The Golden Eagles broke out in the second half thanks to hot shooting and a transition game that gave the Peacocks fits.  Minnesota Crookston led by one point at halftime, but controlled the second half action to pull away with a 79-59 victory.  Upper Iowa's defense stood up to the challenge in the first half, but couldn't hold up in the second half.  The loss dropped the Peacocks' record to 5-14 overall and 3-12 in the NSIC, while the Golden Eagles improved to 9-10 overall and 8-7 in the conference.
 
Upper Iowa and Minnesota Crookston let their defenses do the talking through the midway point of the first half as the Golden Eagles crept out to a 14-10 lead by the second media timeout.  UIU trailed 23-17 minutes later but launched a four minute run that put the home team ahead by four.  During their 12-2 run, the Peacocks scored five baskets that began with a three-pointer from Laura TerHark and ended with a long ball from the corner out of the hands of Ashley Rosenstiel.  The visitors slowed the home team's offense and outscored their hosts 9-4 over the final two and a half minutes to grab a 34-33 lead at the break. 
 
Lindsay Carroll led the team Peacocks with 10 points in the opening half, while Olivia Winkler added 8; the pair combined to knock down 8 of their 11 shots.  The Golden Eagles were led by Micaela Noga's 8 points, but seven players scored for the visitors.
 
After halftime, the Golden Eagles took control using a 20-6 run over the first six and a half minutes of the second half.  Minnesota Crookston continued their dominance in the second half on only gave the Peacocks brief moments of success pushing their lead to a high of 25 at one point.  In the end, UMC turned their one-point lead at intermission into a twenty-point victory, 79-59.
 
Minnesota Crookston used big advantages in points in the paint, 40-28, and fastbreak points, 13-2, to push over .500 in the NSIC again.
 
Three Peacocks reached double figures in the game led by Winkler, who scored 18 and pulled down 7 rebounds.  Aleesha Cleaver and Carroll both netted 10 points on the night. 
 
The Golden Eagles got all five starters into double figures led by Katrina Moenkedick's 18 points.  UMC outrebounded their hosts 43-30 paced by Ebony Livingston and Emily Gruber, who each pulled down 8 boards.
 
Upper Iowa will return to the court tomorrow afternoon at 4 p.m. against the Beavers of Bemidji State University.