SUPERIOR, Wis. - Both Minnesota Morris and Wisconsin-Superior came into Friday night's women's basketball matchup with perfect 6-0 UMAC records meaning the winner would take sole possession of first place in the conference. The Cougars battled back from an early deficit to tie it at halftime, but the Yellowjackets regained control in the second half and downed the Cougars 81-72.

The big time matchup looked like a big mismatch early as UW-Superior scored the game's first 10 points. The Cougars calmed their nerves and cut the deficit to 2 by quarter's end on an Elli Stevenson 3 to make it 16-14 going into the second.

A Tori Holt jumper tied the game at 20 in the second quarter. The Yellowjackets went on a mini-run to take a 6-point edge at 28-22. Minnesota Morris countered with a 12-4 run to take their first lead of the ball game at 34-32. Jordan Halvorson and Bailey Miller each drained key 3s in the stretch. UWS scored in the final minute to send the teams into the locker rooms tied at 34.

Free throws from Stevenson and Holt gave the Cougars a 40-38 lead to start the third quarter. Later after being tied at 41, the Yellowjackets went on a 15-2 spurt to take a double-digit lead at 56-43. The Cougars cut the deficit back down to single digits at 57-48 by quarter's end.

The closest the Cougars would get in the fourth quarter was seven points on a pair of occasions, but it would be the Yellowjackets who would come away with the 9-point victory in the battle of conference unbeatens.

Kendra Raths led the Cougars with a double-double effort of 14 points and 12 rebounds. Mauren Thiesen scored 12 while Abby Van Kempen and Halvorson each added 10.

Minnesota Morris (9-5, 6-1 in UMAC) will look to rebound Saturday at St. Scholastica at 3 p.m.