SIOUX FALLS - Stout defense and a balanced offense paved the way for University of Sioux Falls to defeat Presentation College, 78-50, on Saturday evening.
Sam Knecht registered her first double-double of the season with 13 points and 12 rebounds and
Taylor Varsho had a game-high 21 points to lead USF to their fourth straight win to open the season.
The Cougars held Presentation (2-2) to 32.1 percent shooting while 14 different USF players scored for the second consecutive game. Varsho hit four of the Cougars' nine 3-pointers and Knecht led the USF frontcourt to a 26-8 advantage in points in the paint.
Paige Mriden had a big game off the bench for the Cougars, hitting two 3-pointers for eight points off the bench. Alison Klostergaard grabbed nine boards as the Cougars capitalized on their defense holding the Saints to a low shooting percentage for a 54-31 edge in rebounds.
The Cougars opened four-point lead behind 3-pointers from Varsho and Teagan Molden and quickly turned that into eight points after a pair of free throws and a fast break lay-in from Varsho. Madi Robson hit a layup to push the lead to 10 and Varsho closed with the final five points of the quarter for a 19-6 Cougar advantage after the first 10 minutes of action.
Sioux Falls picked up in the second quarter right where they left off, led by five quick points from Knecht, including an and-one finish to start the second stanza. Klostergaard followed Marie Malloy's two free throws with a jumper and the Cougars led by 20 points, 28-8, just 12 minutes into the game.
The Cougar lead hovered near their 20-point advantage before Robson hit a three after a Malloy steal to reach 22. Knecht closed the quarter like she opened, converting the free throw after hitting a layup through a foul to bring USF to their 23-point halftime lead, 43-20.
Wasting no time expanding on their lead, Knecht and Varsho preceded an Alyson Johnsen jumper to put USF up 28 points. Less than five minutes later, the Cougars pushed their lead to 30 points after Marie Malloy connected on a layup and free throw. Mriden then stepped in to keep the Cougars rolling, hitting a three for their largest lead of the game, 61-27. Sioux Falls entered the fourth quarter up 63-31 after Malloy answered four PC free throws with two of her own.
Mriden opened the final frame with her second triple of the night and USF's reserves would keep the Cougar lead at a comfortable margin throughout the fourth quarter. Jacey Hunker had a busy 17 minutes of action, grabbing eight total rebounds and keeping several Cougar possessions alive with five offensive boards. Payton Keeney and Moira Duffy both hit layups in the final minutes of the game and Haley Edmunson scored her first points as a Cougar with a free throw in the final minute of the 78-50 victory.
Sioux Falls closes their season-opening five-game home stand with their Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference opener, hosting Southwest Minnesota State on Tuesday, Nov. 24 at 6 p.m. in the Stewart Center.
