The Upper Iowa women's basketball team led by as many as 10 points in the second half but a one-sided 4th quarter put Bemidji State University ahead and spoiled the Peacocks' hopes of securing their first Northern Sun victory of the season. Bemidji State snapped its 12-game skid and improved to 3-12 overall and 1-10 in the conference while Upper Iowa dipped to 3-16 (0-11 NSIC) on the season.
After Claudia Morente's jumper gave Upper Iowa a 10-point advantage with 9:42 left in the game, Bemidji State mounted a 21-2 rally to steal the game from the Peacocks. The Beavers used a 10-0 run to capture their first lead of the game with six minutes left and held the Peacocks to a pair of free throws the rest of the way to finish the game ahead by nine.
After efficient 63.2 percent shooting in the first half, Upper Iowa was held to 25.0 percent in the second half. Bemidji State shot 36.4 percent in the first half but flipped the switch to shoot 52.0 percent overall and 77.8 from beyond the arc in the final 20 minutes.
Upper Iowa took a lead into intermission for the first time this season against an NSIC opponent thanks to a solid first half by the Peacocks. After trading buckets to tie the game at 7-7, UIU went on an 11-5 run to close out the first quarter of action ahead 18-12. Upper Iowa led by nine with 17 seconds left in the frame but BSU pulled within six with a 3-pointer as time expired.
The Peacocks pushed their lead back to nine midway through the second quarter after a Haley Martin layup and five straight points from Natalie Dinius. The Beavers kept chipping into UIU's lead and eventually tied the game at 29-all at the 1:41 tick. Back-to-back triples from Laker Ward and Emma Gaber gave the Peacocks a 35-31 halftime lead. In the first half, UIU went a perfect 7-for-7 at the line and 12-for-19 from the floor (4-for-6 3FG).
Both teams struggled to get things going to start the second half and were held scoreless for the first 3:01 of the 3rd period. Bekka Pierson and Gaber scored on consecutive possessions to give the Peacocks their third 9-point lead of the night before the Beavers battled back with an 8-1 run to cut the deficit to two, 41-39. A trio of clutch scores from downtown by Gaber, Dinius, and Morente aided the Peacocks to their largest lead of the night, 52-42, with just over one leg left. Unfortunately for the Peacocks, Upper Iowa was held to just one more field goal in the final 11 minutes.
Upper Iowa held the advantage in rebounds (33-31), points off turnovers (17-15), and second chance points (9-6). Bemidji State outscored UIU 22-11 in the paint and won the turnover battle 20-12.
The Peacocks were led by Gaber with 13 points and Dinius with 11. Pierson and Ward each chipped in eight while Martin and Morente added seven apiece. Martin led all rebounding with nine and Ally Fink tied her career-high three blocks.
The Beavers were powered by Taylor Bray's 16 points, Claire Wolhowe's 13, and Maria Appicelli's 12. Brooklyn Bachmann chipped in six points and five rebounds.
Upper Iowa will return to the hardwood tomorrow in Crookston, Minn. to face the Golden Eagles of the University of Minnesota Crookston. Tip-off is set for 3:30 p.m.
