PEORIA, Ill. -- Senior Genny Mueller scored 12 second-half points to help Bradley rally from a 13-point second-half deficit, but Northern Iowa scored 10 of the final 12 points of the contest to hold off the Braves 74-66 in Missouri Valley Conference women's basketball action Saturday.

Bradley (8-4 overall, 1-2 MVC) trailed 50-37 with 12:36 to play after the Panthers went on a 16-2 run, before Mueller keyed a Braves rally attempt with eight points, one rebound and three steals during the next 9:13 of play to help the Braves to a 64-63 lead with 3:23 to play.

Mueller scored all eight of her points during an 18-5 Braves spurt that gave Bradley its first lead at 58-55 with 6:03 to play since leading with just over four minutes remaining in the first half.

The teams traded baskets several times down the floor, before the Panthers seized control of the game with less than three minutes to play. Senior Dena Williams put Bradley ahead 64-63 with a layup at 3:23, but Northern Iowa scored 11 consecutive points to take a 10-point lead (74-64) with 10 seconds on the clock.

Northern Iowa's Amanda Faas made a driving layup and converted the three-point play after getting fouled. A Bradley turnover was fouled with Williams picking up her fifth foul of the game with 2:01 to play. After Williams basket with 3:23 on the clock, Bradley went 0-for-5 with two turnovers on its next six possessions.

Mueller finished with a team-high 18 points on 7-of-12 shooting, while also adding four rebounds and six steals. Williams tallied 16 points, three boards, two assists and three blocked shots before fouling out. She moved into sole possession of 15th place on Bradley career scoring list, passing Michelle Nason (816), Maureen Hogan (816) and Roxanne Grabow (836) and now has 847 career points. Williams also moved into a tie for fifth place on the Valley's career blocked shots list, tying Drake's Haley Sames for fifth place with 165 career rejections.

Sophomore guard Jen Brown had six points, six assists and just two turnovers, while freshman Devyn Flanagan was added 10 points and three steals in 24 minutes off the bench.

Bradley shot 36.9 percent from the field, but went 0-for-10 from three-point range, failing to make a three-pointer for the first time since not attempting a three-point shot Jan. 2, 2003 at Creighton. The Braves pulled down 21 offensive rebounds, but owned just a 16-15 edge in second chance points and had a 19-18 advantage in points off turnovers despite committing five less turnovers than Northern Iowa (16-21).

The Panthers (9-5 overall, 3-0 MVC) shot 52 percent from the field and had four players score in double figures paced by Cassie Hager's 19 points. Hager added six rebounds, two assists and four blocked shots. Senior Alex Cook posted a double-double with 15 points and 12 boards, while Emily Berry (12 points) and Amanda Faas (10 points, seven rebounds) also reached double figures.

Bradley plays its first Valley road game Thursday in Evansville, Ind., when the Braves take on Evansville at 7:05 p.m. at Roberts Stadium. The road swing concludes Sunday, Jan. 16 at 2:05 p.m. against Southern Illinois.