MARSHALL, MINN. – Taylor Varsho scored 23 points to lead the University of Sioux Falls Women's Basketball Team (11-1, 5-1 NSIC) to an 88-72 victory over Southwest Minnesota State at the R/A Facility in Marshall on Saturday afternoon. With the victory, the Cougars are off to the best start in school history at 11-1. USF is 5-1 in the NSIC and sit in second place in the league.

In putting up 20 points for the sixth time this season, Varsho also cracked a career milestone, going over 1,000 points. Varsho, who needed 13 points coming into the game, now has 1,010 for her career.

Against SMSU, Varsho, a senior from Chili, Wis., hit 9-of-18 from the floor, including 5-of-11 from three-point range. Aside from Varsho, USF had three other players with double digits in points. Senior forward Alison Klostergaard had 13 points, five steals, four assists and five steals. Madi Robson added a career-high 13 points and a game-high eight assists as USF had 24 as a team. Junior Alysen Johnsen added 13 points and four assists.

USF built a 30-20 lead after the first quarter and led 52-32 at halftime before SMSU had a strong second half charge to pull within seven at one point before falling, 88-72.

Overall, the Cougars hit 29-of-57 from the floor for 50.9 percent, the second-best shooting performance of the season. In the effort, USF had a season-high 13 three-pointers on 28 attempts. USF was 17-of-21 from the foul line for 81 percent.

Meanwhile, SMSU was led by 23 points and five rebounds from Lauren Hedlund, who hit 9-of-16 shots from the floor. In addition Annessa Rosch had 12 and Sarah Buysse added 10 points and seven rebounds. The Mustangs converted 27-of-56 from the floor for 48.2 percent, including 6-of-18 from three-point range. They were also 12-of-16 from the foul line and had a 35-27 advantage on the boards.

The Cougars jumped to an early 9-4 lead at the 7:20 mark of the first quarter as Alysen Johnson had five points, including a three-pointer. Both teams were hitting early and SMSU closed within 13-12 at the 5:38 mark. Later, Sam Knecht, who had seven points and six rebounds, scored on layup and with foul built an 18-15 lead with 3:16 to play in 1st quarter. When Robson and Malloy hit three-pointers and Varsho scored on a drive to the basket, USF led, 30-20 after one quarter.

Right away in the 2nd quarter, Varsho hit a three-pointer as the Cougars took a 33-20 lead at the 9:50 mark. Then, Teagan Molden, who had nine points and four rebounds, hit a deep three for a 36-21 lead with 9:18 to play. At that point, USF had hit 12-of-17 field goals and 5-of-7 from three-point range.

The Cougars continued to push the advantage, building a 42-23 lead after a Robson three-pointer with 7:13 to play in the second quarter. Robson had a sweet look on a break to Klostergaard as USF took a 46-25 lead at the 4:04 mark.

The Cougars maintained a 20-point lead (52-32) at the halftime break as Klostergaard, who scored 11 points, converted a three-point play late in the quarter. In the half, USF was 18-of-33 from the field for a sizzling 54.5 percent. They were 8-of-15 from three-point range, including two from Varsho and Robson. USF was 8-of-9 from the foul stripe and the Cougars, which had 15 assists, held a 17-15 rebound advantage.

SMSU came out fast in the second half, cutting the USF lead to 58-45 at the 4:20 mark. After Klostergaard hit a pair of free throws, SMSU had another 5-0 run to cut the lead to 60-50 at the 3:26 mark of the third quarter. But each time they made a run, the Cougars had an answer. At the 3:13 mark, Varsho drove to the basket for a 62-50 lead. Then after another SMSU score, Johnsen knocked down a three points for 65-52 lead at the 1:51 mark.

In the fourth quarter, USF build the lead back to 14 before a five-point run by SMSU reduced the lead to 73-64 advantage at the 6:48 mark. However, Varsho hit her fourth three for a 74-62 lead. Later, SMSU cut the lead to eight, but Varsho hit from three-point range for a 79-68 lead at the 5:15 mark. With 3:40 to play, Hedland made two free throws to reduce USF's lead to 79-72. Once again, Johnsen converted a jumper for an 81-72 lead. USF made several defensive stops and with Robson making 3-of-4 free throws, USF's lead drew to 86-72. Molden's layup closed out the scoring for a 88-72 victory as USF swept the season series from SMSU and extended their streak over the Mustangs to seven straight wins.

The Cougars will be off for the holiday break until they play Augustana at the Sioux Falls Arena at 3 p.m. on Jan. 2.