Upper Iowa closed out the calendar year with a hard-fought 82-79 defeat to the Lake Superior State Lakers.

Lake Superior State opened the game with a quick 6-0 lead, but the Peacocks were able to respond and tie the game at 10 apiece on a midrange jumper by freshman Lindsey Davis. This sparked a run for the Peacocks as junior Brooke Lechleitner scored a layup, senior Mia Huberty converted a two-point jumper and junior Amelia Valentino knocked down a three. Senior Anna Soler and Huberty combined to shoot 6-6 from the free throw line during the run, as the Peacocks scored 13-straight points, to take a 23-13 lead at the end of the first quarter.

Soler opened the second quarter with a layup, and the Lakers were able to cut into the lead by scoring on four consecutive possessions. Huberty converted a three to push the Peacocks lead to six, and senior Helen Staley added a mid-range bucket. Following a pair of jump shots made by Lakers guard Taylor Stacy, Lake Superior State took a 31-30 lead. Lechleitner scored an and one basket in the paint at the 1:30 mark, and a Staley layup gave the Peacocks a 35-33 lead at the half.

Both teams continued to trade baskets at the start of the second half, before consecutive three pointers by sophomore Ava Privet and Huberty extended UIU's lead to seven. The Peacocks hot shooting continued in the third quarter, as they shot 5-8 from beyond the arc, as sophomore Sydnee Nelson, Huberty and Valentino each converted three-point buckets in the final four minutes. The Lakers converted a pair of jump shots in the final minute and a half of the quarter, where they were able to cut the Peacocks lead to 61-56.

Following a Lakers three to start the fourth, Staley and Huberty each scored on shots in the paint. Huberty added an and one layup at the six-minute mark, and the Lakers converted back-to-back three pointers to take a one-point lead. Both teams were able to successfully get to the line, as Huberty and Staley each shot 2-2 from the charity stripe, and the Lakers shot 7-8 from the line over a two-minute stretch. The Lakers then added a three pointer at the 2:30 mark, to boost their lead to 79-74. Privet scored on a clutch fastbreak three pointer to cut the lead to two, with 1:19 left in the game. The Peacocks defensive pressure forced a turnover on the following possession, and Huberty scored a huge layup to tie the game at 79. With eight seconds remaining, Grace Bradford scored a go-ahead layup, and the Lakers were able to ice the game at the line as they secured the 82-79 win.

Mia Huberty scored 25+ points for the fifth time this season, dropping a game-high 28 points on 10-26 shooting from the floor, while making all five free throw attempts. She hauled in five rebounds, dished out four assists and added a steal and two blocked shots.

Helen Staley recorded 14 points on a near-perfect 6-7 shooting and she also blocked two shots.

Anna Soler scored 10 points while shooting 3-8 from the floor and 4-4 from the charity stripe. She recorded a team-high nine rebounds with three coming on the offensive end, and she tied Huberty and Nelson for most assists on the team with four.

The Peacocks will tip off the new year with a home double header weekend as they take on Missouri-St. Louis on Friday, Jan. 3 at 5 p.m. and Maryville on Sunday, Jan. 5 at 1 p.m.