Upper Iowa rallied from double digits, but couldn't earn the win at home on Friday night. The Marauders of the University of Mary held on for a 59-57 victory riding a big advantage in points in the paint and playing stout defense. The Peacock loss drops their record to 2-17 overall and 2-13 in the NSIC, while U-Mary improves to 11-12 overall and 6-9 in the conference.

The Marauders jumped out to an early 13-3 lead pounding the ball into the paint and hounding the Peacocks on defense over the first five and a half minutes. The home team got back into the game with a 6-2 run fueled by scores by three different player including a three-pointer from Blake Bergren to close out the first period trailing by six, 17-11.
 
In the first minute of the second quarter, UIU continued to push and cut the gap to just three, 19-16, after Madi Meier knocked down a triple from the right side. An 8-2 run for the Marauders highlighted by a pair of layups from Gabbie Bohl helped to extend the team's lead back to nine, 27-18. Blair Klostermann got loose for eight Peacock points in a matter of two and a half minutes fueling an Upper Iowa 8-2 run.  UIU closed the half out by scoring the final five points, all by Carly Pagel, and cutting the halftime margin to one point, 32-31.
 
Bohl led all scorers at the break with 16 points and 7 rebounds, while Klostermann led the Peacocks with 10 points.
 
U-Mary came out of halftime and took control in the early minutes of the third quarter. A quick 10-0 run over the initial two and a half minutes bumped the margin back to 11 points, 42-31, but Upper Iowa began to find their footing.  The home team outscored their guests 14-5 over the final seven minutes of the quarter led by Klostermann on offense and a team effort on defense. As the horn for the sounded, the Peacocks found themselves trailing by just two points, 47-45, thanks to a last second jumper in the lane from Sam Ofstad.
 
The home team closed out their run with the first score of the fourth quarter to knot the game at 47-47, but the Marauders would answer again with a 7-0 run fueled by another four points for Bohl. Upper Iowa made one final push at their guests over the final minutes cutting the margin to two, 57-55, when Karlee Grabau knocked down a jumper. After a Marauder free throw increased the lead to three, Klostermann drove to the hoop and was fouled. The sophomore guard calmly knocked down both free throws to bring the home team within one, 58-57. U-Mary increased the lead to two with four seconds to play thanks to a free throw and then forced a Peacock turnover to end the game and secure the narrow victory, 59-57.
 
Klostermann led the Peacocks with 21 points and 4 rebounds, while Pagel notched another 15 points and added 8 rebounds. Haley Martin led the team on the glass with 9 boards, while Ofstad scored 6 and handed out 3 assists.
 
U-Mary was led by Bohl's 22 points and Hannah Larson's 15. The Marauders claimed a 42-22 advantage in points in the paint and a 14-5 edge in second chance points. Defensively, UM also tallied 9 blocks and 6 steals.
 
The Peacocks will return to Prochaska Court on Saturday, Jan. 28 at 4 p.m. Upper Iowa will play host to the Beavers of Minot State University to conclude UIU's current four-game homestand.