The Upper Iowa women's basketball team fell 91-67 against Minnesota State University, Mankato in this season's final game at Dorman Memorial Gymnasium. The Peacocks had three double-digit scorers and started strong in the first period, but the Mavericks claimed the road win by playing their press and pace style. UIU fell to 7-18 (4-15 NSIC) on the year, while MSU improved to 19-5 (15-5 NSIC) to maintain their spot atop the NSIC South Division.

 Jessica Musgrave led the Peacocks by tying for game-highs with 17 points and eight rebounds, including a game-best five on the offensive glass. She shot 8-18 from the floor while adding two assists, two steals, and a block. Savannah Domeyer tallied 12 points and eight rebounds on 4-6 from the floor and 4-4 from the free throw line. The senior center also added to her program-best blocks total with six, tying for a career-high in 17 minutes off the bench. Brooke Evenson knocked down three triples en route to 11 points, but she shot just 4-13 overall and 3-11 from deep. The wing tacked on four assists, three rebounds, two blocks, and two steals. Starters Mia Huberty (7), Lydia Haack (6), and Lexie Lodermeier (6) combined for 19 points, nine rebounds, and six assists.

Joey Batt set the bar for the Mavericks with 17 points on 6-10 shooting from the floor and 4-6 from deep while also dishing a game-high six assists. Rylee Menster shot 6-9 overall and 3-4 from three to score 15 points with five boards. Destinee Bursch and Tayla Stuttley scored 10 points apiece as four Mavericks reached double figures.

The Mavericks won the game by forcing turnovers and converting UIU giveaways into three-pointers. MSU won the turnover battle 18-11, helping the visitors claim a 24-3 edge in points from turnovers. Minnesota State only scored five more fast break points, 22-17, and Upper Iowa won the battle inside with a 30-24 advantage in the paint and a 14-9 edge in second-chance points, but threes proved to be worth more than twos. MSU shot a scalding 13-25 (52%) from behind the three-point arc and was plus-18 from deep as UIU shot 7-25 (28%). The Mavericks shot 33-75 overall compared to a 25-68 clip for the Peacocks.

UIU started strong by beating the MSU pressure and scored the game's first four points before building a 14-9 lead thanks to eight points from Musgrave. The Mavericks turned the tide with an 11-0 run over the final four minutes of the first frame to claim a lead they would not relinquish. The Peacocks cut the deficit to 25-22 after consecutive makes from Musgrave, but a 13-0 MSU run helped give the Mavericks a 43-27 halftime edge.

The margin stayed between 13 and 17 points through the first half of the third quarter, but the Mavericks used another big run to pull away in the final five minutes of the frame. MSU scored 11-straight and closed the quarter on a 13-1 run to take a 27-point lead into the fourth quarter, 72-45. The Peacocks shaved eight points off the deficit as they outscored the Mavericks 17-9 through the first five and a half minutes. Haack scored two to start the spurt that saw Musgrave and Domeyer add four points apiece, Evenson hit two threes, and Katie Tornstrom cap the stretch with a trifecta. The Peacocks then emptied their bench with 3:58 to go, and Minnesota State went on to win 91-67.

Up next, the Peacocks take a road trip to St. Paul, Minn., to close their campaign against Concordia University, St. Paul at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 19.