The Mustangs of Southwest Minnesota State ran wild in the first quarter and built a sixteen-point lead on the way to a 79-70 victory over the Peacock women's basketball team. The loss was UIU's first against SMSU since the 2011-12 season and snapped a nine-game winning streak by the Peacocks. The loss dropped Upper Iowa's record to 0-6 overall and 0-2 in the conference.

SMSU raced out to a huge lead in the first quarter after knocking down 10 of their 15 shots, but Upper Iowa answered in the second quarter.  Trailing by sixteen, 24-8, at the beginning of the second quarter, the Peacocks began to find their stride and whittled down the deficit to single digits. A pair of free throws from Blair Klostermann capped off a 10-2 run that pulled the home team within eight, 26-18. UIU kept the pressure up on the defensive end and slimmed the margin down to five points, 32-27, when Haley Martin knocked down a jumper in the paint. The Mustangs held on for a 36-29 lead at halftime led by Taylor Silva, who scored 10 points.

Martin continued to make a huge impact in the third quarter when she followed a Klostermann three-pointer with a layup off a rebound to tie the game at 40-40. Minutes later a three-pointer from Ashley Ray gave the home team a one-point edge, 44-43. The Mustangs pulled back out to a seven-point lead over the final five minutes of the quarter and headed back to the bench with a 54-48 lead. The visitors pushed their advatage to 10-points in the opening minutes of the fourth quarter, but Upper Iowa wouldn't allow their guests to get away. Another pair of free throws from Klostermann cut the gap to 63-60 with just under five minutes to play in the game. 

The team stayed within two scores over the next few minutes, but would never get closer than that three-point gap. With 1:25 showing on the clock, Ashley Ray hit a three-pointer that shaved the lead and pulled UIU within six again, 73-67. The Mustangs put the game away at the free throw line knocking down six free throws in the final two minutes of the contest to earn the 79-70 win.

Upper Iowa controlled the inside on Friday outscoring Southwest Minnesota State 44-30 in points in the pant and 26-15 second chance points.

Martin and Carly Pagel led the way for Upper Iowa combining for 26 points and 15 rebounds. Klostermann scored 18 points and handed out 4 assists, while Ray scored 13 points with 5 rebounds and 4 steals. Sam Ofstad only scored 8 points, but dished up 7 assists to her teammates.

The team will compete again on Saturday against the Cougars of the University of Sioux Falls at 4 p.m. in Dorman Gymnasium.