FAYETTE, Iowa – The Truman State women's basketball team overcame an early deficit to defeat Upper Iowa 77-63 Friday afternoon at Dorman Memorial Gym. The Bulldogs improve to 9-8 overall and 6-3 in conference play, while the Peacocks fall to 8-9 and 4-5 in league standings.
Upper Iowa opened strong, building an early 11-4 lead behind three consecutive three-pointers from Ava Privet. The Bulldogs responded with steady defense and efficient scoring to close the first quarter on a 13-2 run, taking a 17-13 lead. Katelyn Odem sparked the surge with a three-pointer, followed by Neylan Vila Delicado's driving layup. Avery Rausch converted two free throws, and Mallory Ott added a layup to give Truman its first lead at 17-13.
The second quarter saw both teams trade runs. Upper Iowa fought back to tie the game at 28-28 on an Ava Privet fast-break three-pointer at 3:49. The Bulldogs answered immediately with back-to-back buckets from Avery Rausch to regain control. Rausch was a force in the paint, scoring 10 points in the period. Katelyn Odem added four crucial points down the stretch, helping Truman take a 38-33 lead into halftime.
Truman extended its advantage in the third quarter, building the lead to as many as 11 points. After Upper Iowa drew within five points early in the period, the Bulldogs received a boost from an Upper Iowa technical foul at 6:46. Mallory Ott and Emajin McCallop combined for four technical free throws, pushing the lead to 47-36. Morgan Miller knocked down a three-pointer late in the quarter to give Truman a 55-46 edge heading into the final period.
The Bulldogs put the game away in the fourth quarter, pushing their lead to 23 points at 75-52 with 4:30 remaining. Katelyn Odem was outstanding in the period, scoring on a layup and a three-pointer to finish with five points. Emajin McCallop added seven points in the quarter, consistently attacking the basket. The defense held firm down the stretch, never allowing Upper Iowa to mount a serious comeback threat.
Team Statistics
| Category |
Truman State |
Upper Iowa |
| Final Score |
77 |
63 |
| Field Goals |
26-62 (41.9%) |
20-54 (37.0%) |
| 3-Point FG |
7-19 (36.8%) |
9-27 (33.3%) |
| Free Throws |
18-25 (72.0%) |
14-19 (73.7%) |
| Rebounds |
40 |
36 |
| Offensive Rebounds |
13 |
9 |
| Assists |
16 |
12 |
| Steals |
8 |
4 |
| Blocks |
0 |
3 |
| Turnovers |
10 |
15 |
| Points in Paint |
32 |
20 |
| Second Chance Points |
15 |
7 |
| Fast Break Points |
0 |
13 |
| Points off Turnovers |
18 |
10 |
| Bench Points |
36 |
13 |
Bulldogs Leaders
Points:
Rebounds:
Assists:
Steals:
Blocks
Up Next:
After playing Quincy at home earlier in the season as a non-conference game, Truman will stay on the road to face off against the Hawks next Thursday at 5:30 PM. The Bulldogs won the earlier matchup this season 70-67.
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