Cornell, which was playing its first conference game of the season, was led by Dani Merriman's 20-point performance. Katie Morris recorded a double-double with 10 points and 13 rebounds as the Rams out-rebounded the Beavers 44-27.
Buena Vista held a 43-39 lead with just over 13 minutes to play after Courtney Stoelk made a pair of free throws. Cornell then went on a 20-6 run over the next nine minutes to seize a 59-49 advantage, its largest lead of the game. The Beavers scored eight straight points to cut the deficit to 59-57 with 2 1/2 minutes to play when Katie Maguire converted a three-point play after being fouled on a layup.
Buena Vista got the ball back after Stoelk came up with a steal. Tracy Hartwig, who entered the game as the most accurate free throw shooter in the conference, was fouled on the ensuing Buena Vista possession and missed two free throws.
After Cornell turned the ball over once again, Maguire launched a jumper with just over a minute to play to tie the game. She missed the shot, and Cornell hauled in the rebound. The Rams went on to pad their lead en route to the five-point victory.
Kelly Staley led Buena Vista with 14 points while Maguire, who shot just 2 of 10 from the field, added 12 points. Buena Vista, which had been averaging nearly 84 points per game, shot 19 of 53 (36%) from the floor and 13 of 23 (57%) from the charity stripe.
Cornell, 3-6 on the season, overcame 23 turnovers by shooting 23 of 55 (42%) from the field. The Rams were 7 of 12 (58%) from three-point range in the second-half.
It is the first regular-season conference loss for Buena Vista since suffering a 78-73 road loss in overtime to Loras College on January 13, 2004. The Beavers, who are winless in their four true road games this season, dropped to 6-5 with the loss, 1-1 in the conference.
Buena Vista Univ. vs Cornell College 01-04-06 6:01 p.m. at Mount Vernon, Iowa -- Small Multi-Sport At Mount Vernon, Iowa -- Small Multi-Sport CORNELL COLLEGE 62, BUENA VISTA UNIV. 57 BUENA VISTA UNIV. (6-5, 1-1 IIAC) STALEY, Kelli 6-11 1-2 14; MAGUIRE, Katie 2-10 7-9 12; STOELK, Courtney 2-7 2-2 8; GRIGGS, Jess 3-6 0-2 7; ERNST, Katie 2-5 1-1 5; HEITMANN, Penni 2-5 0-1 4; HARTWIG, Tracy 1-5 0-2 3; EBEL, Katie 1-1 1-2 3; PUTNEY, Melissa 0-2 1-2 1; MEYER, Lindsey 0-1 0-0 0; MOORE, Tia 0-0 0-0 0; SCHWEITZBERGER, Jenn 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 19-53 13-23 57. CORNELL COLLEGE (3-6, 1-0 IIAC) MERRIMAN, Dani 7-11 0-0 20; SKAGGS, Anna 6-16 1-2 14; MORRIS, Katie 3-8 4-7 10; MOELLER, Courtney 2-3 0-0 6; COWAN, Tiffany 2-7 0-0 4; FINKLE, Diana 1-4 0-2 3; GILLESPIE, Stephanie 1-2 1-2 3; WALLACE, Brianna 1-4 0-0 2. Totals 23-55 6-13 62. Buena Vista Univ.............. 29 28 - 57 Cornell College............... 29 33 - 62 3-point goals-Buena Vista Univ. 6-19 (STOELK, Courtney 2-5; MAGUIRE, Katie 1-5; GRIGGS, Jess 1-1; STALEY, Kelli 1-4; HARTWIG, Tracy 1-3; MEYER, Lindsey 0-1), Cornell College 10-25 (MERRIMAN, Dani 6-10; MOELLER, Courtney 2-3; FINKLE, Diana 1-3; SKAGGS, Anna 1-5; COWAN, Tiffany 0-3; MORRIS, Katie 0-1). Fouled out--Buena Vista Univ.-None, Cornell College-None. Rebounds-Buena Vista Univ. 27 (PUTNEY, Melissa 4; GRIGGS, Jess 4; STALEY, Kelli 4), Cornell College 44 (MORRIS, Katie 13). Assists-Buena Vista Univ. 13 (HARTWIG, Tracy 4), Cornell College 15 (WALLACE, Brianna 4). Total fouls-Buena Vista Univ. 13, Cornell College 20. A-75