The Upper Iowa women's basketball team looked poised to lock up a weekend sweep in Dorman Gymnasium, but a 31-point fourth quarter propelled Minnesota State University-Mankato to a 78-71 victory on Saturday afternoon. The Mavericks improve to 6-2 on the season and 3-1 in the conference, while Upper Iowa dips to 1-9 overall and 1-4 against NSIC opponents. 

Upper Iowa both outrebounded and outshot Minnesota State in the loss, while maintaining the advantage for over half of the contest. The Peacocks collected a season-high 42 rebounds compared to the Mavericks' 39, and shot 37.7 percent from the floor, 33.3 percent from downtown, and 80.0 percent at the line. MSU went 35.1 percent from the field, 32.0 percent beyond the arc, and 64.3 percent at the charity stripe. 

• The first half was a back-and-forth affair with 11 lead changes and the game tied on 10 occasions. The Peacocks won the first quarter 17-16 thanks to 42.9 percent shooting from the field compared to the Mavericks' 30.4 percent clip. Both teams struggled to shoot efficiently from the floor in the second quarter, but Upper Iowa capitalized on 13-of-17 attempts at the free throw line to outscore the visitors 19-13 in the frame. The Peacocks generated an 18-7 run during the leg capped off by a 10-0 spurt to build up a seven point lead at the break. 
• Upper Iowa had an answer for every MSU attack in the third and was able to push the advantage out to as many as 14 thanks to 64.3 percent shooting as a unit including 80.0 percent behind the arc. Jessica Musgrave led the way with eight points, Megan Peterson chipped in five, and three other Peacocks registered a three-pointer. Minnesota State was able to hit a triple on its final possession of the leg, but Upper Iowa still held a double-digit lead at 58-47. 
• A pair of Musgrave free throws gave the home team a 63-50 lead in the fourth before Minnesota State rattled off an 18-0 run to regain the lead and more. The spurt lasted 5:07 and saw the Mavericks convert 70.0 percent of their shots from the floor while forcing UIU into five turnovers. The game then turned into a free throw contest as each team was held to just one basket the rest of the way. MSU cashed in on 7-of-8 free throws and UIU converted 6-of-8 to set the final score at 78-71. 

• Jessica Musgrave finished one rebound shy of a double-double with 22 points and nine boards. She went 6-for-12 from the field and a perfect 10-for-10 at the charity stripe.

• Megan Peterson (12), Natalie Dinius (11), and Brooke Evenson (10) all registered double figures in the scoring column

• Minnesota State only scored five points off Upper Iowa's 12 miscues in the first half, but was able to take more advantage in the second half to score 20 points on 14 turnovers.
• Upper Iowa pulled down a season-high 17 offensive rebounds, which aided the Peacocks to a 19-17 advantage in second chance points. MSU hauled in 21 offensive boards on the other end of the court
• Upper Iowa maintained the lead for 21:28 of the contest.