With three minutes to play in Saturday's Northern Sun Conference cross-division battle the Peacocks didn't look like the team with the longest stare up the standings at Minnesota State University Moorhead, the NSIC's best. Upper Iowa held a two-point advantage, 66-64, as Carly Pagel knocked down a pair of free throws. They would be the team's last makes at the line in the game; UIU missed their shot at what would have been the program's biggest upset in their NCAA Division II history. 
 
The Peacocks (3-19, 3-15 NSIC) came up empty on their final four free throws (despite knocking down 11 of their first 13 chances) that could have maintained UIU's two-point lead into the final possession. But they didn't go and yet, Upper Iowa still gave them a shot at overtime with a big steal down two, 68-66, with the clock surging under 15 seconds to play. The ensuing shot just missed and MSU Moorhead (19-3, 16-2 NSIC) converted one final free throw to claim the 69-66 win.
 
In the end, the Dragons can chalk it up as enduring a tough game and gutting out a win, but for the three-win Peacocks… these are the games that first-year Head Coach Micha Thompson can use as the building blocks for her program.  The Peacocks, who are still learning how to win in the fourth quarter, have held late leads on Winona State University, the NSIC South's top team, Concordia University-St. Paul, Wayne State College and now the Dragons, the top overall team in the NSIC.
 
Upper Iowa stormed out of the gate on Saturday scoring the game's first eight points on a layup by Carly Pagel and a pair of three-pointers from Haley Martin and Sam Ofstad. After the home team got going and tied the score at 13-13, the Peacocks took off again using a 12-3 run over the final three minutes of the quarter to take a 25-16 lead at the horn. UIU had five different scorers during the run.
 
MSU Moorhead's defense controlled the second quarter holding UIU to just 10 points while forcing four Peacock turnovers.  UIU's lead shrunk, but never disappeared as the visitors took a 35-33 lead into the halftime break.  For the Peacocks, it was their seventh halftime lead of the season.
 
The Dragons took a lead with their first score of the third quarter, but it was short-lived as the Peacocks retook the lead and built it back to six points with a quick 7-0 run with points from their top three scorers Blair Klostermann, Pagel and Ofstad. Upper Iowa continued to fight off each pursuit by the Dragons never trailing again during the quarter and settling for a 55-51 lead when the horn sounded after a pair of free throws from Madi Meier and a layup by Klostermann to end the frame.
 
A jumper from Ofstad on UIU's second possession pushed UIU's lead to six, 57-51, a minute into the fourth quarter, but the Dragons slowly began to cut into the margin. MSUM's Cassidy Thorson converted back-to-back three-pointers to give the home team a one-point lead, but UIU once again retook the lead on a pair of free throws by Klostermann. After the two freebies at the charity stripe, the Peacocks held a slim 64-63 lead with 5:40 showing on the clock. During the near six minutes to the final horn, the defenses took over to limit good looks and opportunities for the offenses.  MSUM snuck away from the upset by outscoring their guests 6-2 over the final five minutes.
 
Klostermann scored a team-high 22 points for UIU, while Pagel added 14.  Ofstad had a solid all-around game with 8 points, a team-high 8 rebounds and 5 assists.
 
Upper Iowa will return to Fayette for their final regular season home games next Friday and Saturday, Feb. 10-11. The Peacocks will host Minnesota State University, Mankato on Friday at 6 p.m. and Concordia University, St. Paul on Saturday at 4 p.m.  UIU will honor their Athletic Director's Honor Roll and President Team during Friday's women's/men's doubleheader and then recognize their four seniors (Emily Gustafson, Sarah Benson, Sam Ofstad and Carly Pagel) following the game against Concordia-St. Paul on Saturday.