SIOUX FALLS – Closing out a four-game home stand, University of Sioux Falls Women's Basketball looks to shake off their first loss in three weeks with a pair of games against Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference north division opponents. The Cougars (15-3, 11-3 NSIC) welcome in-state rival Northern State (13-5, 9-5 NSIC) on Friday, Jan. 27 at 6 p.m. with hopes of winning their fourth straight over NSU. On Saturday, Jan. 28, USF hosts NSIC overall leader and No. 16-ranked MSU Moorhead (16-2, 13-1 NSIC) at 4 p.m.  
 
How to watch/listen
All of USF's home games and NSIC contests will be streamed live via Stretch Internet and are available at USFCougars.com/watch. Veteran broadcaster Tom Frederick will broadcast both games this weekend on KWSN AM 1230 or FM 98.1 with pregame starting 15 minutes prior to tip-off each night. Links for all USF home games are available at USFCougars.com/livestats and links to road contest live stats are available on the USF Women's Basketball schedule.
 
Home sweet home: Cougars own 10-1 mark in Stewart Center
Despite dropping their first game inside the friendly confines of the Stewart Center last Friday, USF Women's Basketball was undefeated at home this season and the stats show. The Cougars are averaging 67.8 points at home and 63.9 on the road, but more importantly, they hold a +15.0 scoring margin at the Stewart Center vs. a +6.4 on the road. USF is shooting 41.3 percent from the field at home compared to a 37.7 mark on the road. Defensively, USF is holding opponents to 52.8 points per game on 33.2 percent shooting in the Stewart Center while allowing 57.4 points and 35.1 percent shooting by their opponents on the road. Surprisingly, the Cougars shoot worse from deep in the Stewart Center, making an average of 6.5 threes on 31.1 percent shooting compared to 8.4 makes at a 35.1 percent clip on the road.
 
Knecht grabs eighth double-double of the season, sets USF blocks record with near triple-double
Coming off her third NSIC south division player of the week honor, Sam Knecht nearly pulled off a rare feat with a double-double and two blocks shy of double digits in USF's 84-72 win over Minnesota State. Knecht hit 6-of-8 field goals and grabbed 13 rebounds for her eighth double-double of the season and 21st in her career. In addition to her steady scoring and rebounding presence, Knecht is one of the top shot blockers in the NSIC and all of Division II and she swatted eighth Minnesota State shots on Friday night, putting her just two shy of a triple-double while setting the USF D2 record for blocked shots. Her eight blocked shots are tied for the most in a game for any NSIC player this season and she is third in the league with an average of 2.3 stuffs per game and 19th in NCAA Division II.
 
Gaining national recognition: USF continues to accumulate votes in WBCA poll
Catching the eyes of coaches around the country, USF Women's Basketball collected six points and is 39th in the latest WBCA Coaches poll. The Cougars earned their first top-25 ranking as a Division II program last season when they were tabbed No. 25 on Feb. 9, 2016. The Cougars also appeared in the D2SIDA (Sports Information Directors of America) Media Poll top 25 at No. 25 on Jan. 12, 2016 and hold the No. 9 spot in the this week's D2SIDA Central Region Media Poll.
 
Series history: Sioux Falls leads NSU 3-2
After losing the first two contests against Northern State when the Cougars joined the NSIC five years ago, USF has won three straight over NSU, including an eight-point win in the NSIC Tournament semifinals. NSU grabbed a 54-48 win over Sioux Falls in their first meeting on Jan. 19, 2013, hosting the inaugural matchup. The Cougars dropped the next game on their home court, but have since won the next three, including an 82-65 road win sparked by Madi Robson's five 3-pointers in the 2015-16 regular season. In the NSIC Tournament semifinals, Taylor Varsho scored 26 points and Marie Malloy 's full-court pressure helped force 14 NSU turnovers as the Cougars cruised to a 71-63 win. Sioux Falls is 1-1 against Northern State at home and they are deadlocked at 2-2 in NSIC regular season contests.
 
Series history: MSU Moorhead leads 4-1
Since joining the NSIC in 2012-13, Sioux Falls hasn't had much success against MSU Moorhead, falling in four of the five contests for a 1-4 record against the Dragons. The last three games have been separated by one point or gone to overtime. The Cougars fell in the first matchup, 73-65, at MSUM on Jan. 18, 2013, then fell, 62-50, in the first round of the NSIC Tournament later that season. In their first time hosting MSUM, the Cougars suffered a one-point loss, 68-67, in the 2013-14 season. Hosting for the second consecutive season, USF finally knocked off the Dragons, using overtime to win, 76-71, in the Stewart Center. Last season, Sam Knecht scored 10 points and grabbed seven rebounds, but the Cougars suffered their second one-point defeat in three years, falling 53-52, on the road. USF is 1-1 against MSU Moorhead at home and 1-3 against the Dragons in NSIC regular season games.