Upper Iowa won the first and fourth quarters of their game with the University of Minnesota Crookston on Saturday evening in Fayette, but the team dropped their final game of the 2016 calendar year 72-68. The Golden Eagles claimed the second and third quarters to earn the four-point win and improve to 2-8 overall and 2-5 in the Northern Sun. UIU falls to 1-11 overall and 1-7 in the conference.
 
Carly Pagel showed her vintage form in the game scoring 18 points on 8 of 11 shooting and added 5 rebounds, while Blair Klostermann scored a team-high 19 points. Sam Ofstad netted 15 points with 6 of them coming in the fourth quarter. Klostermann and Haley Martin paced the Peacocks on the glass with 8 rebounds apiece as well. Upper Iowa was unable to take advantage of their free throw opportunities on the night as the team converted just 13 of their 20 tries.
 
UIU jumped out to an early 9-3 lead, but the UMC was able to chase down the Peacocks and tie the game at 13-13. A free throw by Ofstad with 12 seconds to play in the frame gave the home team a 16-15 edge. The Peacocks knocked down 7 of their 8 free throws in the opening quarter fueling their slim lead.
 
Midway through the second quarter the Peacocks went on a quick 6-2 run thanks to baskets by Pagel and Klostermann and a pair of free throws by Blake Bergren to establish a five-point lead, 24-19. After just 19 points for the Golden Eagles through the first 14 minutes of the game, the visitors exploded for 17 points in the last five and a half minutes of the quarter to take a 36-34 lead at the halftime break.
 
UMC outscored their hosts 12-10 during the first five minutes of the third quarter and then held Upper Iowa scoreless over the final five minutes of the frame. UIU's defense was stout as well though allowing just four points in that span to the Golden Eagles.  The scoring drought put the Peacocks in an 8-point hole, 52-44, going to the final quarter.
 
A three-point play in the opening seconds of the fourth pushed UMC's lead to 11, but Upper Iowa dug down to rally. UIU used a 10-0 run to cut the deficit to a point, 55-54, thanks to a pair of buckets from Ofstad and three-pointers from Ashley Ray and Martin. With just over four minutes to play, Pagel got loose inside for another lay in and pulled the Peacocks back within one, 61-60.
 
With under a minute to play, Pagel came calling again with a bucket at 47 seconds to cut the gap to two, 70-68, and the defense forced a steal with 17 seconds to go. Ofstad's final shot at the tie came up short and UIU was forced to foul. Caitlin Michaelis knocked down both free throws for UMC and preserved the win for the Golden Eagles.
 
Minnesota Crookston was led by Alison Hughes, who poured in 23 points thanks to 5 three-pointers and 8 of 8 shooting at the charity stripe.
 
The Peacocks will kick off a four-game road trip next weekend with games at the University of Sioux Falls and Southwest Minnesota State University on Friday and Saturday, Jan. 6-7.