The University of Minnesota Crookston capitalized on three scoreless droughts from the Peacocks that combined for 33 points and over 13 minutes of the contest to secure a 75-64 win over Upper Iowa University on Saturday afternoon. UMC improved to 10-8 overall and 5-7 in the conference while UIU fell to 3-17, 0-12 NSIC. 

Bekka Pierson scored 13 points to lead the Peacock's offensive efforts on 4-for-6 shooting from the field and 5-for-6 at the charity stripe. Haley Martin added 10 points (5-for-11) and a team-high eight rebounds, Natalie Dinius went 3-for-5 beyond the arc for nine points, and Ally Fink blocked four shots for a new career-high. 

Upper Iowa was one-made free throw away from a perfect night at the line. The Peacocks finished 15-for-16 for a 93.8 percent conversion rate, a season-high. UMC committed 10 turnovers compared to UIU's nine, a mark that ties the season-low set on Jan. 5th. 

It took a while for both offenses to get into a rhythm in Lysaker Gymnasium as a combined eight points were scored in the first seven minutes of the contest. Following a Golden Eagles basket to break the 4-all tie, Fink drove in a layup and finished the and-one to kickstart a 10-2 run that gave UIU a 14-8 lead, its largest of the night. UMC responded with an 8-0 run over the next 2:59 of the half before Dinius scored back-to-back trifectas to slow the Golden Eagles' momentum. Martin scored her first bucket of the night at the 6:04 mark of the 2nd quarter to give Upper Iowa its last lead of the night, 22-20. UMC finished out the half with a 16-5 run including a 12-0 spurt that spanned over four minutes to take a 36-27 advantage into intermission.

The Peacocks pulled back within four, 40-36, with 7:27 left in the third frame but Minnesota Crookston nearly held Upper Iowa without a score for the remainder of the quarter. The Golden Eagles scored 13 unanswered in six minutes before Fink chipped in two free throws to close out the period. Upper Iowa amped up its offense in the fourth quarter to outscore UMC 26-22 thanks to 58.3 percent shooting from the floor and 91.7 at the line. On the other end of the court, the Golden Eagles were able to preserve their lead while shooting 69.2 percent for the 11-point NSIC victory. 

The Golden Eagles were led by Isieoma Odor's double-double of 20 points (8-for-21) and 13 rebounds. Abby Guidinger chipped in seven rebounds and 16 points on 8-for-12 shooting while Paige Cornale added 10 and two steals. 

Upper Iowa returns back to Dorman Gymnasium for the first time since January 5th. The Peacocks will welcome the University of Sioux Falls on Fri. Jan 25 and Southwest Minnesota State University on Sat. Jan 26. Start time is set for 5:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m., respectively.