The Peacock women's basketball team held slim leads at the end of the first half, the end of the third quarter and with three and a half minutes to play, but Winona State University rallied to score nine of the final 10 points to come from behind and steal a 61-55 decision.
 
After the loss, UIU falls to 2-11 overall and 0-8 in the NSIC, while WSU improves to 6-6 overall and 3-5 in the conference.
 
Jessica Musgrave scored a team-high 14 points in the loss, but struggled shooting the rock (6-21), while Brook Evenson (12), Lydia Haack (10) and Katie Tornstrom (10) all scored in double figures with four field goals each.
 
Winona's Emily Kieck led all scorers with 26 points on 9-17 shooting and Caitlin Riley added 16.
 
After the Warriors closed out the first quarter on a 7-2 run to take a 15-10 lead, the two teams played evenly for the first seven minutes of the second quarter as the home team added slightly to their lead to go ahead 27-20 with three minutes to play. The Peacocks found their stride in the final two and a half minutes and grabbed a one-point, 30-29 lead at the half. The 10-2 run was fueled by five points from Tornstrom including a three-pointer just before the buzzer to put the visitors ahead.
 
Both defenses controlled the pace of play in the third quarter as UIU added a point to their lead to move into the fourth quarter with a 42-40 advantage.
 
In the fourth, a three-pointer from the hand of Tornstrom at the 5:48 mark pushed UIU ahead of their hosts 51-50. The lead grew to three, 53-50, when Musgrave converted a layup with just under five minutes to play. Unfortunately, the Musgrave make would be the final field goal made for UIU over the final 4:51 of the game.
 
Winona State closed out the final five minutes of the quarter outscoring Upper Iowa 11-2 including 9-10 at the free throw line. The Warriors defense forced the Peacocks to shoot 0-5, and all from three, over the final minutes and turned UIU over twice. Upper Iowa's only two points down the stretch came at the free throw line.
 
Upper Iowa will head back out on the road next weekend, Jan. 7-8, at the University of Minnesota Crookston and Bemidji State University.