CEDAR FALLS, Iowa ? Bradley held Northern Iowa below its season average, but the Braves scored a season-low 49 points as the Bradley women's basketball team suffered a 60-49 loss in Missouri Valley Conference regular-season action in Cedar Falls, Iowa, Saturday.

Bradley shot a season-low 30 percent from the field and hit just 2-of-16 three-point attempts as the Braves fell to 11-8 overall, 4-6 in Valley play. Northern Iowa (13-8 overall, 4-6 MVC) shot 43.2 percent from the field, but received 20 points and 14 rebounds from Alex Cook to hold off the Braves.

After taking an early 6-2 lead, the Braves went scoreless for the next 4:19 of play, but Northern Iowa scored just six points during Bradley's drought. Sophomore Erika Nelson put a brief end to the Braves struggles as she made a basket with 9:34 to play to give Bradley an 11-8 lead.

Bradley went cold from the field after Nelson's basket, however, failing to score over the next 5:54 as Alex Cook scored six points to help key a 10-0 Northern Iowa run. Senior Dena Williams ended the drought with a pair of free throws at 3:40 to pull Bradley to within five points at 18-13.

The Braves made five of their first 12 shots from the field, but missed nine consecutive shots from the field before Genny Mueller got her own rebound off a miss and made a layup with 1:12 to play. Williams was limited to just three minutes in the first half, after getting injured on the opening tip and picking up two quick fouls when returning midway through the half.

Northern Iowa received 14 points from Cook in the first half, taking a 24-15 lead the break. Bradley shot just 26.1 percent in the opening 20 minutes and was outrebounded 17-13. The Panthers shot 42.3 percent during the first half of play. The 15 points scored for Bradley was the Braves lowest point total in half since scored 15 points in the second half at Drake on Jan. 24, 2004.

Bradley's struggles continued in the early going of the second half as the Panthers opened the period scoring eight consecutive points to extend the advantage to 32-15 after back-to-back three-pointers by Emily Berry.

Nelson again ended the Panthers run with a basket at 17:08 that started an 8-2 Bradley spurt that cut the deficit to 39-27 with just under 10 minutes remaining. The Braves cut the deficit to nine points, at 53-44 with 1:20 to play, but could get no closer as the Panthers held off any attempts to rally by Bradley to win 60-49.

Nelson, who tied a career-high with seven rebounds, hit 6-of-9 shots from the field and finished with 13 points. Senior Dena Williams added 14 points to move into 14th place on the Braves all-time scoring list.

Cook led Northern Iowa with 20 points and 14 boards. Emily Berry (12 points) and Cassie Hager (11 points) were also in double figures for the Panthers.

Bradley returns to action Thursday at 7:05 p.m. when the Braves play host to Evansville at Robertson Memorial Field House.