Senior
guard Vanessa Johnson scored USF's final seven points, including two big
3-pointers, to lift the Cougars past a pesky Yellow Jackets team, 56-49 at the
Donald E. Young Center Saturday night. The victory was just the Cougars fourth
game decided by less than 10 points this season.
USF
moves to 19-3 this season, while BHSU falls to 10-12 on the year.
The
two teams played each other close in the first half that featured five lead
changes and seven ties. Neither team opened up more than a three-point lead
through the first 18 minutes of play.
Black
Hills looked to take charge when Chelsi Biegler completed an old fashion
three-point play to claim their largest lead at five with 1:37 left in the
opening period. However, USF closed the half on 5-0 run, as Alyssa Rushton
nailed a big 3-pointer to tie it up 28-28 at the break.
The
game continued to stay close in the second half. After trailing by no more than
two points, Holli Aggen converted a pair of free throws to knot it up at 35
with 13:23 to go.
USF
and BHSU practically went bucket-for-bucket over the next 10 minutes of play,
as fans saw six additional lead changes and one tie.
Vanessa
Johnson gave USF a little cushion when she made a huge 3-pointer with 3:35,
giving the Cougars a 52-47 advantage, but two free throws by Kristi Ryan pulled
the Yellow Jackets back within two with a couple minutes to go.
USF
went back to their senior guard and she answered, Johnson knocked down another
big shot from behind the arc to make it a two possession game with under a
minute to play.
BHSU
came up empty on their next trip down and was forced to foul. The Cougars made
their free throws and made two more defensive stops to top the Yellow Jackets
on the road, 56-49.
Both
teams were held to under 40% shooting from the field. USF finished 37% in
comparison to a 31 % performance by BHSU.
The
key to the Cougars win was strong bench play and their ability to convert the
Yellow Jackets mistakes into points. USF's bench outscored BHSU's 21-13 and
tallied 14 points on 13 Yellow Jacket turnovers.
Cassidy
Kotelman and Chelsi Biegler were the Yellow Jackets only players to score
double-digits. Biegler led BHSU with 12 points, gaining majority of her numbers
at the line, where she finished 6-6. Kotelman added 11 points for the home
team.
Following
a quiet first half, Vanessa Johnson scored 13 second half points to lead USF
with 15 on the night. She finished 3-6 from downtown and 5-10 from the field.
Fellow senior Jamey Hofer and Laura Johnson also posted double-digit numbers.
Johnson finished with 11 points and seven rebounds, while Hofer nearly recorded
her second double-double with 10 points and nine rebounds.
The
Cougars host Minot State University Friday and Saturday at the Stewart Center.
