WINONA, Minn. – Looking for their first victory at Winona State, the young University of Sioux Falls Women's Basketball team erased an early deficit, but ultimately fell short, 59-51, on Saturday evening. Kaely Hummel wrapped up her weekend as USF's leading scorer, posting 14 points on Saturday, and USF returns from their road trip with a 9-5 record overall, 6-4 in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference.
 
After falling behind by double digits, USF clawed their way back in and nearly tied it when they pulled within three midway through the fourth quarter. Hummel knocked down a pair of 3-pointers and was helped by backcourt teammate Andi Mataloni, who hit four 3-pointers for the second consecutive night.
 
USF handed Winona State (13-1, 9-1 NSIC) their only loss of the season on Dec. 1, but the Cougars were also trying to snap a five-game losing skid in Winona. Mataloni knocked in a three to give the Cougars a brief 3-2 lead before WSU ran out to a 22-12 lead through one quarter.
 
Trying to keep the Cougars within striking distance, Hummel scored seven points in the second quarter and USF began to close the gap. Hummel sank a three to open the quarter then Lauren Sanders added three points with a jumper and a free throw to keep the Cougars within 10 points. Kennedy Dighton connected on a jumper to trim the deficit to five points. Hummel closed the quarter with four straight points and USF entered halftime down 31-24.
 
WSU's Hannah McGlone scored on an and-one for the first points of the third quarter and restored the Warriors' double-digit lead. Jacey Huinker and Augusta Thramer kept pace with WSU by each hitting a two-pointer before a WSU three gave them a 13-point edge with less than four minutes in the third quarter.
 
Despite the late double-digit deficit, Huinker sparked a 10-point run to close the third period. Her jumper, which came off Thramer's second assist of the game, preceded back-to-back 3-pointers by Mataloni. Hummel capped off the run with a jumper in the closing minute of the half and USF was down just three points, 41-38, through three quarters.
 
Answering McGlone's early bucket in the fourth, Hummel hit another jump shot to reach double figures for the 14th straight game to open the season. However, McGlone proved to be too much, scoring five straight for a comfortable eight-point lead. Sanders sank her second three of the game to five and Hummel answered a WSU basket with another 3-pointer, putting USF just four points back of Winona State with less than five minutes to play.
 
McGlone struck again as she continued her tear to 11 fourth-quarter points and 21 for the game, scoring four straight before Mataloni hit her fourth 3-pointer of the game to reach 12 points, the second straight game she reached double digits. However, Mataloni's only cut Winona State's lead to five points with less than three minutes to play and the sure-handed Warriors held their lead and made their free throws to close the game, handing USF a 59-51 loss.
 
The Cougars return to Sioux Falls for a weekend home stand against Bemidji State and Minnesota Crookston on Jan. 12 and 13.