SIOUX FALLS  – The University of Sioux Falls Women's Basketball Team (11-2, 7-2 NSIC) had four players in double figures, led by senior guard Madi Robson with 14, as they rolled to their sixth win in seven games with  a 74-41 victory over Upper Iowa (1-12, 1-8 NSIC) at the Stewart Center.

With their ninth victory by a double digit margin, the Cougars improved to 11-2 overall and 7-2 and second in the NSIC South. They also won their eighth straight home game this season. The victory over Upper Iowa was the seventh straight in the series, including a sweep this season.

"We had a really solid effort on defense," said USF head women's basketball coach Travis Traphagen, who picked up career win 167 in his 251st game at USF. "I thought we were really good on the defense end after the first quarter. We really got after it in the second half. Madi (Robson) had another good game and Alyson ((Johnsen) had some big moments on both ends."

Robson, who had her seventh double digit point game this season, hit 5-of-12 shots from the floor, including 2-of-5 from three point range. She also had five rebounds and five assists in a solid around effort. Also joining Robson in double figures were seniors Alyson Johnsen and Sam Knecht, who both had 12 points. while freshman Mariah Szymanski added 11 points and two assists. Sophomore Jacey Huinker set a career-high with 13 rebounds, adding seven points, four steals and two assists.

USF's defense was the story of the game as they held Upper Iowa to 27.3 percent (15-of-55) shooting from the floor, including 11.1 percent (2-of-18) from three-point range. In that effort, USF limited the Peacocks to 14 second half points, just nine points in the opening 17:32 of the second half.

Meanwhile, USF's offense had a solid effort by making 44.4 percent from the floor on 28-of-63 shooting. The Cougars had a solid performance from three point range, hitting 8-of-23 for 34.8 percent and knocked in 10-of-14 free throws for 71.4 percent.

USF led 17-16 after one quarter, and outscored the visitors, 20-11 in the second quarter for a 37-27 halftime lead. Then, the Cougars' defense went to work by outscoring UIU, 18-9 in the third quarter and 19-5 in the fourth quarter. Key to the Cougars' win was a 32-22 edge in points in the paint, a 23-8 advantage in points off turnovers and a 29-4 margin in bench points. UIU did hold a slight 42-40 edge in rebounds.

The Peacocks jumped out quickly on USF, building a 7-2 lead just 2:20 into the first quarter, But the Cougars responded as a jumper by Johnson gave the Cougars a 9-8 lead two minutes later (5:57). However, the Peacocks hung close, taking a 14-13 lead with two minutes to play in the quarter. However, A three-pointer from Syzmanski and a free throw by Huinker gave USF a 17-16 lead at the quarter break.

The Cougars were able to take a 10-point halftime lead at halftime on the strength of solid work inside, holding a 14-10 edge in the paint. USF pushed the lead to 27-20 on a layup by Brooke Smith. Then, three pointers from Andy Mataloni and Szymanski pushed the lead to 33-21. At halftime, USF was 16-of-33 from the floor for 48.5 percent, making 4-of-10 from three point range. USF was led by Johnsen's nine points. UIU was 12-of-28 from the floor for 42.9 percent, including 2-of-8 from three point range.

In the third quarter, the Peacocks cut the lead to eight (37-29) but the Cougars responded with a 13-4 run keyed by a pair of three point shots from Robson, including one at 4:26 for a 50-33 advantage.  After that, USF continued to build on the lead with Knecht's jumper with six seconds to go providing a 55-36 lead at the quarter break.  USF's defense held the Peacocks to just nine points in the quarter and that was the order of things in the fourth quarter. USF didn't allow a point until 2:18 was left in the game. By that time, the Cougars had built a 23-point lead at 69-36 on a basket by Taylor Volesky. With a basket by Amber Fabeck with 18 seconds to play, the Cougars took their biggest lead of the game at 74-41.

Next up for the Cougars will be a matchup with #14 Winona State, which has a one game lead over USF in the NSIC South. Game-time is set for 4 p.m. at the Stewart Center.