Lauren Buck of Upper Iowa had a big weekend on the basketball court, scoring 25 points and grabbing 17 rebounds in the team’s two losses. (Upper Iowa photo)

By Jerry Wadian
Sports Editor
jwadian@thefayettecountyunion.com

The Upper Iowa women’s basketball team had a pair of victories within reach over the weekend but lost both games in the final minutes.

Friday, Jan. 3, the women lost at Crookston, Minn., 80-69, and Saturday they fell, 64-59, in Bemidji, Minn.

Friday, the women fell to the Golden Eagles, although the game was close most of the time.

UMC led, 33-32, at halftime. The Peacocks rallied to tie the game, 42-42, with 14:30 to play in the second half before UMC went on an 11-0 run.

Once again, Upper Iowa fought back, narrowing the lead to two, 62-60, with five minutes to play. However, a pair of treys helped the hosts to a 10-2 run and a lead the Peacocks could not overcome.

Whitney Kieffer led UIU with 20 points. Lauren Buck nailed her second double-double of the season with 11 points and 11 rebounds. Sumner’s Carly Pagel added a field goal and five boards in 13 minutes on the court.

Saturday, the Peacocks led by one, 59-58, with two minutes left in the game. However, the Beavers scored the final six points of the game to post the win.

Upper Iowa shot only 27 percent from the field in the second half, including a 3-16 stretch in the final 11 minutes of action.

Once again Kieffer and Buck led the Peacocks with 16 and 14 points, respectively. Pagel added nine points and a team-high eight rebounds.

UIU currently owns a 3-5 record in the NSIC and 4-8 overall. It returns home this weekend for a pair of games.