Box Score FAYETTE, Iowa --- #13 Minnesota State picked up its 23rd win of the season Saturday afternoon as it bested the Upper Iowa Peacocks 99-82 on the road.

With the win, MSU improves to 23-3 on the season, including a 19-3 NSIC record. With the loss, UIU drops to 10-17, including a 6-16 conference record. The Mavericks also claimed the NSIC South Division Championship for the second straight season.

The Peacocks were able to build a nine-point lead at 14-5 six minutes into the first quarter. The Peacocks would increase their lead to as many as 13 points as UIU led 28-17 by the end of the first quarter. MSU shot 35.3% from the field in the first quarter.

UIU held a 33-23 lead with 8:10 to go in the second quarter, before the Maverick put together a 16-2 run to go up 39-35 with 4:44 to go in the half. Sophomore Molly Ihle notched six points during that stretch while junior Joey Batt and Natalie Bremer each tallied five. The Peacocks would eventually tie the score at 41-41 with 1:52 to go in the half, but MSU would get the final three points of the quarter to take a 44-41 lead into the locker room.

Batt led the Maverick offense in the first half with 11 points, while Bremer notched seven points. As a team, MSU shot 48.6% from the field in the first half.

Callista Rochon-Baker led all scorers in the first half with 15 points. As a unit, UIU shot 44.4% from the field in the first half.

The Mavericks maintained their four-point lead halfway through the third quarter as they led 53-49. MSU would finish the final five minutes of the third quarter outscoring the Peacocks 19-12 to take a 72-61 lead. Bremer recorded 10 of MSU's final 19 points of the third quarter.

Minnesota State would maintain its double-digit lead throughout the fourth quarter as the Mavericks went on to secure the 99-82 win.

Bremer finished her day with 21 points, while Batt notched 19 points and four assists. Ihle added 11 points also, while junior Emily Herberg posted 13 points. Sophomore Emily Russo added eight points and nine rebounds also.

As a team, MSU shot 54.4% from the field, including a 9-of-20 (.450) showing from downtown. The Mavericks also recorded 13 steals and forced 20 UIU turnovers.

Rochon-Baker led the Peacocks with 18 points, while Lydia Haack recorded 14 points and six assists.

As a team, UIU shot 44.6% from the field. The Peacocks also cashed in on 23-of-25 (.920) attempts from the free throw line.

As the #1 seed in the NSIC South Division, Minnesota State receives a first-round bye in the NSIC Tournament. It will take on the winner of the game between the #4 seed from the north division and the #5 seed from the south division in the second round on Saturday, February 25, at the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, S.D. Tip-off is scheduled for 1:30 p.m.