MINOT, N.D. – Withstanding a second-half charge, University of Sioux Falls Women's Basketball held off Minot State for a 61-58 victory to secure a weekend road sweep. The Cougars improve to 18-4 on the season with a 14-4 mark in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference. After completing their conference schedule against NSIC north division teams, USF held a 7-1 record against their crossover competition.
 
After Andi Mataloni's big night for USF in their win at University of Mary on Friday night, Mariah Szymanski stepped up as a freshman off the bench, leading the Cougars with 14 points, including four 3-pointers. Kaely Hummel reached double figures with 12 points while frontcourt duo Sam Knecht and Jacey Huinker each pulled down 11 rebounds.
 
The Cougars hit seven 3-pointers in the first half and racked up 11 assists in the opening 20 minutes for their nine-point cushion. Minot State built an 8-4 lead through four minutes, but the Cougars began to heat up from behind the arc.
 
Alyson Johnsen, who assisted on USF's first three field goals, connected from distance to pull within one of the Beavers. Andi Mataloni gave USF their first lead of the game with a pair of free throws and a three on the next possession. Less than a minute later, Mariah Szymanski and Johnsen hit consecutive threes for a 20-17 Cougar lead after the first quarter.
 
Madi Robson hit a layup a few minutes into the second quarter, but Minot State retook the lead with eight points for a 25-22 advantage. USF held the Beavers without a field goal for the final 5:20 of the second quarter and the Cougars again started to strike from deep. Kaely Hummel connected on two threes in as many possessions to give USF the lead, then the Cougars closed the half on an 8-0 run. Sam Knecht hit a free throw and layup then Robson connected on a jumper, but it was Szymanski's buzzer-beating three that put USF on top, 36-27, at halftime.
 
USF pushed ahead by double digits after the break, 41-31, using a Huinker and-one layup and free throw then a Knecht lay-in, but Minot State surged back. Szymanski connected on her third three of the game for a 48-41 lead and Huinker hit a jumper to slow the Beavers' run and keep the Cougars on top 50-46 after the third quarter.
 
Minot State opened the final quarter on a tear, scoring six straight to take the lead, 52-50, before a Robson free throw stopped the run. Huinker hit a layup to return the lead to the Cougars and Szymanski knocked down her final three of the game for a 56-52 lead. Minot State countered with layups on their next two possessions to tie the game before Hummel hit a jumper off Robson's eighth assist of the game. Knecht converted a layup for a four-point cushion and MSU answered with two free throws to cut the lead in half.
 
Huinker kept the Cougars alive with one of her seven offensive rebounds, but a turnover gave MSU another chance with 10 seconds left. After a Beaver miss, Hummel corralled the rebound and hit one of two free throws, building a four-point advantage, and Minot State's last-second three missed at the buzzer, securing the 61-58 victory for the Cougars.
 
Sioux Falls returns home to the Stewart Center for their last regular season home games. The Cougars will host crosstown rival Augustana on Friday, Feb. 10 at 6 p.m. before hosting Wayne State on Saturday, Feb. 11 at 4 p.m.