BOX SCORE

FAYETTE, IOWA – Upper Iowa University snapped a 16-game losing streak dating back to last season and also snapped a 40-game conference losing streak with a 53-49 victory over Southwest Minnesota State on Saturday night in Fayette.

The victory was UIU's first overall since Jan. 27, 2010, and its first Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference victory since Dec. 13, 2008.

UIU improves to 1-8 overall, 1-4 NSIC, while SMSU drops its fifth straight game and falls to 2-8 overall, 1-5 NSIC.

SMSU was dominated on the glass, as UIU held a 39-18 rebound advantage, including recording 14 offensive rebounds to just six offensive rebounds for SMSU.

Tori Fink led SMSU with 21 points, connecting on 8 of 14 shots, including three 3-pointers. Laura Kramer added seven points and five rebounds, while Abby Kenealy finished with six points.

Jeri Jacobson led the Peacocks with a team-high 14 points.

UIU, which led 25-16 at halftime, saw SMSU trim the lead to seven points early in the second half, before answering with its own run to extend the lead to 39-27 with 12 minutes left in the game.

The Mustangs then put together its best stretch of the game over the next 10 minutes and pulled to within 48-47 with two minutes left on a 3-pointer by Fink. UIU answered with a basket on its next possession to push the lead to 50-47.

The Peacocks extended the lead to 51-47 with 44 seconds remaining hitting one of two free throws, until Amber Peterson cut the lead to 51-49 with 35 seconds remaining with a basket. UIU then iced the game on its next possession with an offensive rebound following a missed 3-pointer and UIU's Cassandra Deiters sealed the game with two free throws with nine seconds left.

SMSU shot 34.7 percent in the game (17 of 49), including just 28 percent (7 of 25) in the first half.

Southwest Minnesota State will now have two weeks off before returning to NSIC play on Saturday, Jan. 1, 2011, hosting Minnesota, Crookston with tip-off slated for 4 p.m.