SIOUX FALLS, S.D. -
Jaicee Ulmer scored 22 points as the University of Sioux Falls held off the Alex Kneeland-led Lancers of Mount Marty with a 74-68 win on Saturday night. The Cougars won their second straight game to open the season and are 2-0 in their nonconference games.
Ulmer was one of three Cougars to reach double figures in scoring for the Cougars, surpassing 20 points for the third time in her career, while Marie Malloy tallied 17 and Taylor Varsho added 11. The USF trio of guards was able to overcome Augustana transfer Kneeland who poured in 32 points, including six 3-pointers.
Both teams traded blows in the opening minutes then USF took a lead they wouldn't give up after Ulmer hit a 3-pointer six minutes into the game. Ulmer converted an and-one as the Cougars built a seven-point lead midway through the first half. Kneeland then led a surge back with two triples to tie the game at the eight-minute mark.
The Cougars appearead to be in control with Varsho and Malloy hitting consecutive 3-pointers then extended their advantage to eight points with a Mackenzie Dahl triple. Malloy kept the USF lead intact almost single-handedly as she converted two straight layups and a pair of free throws. The Cougars would enter halftime with a 41-34 lead.
An arduous start to the second half featured three-and-a-half minutes of scoreless basketball and eight fouls before the first basket. Ulmer broke the drought with her second 3-pointer of the game and Malloy added a layup to push the USF lead to 12.
April Winne and Holly Hegge joined Kneeland in the Mount Marty comeback as they would shave the USF edge to five points with 10 minutes left in the game. While the Lancers drew closer the fouls, specifically offensive fouls, piled up. Sioux Falls shot 19 free throws in the second half, but failed to convert on nine of them and allowed Mount Marty to draw closer.
With the fouls increasing, the Cougars were forced to play the last 3:12 without starting forward Sam Knecht after she fouled out. Teagan Molden kept the Cougars in front by eight with free throws and a layup, but as the clock waned, so did the USF lead.
Hegge hit a 3-pointer then a layup and missed the layup after a foul and and-one opportunity. The lead cut to three points, Ulmer added one more with a free throw and when Mount Marty's triple attempt didn't fall, Ulmer hit two more to arrive at the final score, 74-68, in favor of the Cougars.
USF continues their nonconference schedule on Tuesday, Nov. 18 with Dakota State at 7 p.m. in the Stewart Center.
