SIOUX FALLS – With a combination of three-point shooting and pesky defense, the University of Sioux Falls Women's Basketball Team recorded their third consecutive win by upsetting #4 Northern State (15-3, 9-3 NSIC North) before 1,004 in attendance on Saturday at the Stewart Center.The Cougars, which already have more conference wins (9) than a year ago (8), defeated a ranked team for the first time since upsetting then #14 Wayne State (75-69 OT) in the NSIC/Sanford Tournament last March 1. With the victory tonight, USF improved to 13-3 on the season with their 9-3 record keeping them in second in the NSIC South.

Sophomore guard Marie Malloy keyed the offense and defense, finishing with 18 points, six rebounds and three assists. She hit a career-best five three-pointers on nine attempts. Overall, the Cougars had a season best 14 three-pointers on 35 attempts for 40 percent. Junior guard Taylor Varsho added 13 points, seven rebounds, four assists and two steals. Of that 13 points, she had four three-pointers on 10 attempts. Senior Jaicee Ulmer added nine points, including 3-of-7 from distance.

“We just battled tonight,” said USF head women's coach Travis Traphagen, who won his 125th game at USF. “They had a big size edge and we had to fight for rebounds. Marie (Malloy) had a great game and led the way for us tonight. But, it was important that we had everyone contributing with big shots all night,” he said.

After trailing 26-22 at halftime, the Cougars received timely three-pointers from reserve forward Alison Klostergaard with 2:52 to play and Ulmer with 1:11 on the clock to build a 53-46 lead, an advantage they didn't relinquish.

With a huge size edge, the Wolves, which started three players 6-1 or taller, won the rebound battle, 49-37, but were held in check on the offensive end by an aggressive USF defense. Overall, NSU hit just 20-of-62 field goals for 32.3 percent. They were 3-of-9 from three-point range and 8-of-12 from the foul stripe. Turnovers, which have plagued the Cougars at times this year, was not a problem tonight as USF committed just five and forced NSU into nine miscues. USF also had five blocks as Sam Knecht, who had seven rebounds and four points, had two. Teagan Molden had nine points, seven rebounds and two blocks.

The Wolves were led by Megan Mutchler with 12 points and Devon Brecke with 10. Sadie Stotesbery also reached double digits for the Wolves, which lost for the second straight night after opening the season 15-1.

One of the interesting stats of the game, concerned USF's made field goals. Of the 18 field goals (60 attempts, 30 percent), 14 came from three-point range. The Cougars were also 8-of-12 from the foul line for 66.7 percent.

In the first half, the Cougars jumped to an early lead as Varsho hit a pair of three-pointers for a 9-6 lead with 15:40 to go. Eventually, the Cougars opened up a 15-8 lead after a three from Ulmer. But eventually the Wolves rallied back, in part due to a cold-shooting half by USF and a large NSU size advantage inside. The Cougars made just 7-of-32 for 21.9 percent but hit 5-of-17 from three for 29.4 percent. The Wolves took their first lead of the game on a jumper by Mutchler with 7:38 to play. After Malloy answered with a three for a 20-19 lead with 6:15 left, the Cougars failed to score from the field the rest of the half. With a 7-2 close to the half, the Wolves took a 26-22 lead at the break.

While USF had some three's in the opening stanza (5-of-17), they really upped their shooting prowess in the second half, hitting 9-of-18 from distance.

In the opening 3:24 of the second half, USF hit four straight threes, including two from Malloy for a 34-29 lead with 16:36 to play. But, the Wolves were able to regain the lead when Becke hit from three-point range with 14:27 to play. Just like that, the Cougars answered with a three from Malloy for a 37-36 lead with 12:30 to play. T

wo minutes later (10:16), Varsho hit from distance and when Knecht scored inside with 6:29 to play, USF had a 45-40 lead. It was a lead they did not give up.

With the clocking winding down, Klostergaard hit a crucial three from the top of the key for a 48-42 lead with 2:52 left. After the teams traded baskets, Ulmer hit another timely and important three-pointer with 1:11 on the clock for a 53-46 USF lead and with it clinched the biggest win of the season for the Cougars.

Next week, USF travels to face Concordia-St. Paul on Friday, Jan. 23 at 6 p.m. before facing Minnesota State, Mankato at 6 p.m. on Saturday in Mankato, Minn.