BEMIDJI, Minn. – Bemidji State University sophomore forward Nancy McConkey netted the second double-double of her career and second in as many days to help the Beavers to a 69-67 non-conference victory over Upper Iowa University Sunday at the BSU Gymnasium. The win is the first for BSU since Dec. 28th, snapping an eight-game losing-streak.

After holding the Peacock to just 25 points in the first half and staking claim to a ten-point (35-25) lead at the half, the Beavers were outscored by a 42-34 margin in the final 20 minutes as UIU looked in to the post and took advantage of high-percentage shots and second-chance opportunities. UIU recorded 24 points in the paint in the second half while converting 10 offensive rebounds into 16 points.

The Beavers came out of the intermission to extend its lead to 18 points (48-30)just 5:56 into the half as sophomore Maggie Gernbacher (Bloomington, Minn.) collected 10 of her team-high 18 points on the afternoon in the opening minutes of the second half. But during the next 5:28, the Peacocks would go on a 16-4 run sparked by eight points from Mandy Drees.

After a pair of timely three-point baskets by senior Allison Sanderberg (Duluth, Minn.) and sophomore Tara Dockter (Bismarck, N.D.) UIU's Christa Hammel led the Peacocks on a run of 12-4 to close to within a basket of the home team (56-63) with just 88 seconds remaining in the game. But BSU would force a pair of turnovers and convert 4-for-4 from the line in the game's final moments to outlast the Peacocks and gained a long-awaited win, 69-67.

McConkey pushed the Beavers to a 35-25 halftime lead scoring nine points and grabbing seven of her team-high 11 boards in the half as BSU went 14-36 from the field (38.9 percent) including a 4-of-8 (50.0 percent) performance from beyond the three point arc. Sanderberg also added 14 points while senior Serena Nalls (St. Paul, Minn.) collected five rebounds and two blocks.

BSU's Amy Lawson (Spencer, Iowa) fouled out with 11:21 left in regulation but not before she collected a game-high eight assists.

BSU moves to 4-17 on the season with the non-conference win while the team is 0-8 in NSIC play. The Peacocks fall to BSU for the second time this season and are now 6-18. The Beavers will be back in action again next weekend (Feb. 11-12) when they host Wayne State College and Southwest Minnesota State in its final homestand of the regular season. The opening tip for each game is slated for 6:00 p.m. at the BSU Gymnasium.