The Bemidji State University women’s basketball team rebounded from a poor Friday night effort to defeat Upper Iowa University 64-59 Saturday in a Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference contest at BSU Gymnasium. The Beavers had four players in double figures scoring to improve to 7-5 overall and 3-5 in NSIC play.

After shooting just under 17 percent Friday, the Beavers posted a 40.9 percent clip from the field, while UIU (4-8, 3-5 NSIC) shot 37.1 percent. BSU forced 18 Peacock turnovers to convert them into 18 points and an 18-9 advantage in points off turnovers. UIU won the rebounding battle 44-38.

Seniors Jessie Althoff (F, Becker, Minn.) and Morgan Lee (G, Hayward, Wis.) each totaled 14 points to lead the Beavers. Althoff added six rebounds and shot 7-of-13 (53.8%) from the field. Freshman center Katie Miller (Waseca, Minn.) found her name called in the starting lineup for the first time in her career and totaled 12 points and five rebounds with two steals in 28 minutes of play. She shot 5-of-8 (62.5%) form the field. Senior Kate Warmack (C, East Grand Forks, Minn.) added 11 points, a team-high eight rebounds, three assists and three blocks.

The Beavers got off to a strong start and opened the game with a 6-0 lead two minutes into the contest. BSU stretched the advantage to 10 at 17-7 with 14:13 left in the opening half, thanks to a 3-point dagger by Zerr.

The Beavers hit a slow spot during the next seven minutes, allowing the Peacocks to post a 16-6 run that knotted the game 23-23 with 7:11 showing on the game clock. The teams then traded buckets, as either squad owned a lead more than a possession and the teams were tied 33-33 with 2:15 remaining. Zerr finished the first half scoring by grabbing a defensive rebound and going coast-to-coast for a layup that tied the game for the fourth time, this time at 36-36 heading into the locker room.

The contest was tied 41-41 with 15:14 remaining in the second half, then the Peacocks recorded a 10-4 run to open a six-point lead at 51-45 with 10:33 showing on the game clock. The Beavers responded with a 9-2 run of their own to open a slim lead at 54-53 with 7:33 left.

The teams continued to trade buckets all the way down to under three minutes to play. UIU tied the game for the seventh time at 58-58 with 2:04 remaining on the first of a two-shot foul, then took a lead with the second from the charity stripe, 59-58. The point was the last the Peacocks would record as a Warmack offensive rebound, then layup handed the Beavers a lead it wouldn’t relinquish.

The Beavers hit the road for the first time in 2014 when they head south to battle Augustana College and Wayne State College Jan. 10-11.