The Cougars hit on 43.3 percent of their field goals, including 36.8 percent (14-of-38) from behind-the-arc. The 14 made triples are the most since the team hit 15 back on February 2 in a 77-37 drubbing of Dakota State.

 

Three different Cougars scored in double figures, led by junior forward Laura Johnson. Johnson scored a game-high 14 points on 5-of-15 shooting, including 4-of-11 from beyond the arc. She also filled the box score with four assists, three rebounds, three blocks and a pair of steals.

 

Johnson wasn't the only key contributor as Jaicee Ulmer (12 points, four rebounds) was solid off the bench. Bailey Bouman also came off the bench to score 11 points and tallied four rebounds.

 

Amber Paden pulled down seven rebounds to lead the Cougars. USF held a 41-32 rebounding margin.

Junior college transfer Mikenna Greathouse chipped in six points and two rebounds in her Cougar debut.     

 

Senior and three-time all-GPAC honoree Mallory Shanahan led the way for Nebraska Wesleyan with 14 points on 4-of-15 shooting.

 

The Prairie Wolves jumped out early, leading 4-0 on a pair of jumpers by Kaitlyn Janata before a 21-6 run gave the Cougars the 21-10 advantage. USF then scored at will while Traphagen made a host of substitutions.  

 

14 players saw action for USF in the game with 11 of those players scoring.

 

In the final minute of the first half, senior guard Holli Aggen buried her second three-pointer of the game to send the Cougars into the locker room on top 38-22.

Out of the break, USF pushed the tempo and took a 52-27-point lead at the 12-minute mark following an Ulmer basket from the top of the key.

From that point on, the Cougars cruised to the 76-42 victory.

 

USF (1-0) travels to Nebraska-Kearney (0-0) on Wednesday.