mix with .5 per game (13 total) sitting in 24th in the NSIC.

VALUE POSSESSIONS: The Bulldogs are sitting in first in the NSIC in the assist/turnover ratio category with a 1.33 assist to every turnover. They sit in eighth in the DII landscape in said category.

ON TAP:  If the Bulldogs are able to top the Peacocks, they advance to the Sanford Pentagon for the remainder of the tournament. The post season is a do or die format, with a loss spelling the end of the NSIC Tournament. UMD also ranks in the top-10 for the region, and will also have a chance at an at-large bid into the NCAA Region Tournament. If the Bulldogs win the NSIC Tournament, they get an automatic bid into the Regional Tournament.