ST. CLOUD, Minn. – Behind a career-high 26 points from
Kaely Hummel, University of Sioux Falls Women's Basketball stayed undefeated in conference play with a 64-59 win at St. Cloud State on Friday night. The Cougars moved to 6-1 on the season with a perfect 4-0 record in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference while the Huskies dropped to 4-3 overall, 1-2 in the NSIC.
Sioux Falls led for the majority of the game, but a scoring drought in the third quarter allowed SCSU to take a brief lead. Hummel's heroics included 16 points in the second half and a back-breaking three to give USF a two-possession lead with less than two minutes to play.
Hummel finished the night with four 3-pointers and 10-16 shooting from the field.
Jacey Huinker and
Moira Duffy were big on the glass as Huinker picked up 12 rebounds for the third straight game and Duffy posted nine boards to go with eight points.
Jasmine Harris scored 15 points and handed out four assists.
USF faced one of the top defenses in the league and shot 46 percent from the field. With four late free throws, Sioux Falls was clutch at the line, going 13-14 on foul shots. On the other end of the floor, the Cougar limited St. Cloud State to 38.9 percent shooting and forced 19 SCSU turnovers.
USF opened the game by hitting their first two shots from behind the arc against the NSIC's top three-point shooting defense. Hummel knocked down a deep three and
Lauren Sanders followed with a corner triple to open an 8-2 lead over the Huskies. Hummel continued to thrive in the first quarter with the help of backcourt mate Harris. The freshman point guard assisted on two straight Hummel baskets for a five-point lead.
Hummel reached double digits in the opening quarter on a mid-range jump shot with just more than a minute to play. St. Cloud State answered with a three on the next possession and the Cougars finished the opening period with a 19-17 lead.
Both teams traded buckets to open the second quarter, but the Cougars made a quick push, adding to their lead.
Mariah Szymanski stole the ball with and coasted in for a left-handed layup and Harris followed the next possession with a driving layup then converted one of two free throws for a 26-19 lead.
Three free throws from St. Cloud State's Madelin Domman cut into the Cougar advantage, but
Augusta Thramer answered by picking up the rebound and racing down the court for an uncontested layup. SCSU answered each of the Cougars' scores and cut the USF lead to three following a 3-pointer. Closing the half,
Moira Duffy hit two free throws to give USF a 32-27 at halftime.
Following a blistering start to the third quarter, USF's offense came to a halt. Hummel was the only Cougar to score in the third quarter, but she returned to her first-quarter form. The sophomore guard hit two free throws then went on a personal 5-0 run, hitting a layup and her third three of the game for a 39-32 lead with 5:45 to play.
After Hummel's seven points to start the third quarter, St. Cloud State answered with 11 consecutive points. After four straight free throws, the Huskies held a four-point lead over USF. Hummel broke the five-minute scoring drought with a layup in the final minute, but St. Cloud State took a 43-41 lead into the final period.
Sioux Falls wasted no time taking their lead back as Huinker and Harris scored on consecutive possessions in the opening minute of the fourth quarter. USF never relinquished their lead, but ST. Cloud State would tie the game twice before another clutch shot from Hummel.
Hummel scored on layups to answer St. Cloud State's advances and keep the Cougars on top by four, 57-53. The Huskies drew within one point before Hummel's dagger, a corner three off Thramer's kickout pass was her fourth 3-pointer of the game, which put USF up two possessions, 60-56. From there, it was smooth shooting from the free throw line as Thramer and Huinker both went 2-for-2 at the line for the 64-59 win.
Sioux Falls continues their three-game road swing at Minnesota Duluth on Saturday, Dec. 8 with tip-off set for 4 p.m. in Duluth, Minn.
