After opening the game 1-10 from downtown, the University of Sioux Falls found some rhythm and momentum in the final minutes of the first half, to stretch an eight point halftime lead into a 74-46 win in Sioux Falls, S.D. Tuesday night at the Stewart Center. USF betters their record to 11-2, while Dakota State falls to 5-13 on the season.
The first eight minutes were controlled by Trojans. Following a Vanessa Johnson 3-pointer that put USF ahead 5-2, DSU rallied off a 12 straight points, while holding the Cougars scoreless for nearly four minutes.
With 12:13 to play, USF had made just two field goals and trailed the Trojans 14-5. The game had the making of a major upset, but that quickly changed.
Jamey Hofer's jumper near the 10 minute mark started it all. Her jumper sparked a 21-3 scoring run by the Cougars. After beginning the game 1-10 from beyond the arc, USF finished the half connecting on 5 of their final 7 3-point attempts to turn what was once a eight point deficit into a 31-23 lead at the break.
Alyssa Rushton and V. Johnson each finished the half 3-5 from the floor to combine for 14 of the Cougars 31.
The Cougars came out determined to finish the Trojans in the second half and they did. USF scored 12 of first 14 points of the period to take a commanding 43-25 lead with 16:48 to play.
USF called on its bench to close out the game. Maggie Malloy's hustle and Bailey Bouman's red hot shooting virtually removed any possibility of a DSU comeback.
Over the next four minutes, the duo combined for 15 points and four offensive rebounds, extending USF's lead to its largest of the game at 31 points. The Trojans would come as close as 21, but in the end 27 second half points off the bench for the Cougars resulted in a 74-46 USF win at home.
USF's bench outscored the DSU bench 35-6 on the game. The Cougars also owned the paint, where they tallied 30 points, while the Trojans recorded 10.
Despite shooting just 45% from the floor, USF found other ways to score, such as their defense. The Cougars turned 25 DSU turnovers into 37 points.
Bouman had a career night off of the bench for the Cougars. She finished 6-9 from the field and 5-7 from downtown to post a career and game high, 17 points in just 22 minutes on the floor. Rushton also had a solid night. She added 12 points and five rebounds for USF.
Malloy contributed great energy off the bench. She tallied seven points, while pulling down a game high 8 rebounds from the guard position. Even more impressive, five were on offense.
USF will get right back to action Friday when they host South Dakota School of Mines & Technology. Tip-off is set for 6p.m.
