SUPERIOR, Wis. -- The UW-Superior women's basketball team withstood a furious fourth-quarter charge from Minnesota Morris, holding on for a 54-52 Upper Midwest Athletic Conference victory at Mertz Mortorelli Gymnasium on Friday.
 
The Cougars outscored UWS (9-13, 7-6 UMAC), 17-9, over the final 10 minutes, nearly erasing a 45-35 Superior lead through three quarters. Minnesota Morris connected for 41 percent from the in the fourth quarter and three 3-pointers, but a pair of free throws by sophomore Katie Dobson (Black River Falls, Wis./Black River Falls) with 3:03 to play coupled with a trey by senior Mady Sanders (Lino Lakes, Minn./Centennial) 31 seconds later put UWS ahead for good.
 
The victory moved the Yellowjackets one step closer to locking up a UMAC tournament berth, which they can do with a win over Crown.
 
Senior Kaelyn Christian (St. Michael, Minn./St. Michael-Albertville Senior) led all players with 14 points, adding three steals and three rebounds while Dobson chipped in seven points and five boards in a game that featured a combined 56 turnovers, including 31 for UWS.
 
Minnesota Morris (10-13, 8-5) held a slim 13-11 advantage after one period. The 'Jackets used a 14-point second quarter to take a 25-20 edge at halftime.
 
UWS connected on three treys in the third quarter to help build their 10-point advantage heading into he final period.
 
Jadyn Sondol paced the Cougars with 13 points, five rebounds and four steals and Malory Anderson had nine points, five boards and two assists in the loss.
 
The 'Jackets and Polars are set for a 4:45 p.m., clash Saturday at Mertz Mortorelli Gym.