SIOUX FALLS – The University of Sioux Falls women's basketball team (16-9, 12-9), led by 20-point outings from Taylor Varsho (23) and Marie Malloy (20), picked up a crucial NSIC win at home with a 74-62 decision over Minnesota State, Mankato (18-8, 15-6 NSIC) on Friday night at the Stewart Center.

The win enabled the Cougars to stay in the hunt for the right to host a home game in the first round of the NSIC/Sanford Tournament which begins next Wednesday. Coming into the game, USF needed to win and for Augustana to lose once this weekend to earn the right to host. However, both USF and Augustana, which defeated Upper Iowa, 61-44 on Friday, picked up victories, which means hosting a playoff game comes down to games played on Saturday. The Cougars will host Concordia St. Paul (15-12, 11-10 NSIC), which also won Friday and are one game behind USF for fifth, and Winona State hosts Augustana.

USF head women's basketball coach Travis Traphagen was pleased with his team's win, which included aggressive basketball on both ends of the floor. “We needed this no doubt,” said Traphagen, whose team broke a four-game losing streak to MSU. “I am really pleased with how hard we worked tonight. We were aggressive against a tough team that keeps coming at you,” he said.

USF built an early 20-point lead (35-15, 5:05) before the Mavericks closed on a 15-2 run at the end of the half to trim the Cougars lead to 37-30 at the break. After MSU cut the margin to 37-32, the Cougars had another answer as they pieced together a 23-6 run for a 60-38 lead with 8:31 to play. MSU stayed after the Cougars, cutting the lead to 10 points in the final three minutes but couldn't draw any closer.

USF's guard tandem of Varsho and Malloy was explosive and consistent. Varsho finished one point away from her career high with 23 points as she made 8-of-14 field goals, including 5-of-9 from three-point range. Malloy was 6-of-9 from the field and had 20 points along with six rebounds and five assists in 34 minutes of work. Malloy's free throw shooting proved critical for the Cougars as she hit 7-of-11, several of them down the stretch. Also reaching double digits was senior Jaicee Ulmer who had 14 points, five assists and three rebounds.

Overall, USF hit 25-of-59 shots for 42.4 percent, including 9-of-26 from three-point range. As a team, USF was 15-of-22 from the foul line for 68.2 percent. Meanwhile, Minnesota State, which was led by 15 points from Jamie Bresnahan and 14 from guard Aubrey Davis, shot 31.7 percent from the floor on 19-of-60 shooting. They were 4-of-16 from three-point range and 20-of-29 from the free throw line.

USF won the board battle, 46-37, as both teams had 13 offensive boards. USF had nine blocks, including four from Sam Knecht, who had a game-high 14 rebounds. USF won the board battle, 46-37, as both teams had 13 offensive boards. USF had nine blocks, including four from Sam Knecht, who had a game-high 14 rebounds. Another key was USF's inside scoring as they held a 30-16 advantage with points in the paint. The Cougars also had 22 points off the bench, matching MSU's total.

After Minnesota State opened the game with a basket, the Cougars took off, opening a 21-8 lead at the 11:58 mark. The Cougars received threes from Varsho and Ulmer during the run. Amber Paden's basket inside gave USF a 13-point lead. With 8:53 to go in the half, Varsho hit a pair of free throws for a 23-12 lead over Mavericks.

The rush by the Cougars continued as a Varsho fast-break layup and a jumper from Malloy provided Cougars with a 29-12 lead with 6:52 left in first half, forcing a timeout by the Mavericks. Then, Varsho hit from distance again and Malloy had a steal and basket to push USF's lead to 35-15 with 5:05 to go in the half. But, MSU battled back, closing the half on a 15-2 run and cutting USF's lead to 37-30 at the break.

In the half, USF hit 14-of-34 field goals for 41.2 percent while MSU was 10-of-31 for 32.3 percent. The Cougars, which won the rebound battle, 24-21, had four 3's and MSU, 3. Britney Scherber came off the bench for score 12 points for Mavericks.

Teams traded baskets in the second half before a layup on a drive by Malloy and a three from Varsho pushed the Cougars' advantage to 44-34 at the 15:30 mark. Varsho, who later fouled out, wasn't done as she hit a three followed by a steal and a layup for a 51-36 lead with 11:20 to play. Then, Teagan Molden hit a three with 10:16 left for 54-36 edge to key a 10-0 burst by USF.

Ulmer's three pointer at 8:51 built a 60-38 lead for USF, which concluded a 23-8 run the opening 11:09 of the second half. Once again, the Mavericks fought back. With 4:47 to play, they cut the margin to 14 (62-48) and would draw closer.

After USF took a 65-50 lead, the Mavericks had a 6-1 run to draw within 66-56 with 2:45 to play. But when Alison Klostergaard, who had six points and six rebounds, had two offensive rebounds and then converted two foul shots, the Cougars led 68-56 and didn't let the Mavericks crawl any closer.

On Saturday afternoon, USF will host Concordia St. Paul (15-12, 11-10 NSIC) at 4 p.m. at the Stewart Center.