SIOUX FALLS – University of Sioux Falls Women's Basketball begins the crucial close to their regular season with their final home weekend of the 2016-17 campaign. The Cougars (18-4 14-4 NSIC), who returned to the receiving votes section of the WBCA Coaches Poll this week, welcome crosstown rival Augustana (18-7, 13-5 NSIC) on Friday, Feb. 10 for a 6 p.m. game. USF's final regular season home game will be against Wayne State (17-6, 12-6 NSIC) on Saturday, Feb. 11 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 is on the call for tonight's game on KWSN AM 1230 or FM 98.1 with pregame starting 15 minutes prior to tip-off. 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.
 
Back in the poll life again
After suffering their first two losses at home, USF Women's Basketball responded with an upset win of then-No. 17 MSU Moorhead and recorded a road sweep over University of Mary and Minot State. The Cougars were rewarded by again receiving votes in the WBCA Coaches Poll. This week, USF collected 12 points, which places them 33rd overall in the poll and third-highest among NSIC programs. Although some will say that the final regional rankings are all that matter, USF's 18-4 overall record has definitely garnered attention across the NCAA Division II women's basketball landscape.
 
Series history – Augustana – Series tied 5-5 (Division II)
Since joining NCAA Division II in 2012, USF Women's Basketball has played crosstown rival Augustana to an even 5-5 record in five seasons. At home, the Cougars are 1-3, including a 64-54 loss to the Vikings last season. Augustana recorded the first three victories in the series, taking a 92-64 decision in the first time the two met as NSIC adversaries on Dec. 8, 2012 at AU's Elmen Center. The lone USF home victory came by way of a 77-72 win on Jan. 2, 2015. Last season, USF won two of the three contests, including a 75-57 win in the NSIC Tournament championship game, which secured USF's first NCAA Division II postseason bid and University of Sioux Falls's first conference title since their transition to full-time NCAA DII membership. Through 10 games in the series, USF trails in the overall score 721-689, breaking down to an average of 72.1-68.9, heavily slanted by Augustana's 28- and 25-point victories in the first two meetings. Earlier this season, USF hit 15 threes, led by Kaely Hummel's six and Madi Robson's five, to secure a 71-66 victory at the Sioux Falls Arena.
 
Series history – Wayne State – WSC leads 7-3
Squaring off with Wayne State for the 11th time in their NCAA Division II era, Sioux Falls looks to close the gap on the perennial NSIC power. Wayne State holds a 7-3 lead in the series, while USF has defended their home court admirably with a 2-2 record at the Stewart Center. The two teams split the 2012-13 series with Wayne State winning the first NSIC matchup, 61-48, on Dec. 7, 2012. USF secured their first victory over the Wildcats later that season, but USF's first marquee win as NCAA Division II members came the next season when the Cougars defeated the top-25 ranked Wildcats, 75-69, in overtime of the NSIC Tournament quarterfinals. Last season, USF rolled to an 84-46 victory at home, which avenged their loss in Wayne, Neb. from earlier in the season. This year, USF dropped a 58-50 decision at Rice Auditorium despite Sam Knecht's double-double of 14 points and 10 rebounds.
 
Playoff Push: USF in driver's seat to win NSIC South Division
In a tight conference race, Sioux Falls has themselves in position to host an NSIC/Sanford Health Basketball Tournament first round game as they currently hold a share of first place in the NSIC south division with a 14-4 conference record. The Cougars are tied with Winona State, with whom they split their season series, hold a one-game lead over Augustana, and Concordia-St. Paul, and are currently two games ahead of Wayne State in fifth. A win over Augustana on Friday would give them the head-to-head tiebreaker over the Vikings after sweeping the season series. USF's 7-3 division record is tied for the lead and would serve as the tiebreaker in any ties with Winona State, Concordia-St. Paul and Wayne State if the Cougars can defeat Wayne State on Saturday and CSP on the road on Feb. 17.