In a tightly contested game, Upper Iowa fell short to Minnesota State University-Moorhead on Saturday afternoon. Both teams battled well defensively but the Dragons pulled away in the final minutes to capture a 58-46 NSIC victory. MSUM extended its win streak to ten games and holds a 12-2 (8-0 NSIC) record while Upper Iowa sits at 3-13 (0-8 NSIC).

Upper Iowa used its last bit of fight to cut the gap to three, 42-39, with 7:26 left in the game but MSUM ended UIU's upset hopes with a 16-7 run to close out the game ahead by twelve. The Peacocks went 5-for-6 from the charity stipe but were held to just one basket down the final stretch.

After trailing 20-12 heading into the second quarter, the Peacocks put clamps on the Dragon's offense and used an 8-4 run over the final 4:03 of the half to bring the score to 26-22 at the break. In the second quarter, the Dragons made just three baskets and shot 15.8 percent from the floor. Six points in a single frame is the lowest Upper Iowa has allowed by an opponent since holding Concordia University, St. Paul to five in the third quarter on Feb. 11, 2017.

MSUM came out of the break with a big defensive quarter of its own. The Dragons forced four of Upper Iowa's season-low nine turnovers in the frame and held the Peacocks to 23.1 percent shooting. Bekka Pierson pulled the Peacock within four, 28-24, at the 9:11 tick but MSUM put together a 12-6 run that gave the Dragons a comfortable 10-point lead going into the final frame. Eight points from Laker Ward and a free throw by Savannah Domeyer fueled a 9-2 run that pulled UIU within one possession but MSUM held the Peacocks to 1-for-8 shooting the rest of the way.

MSUM outrebounded the Peacocks 46-33 in the contest including a 19-10 offensive rebound advantage. The Dragons scored 17 second chance points during the contest compared to UIU's five.

Domeyer filled the stat sheets with nine points, eight rebounds, five blocks, and one assist to lead the Peacocks on Saturday afternoon. Ward finished with eight points to go with three rebounds and two assists. Haley Martin recorded six points and four rebounds.

Jacky Volkert filled the stat sheets for the Dragons with 14 points, four rebounds, three assists, one block, and two steals. Madi Green and Megan Hintz each pitched in 10 points to go with nine and 11 boards, respectively.

Upper Iowa will hit the road for back-to-back weekends of NSIC competitions. The Peacocks will face Augustana University (1/11), Wayne State College (1/12), Bemidji State University (1/18), and University of Minnesota Crookston (1/19) during the stretch.