BEMIDJI, Minn. – Leading a fourth-quarter comeback, Madi Robson carried University of Sioux Falls Women's Basketball to a 55-47 win over Bemidji State for USF's fourth consecutive win on Friday night. The Cougars hold onto a share of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference south division with a 9-2 record and improve their overall mark to 13-2 in the 2016-17 season.
 
Through three quarters, Robson had seven points, but she exploded in the fourth quarter to score nine more to lead the team with 16 total, and the senior point guard was the catalyst for USF as they closed on a 9-0 run to overcome Bemidji State's fourth-quarter lead. On top of her game-high 16 points, Robson added six rebounds and six assists, including a kickout pass to Sam Knecht for the clinching jumper in the final minute.
 
Knecht had a big first half, nearly recording a double-double in the opening half. With a rebound in the final minute, Knecht had reached double figures on the glass to earn her seventh double-double of the season, finishing with 12 points and 10 rebounds. Kaely Hummel was key in building the Cougars' double-digit lead early in the second half, hitting three 3-pointers and finishing with 13 points.
 
USF's to-ranked defense in the NSIC was on showcase in the first quarter, forcing nine turnovers in the opening 10 minutes, but the Cougars struggled offensively and committed six turnovers of their own. Hummel opened the game with a jumper on USF's first possession, but Knecht wouldn't add to her team's total until six minutes later with a jumper off a Robson pass. Following her assist, Robson hit a three for a five-point lead, but BSU answered with one of their own, bringing the end of the first quarter score to 7-5 in favor of the Cougars.
 
With the offense picking up for both teams, USF was able to steadily expand on their lead. Jacey Huinker started the scoring with a layup off another Robson dish, and Alyson Johnsen followed with a free throw and layup for a five-point advantage. Bemidji State held their own, answering most of USF's baskets. Knecht gathered an offensive rebound and put up a layup then Robson followed a BSU bucket with a lay-in of her own to keep USF ahead by five.
 
A Bemidji State 3-pointer cut USF's lead down to two points before the Cougars would push their lead to nearly double digits by halftime. Knecht benefitted from a Huinker pass to convert a layup and Hummel hit her first three sparking a quick 5-0 burst by USF. Knecht made another layup and Huinker canned two free throws before Brooke Smith answered a BSU free throw with a Knecht-assisted layup for a nine-point lead. One Beaver free throw in the final minute was the final score of the first half, which ended with a 29-21 advantage for Sioux Falls.
 
Stopping any chances of Bemidji State from taking over early, Hummel hit two threes in the first four minutes of the half, putting the Cougars up nine points. Knecht pushed that lead to double digits with a free throw then Robson brought USF to their largest lead of the game, 38-26 with a layup at the 5:08 mark.
 
After the Cougar lead reached its pinnacle, Bemidji State roared back, cutting the lead to just two possessions by the end of the quarter. Knecht hit one of two free throws with 28 second left in the quarter, stopping an 8-0 run, and keeping the Cougars on top, 39-34 through three quarters.
 
Beginning her fourth-quarter tear, Robson stopped USF's near five-minute field goal drought with a layup in the opening minute of the period. However, Bemidji State went on another run, scoring nine straight points to take a 45-41 lead with 5:39 to play. Robson again stopped the drought with a layup and followed it with a second bucket to tie the game at 45-45.
 
After a Hummel free throw, Bemidji State pushed ahead by one point with a jumper at the 3:08 mark of the final quarter, but the USF defense held the Beavers scoreless for the remainder of the game. Johnsen scored off a Robson assist to put Sioux Falls back on top, 48-47 and Robson would hit three of her next four free throws, making it a two-possession game.
 
With a series of defensive stops helping the Cougars build a lead, Robson probed the defense as the shot clock waned and found Knecht open near the top of the key and the senior center beat the buzzer for a six-point lead. After two Johnsen free throws, the Knecht corralled the final rebound of the game and USF emerged victorious for the fourth time in as many games with a 55-47 win.
 
Sioux Falls finishes their weekend road trip with a 4 p.m. game at Minnesota Crookston tomorrow, Jan. 14 in Crookston, Minnesota.