The Upper Iowa University women's basketball team dropped their close contest against Concordia University, St. Paul by a score of 70-61. The Peacocks fall to a 1-6 (0-3 NSIC) record on the season while the Golden Bears improve to 6-1 (2-1 NSIC) on the year.
 
After Concordia, St. Paul hit a three-pointer to open the game, Upper Iowa went on a 9-0 run to take the lead in the opening period. The early advantage was short-lived as the Golden Bears turned the tide with a 16-0 stretch to end the first quarter, taking a 10-point lead into the second period. Two free throws from Lydia Haack and a three-pointer from Sidney Brastad cut the UIU deficit in half, but CSP answered with a 12-2 run of their own to push their lead to 15. The teams battled back-and-forth, but Concordia, St. Paul carried a 37-23 advantage into the halftime break.

Neither team grabbed much momentum through the first four minutes of the third period, but Haack got hot from the field and propelled the Peacocks to a 19-6 run from the 6:04 to 1:33 mark. Haack had 12 points to double up on the Golden Bears over the stretch, shooting 5 for 6 (83.3%) from the floor and 2 for 3 (66.7%) from beyond the arc. Haack's only miss came at the end of the run, but Musgrave capped off the stretch with a made putback to knot the score at 51 points apiece. However, the tie game is as close as UIU would come to the lead, as CSP took a 54-51 advantage into the final period.

The Golden Bears increased their lead to 57-51 early in the final frame, but Haack stayed hot and knocked down consecutive jump shots from both in and outside the arc to score five quick points. A make from Musgrave off of an assist from Haack brought Upper Iowa within one point at 61-60 with 2:41 to play, but Concordia, St. Paul closed the contest on a 9-1 run to clinch a 70-61 victory.

STATS OF THE GAME… 

• The teams nearly mirrored each other in their overall shooting numbers as CSP (21-56, 37.5%) held a minuscule advantage in percentage while UIU (22-59, 37.3%) hit one more field goal.
• The Peacocks dominated from behind the arc, however, hitting 7 of 17 (41.2%) shots while holding the Golden Bears to just a 3-18 (16.7%) clip.
• Conversely, Concordia, St. Paul controlled the charity stripe, converting 25 of 33 (75.8%) compared to just 10 makes on 13 attempts (76.9%) for Upper Iowa.
• CSP turned 19 UIU turnovers into 25 points, while UIU only had nine points off 15 CSP turnovers. The Golden Bears also held a 17-9 edge in fastbreak points and a 32-20 advantage in points in the paint.

PEACOCKS OF THE GAME… 

• Lydia Haack had 24 points to lead all scorers, notching her third 20-point outing in seven games. The point guard also dished out a game-high four assists while shooting a sizzling 9 for 17 (52.9%) from the floor and 4 for 7 (57.1%) from three-point territory.
• Jessica Musgrave registered her second double-double of the season, finishing with 10 points and 10 rebounds. Her five offensive boards led the game, and she led the Peacocks with three steals.
• Lexie Lodermeier notched season-highs in points (9) and rebounds (11), grabbing a game-best in boards. She shot an efficient 4 for 7 (57.1%) from the floor and added a pair of assists as well. 

UP NEXT… The Peacocks set their sights on South Dakota as they take on the University of Sioux Falls for a Northern Sun Conference contest on Friday, Dec. 10, at 7:30 p.m. in Sioux Falls, S.D.