BOLIVAR, Mo. – With three players scoring in double digits, the University of Sioux Falls Women's Basketball Team (1-0) opened the 2018-19 season with a dominating 91-44 victory over Ouachita Baptist University in nonconference play at the SW Baptist Classic in Bolivar, Mo., on Friday.

In the first-ever meeting between USF of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) and Ouachita Baptist of the Great American Conference (GAC), the Cougars controlled the game from the start to the finish. In a game with just two lead changes, USF led 7-2 and took a 21-18 first quarter lead. From that point on, USF outscored OBU, 70-to-26, to record an impressive opening game victory.

The Cougars scored 90 points for the first time since a 90-56 home win over Presentation College on Nov. 14, 2017. In addition, USF's 91 points was the most by a USF team since a 99-76 home win over Minnesota State on Jan. 23, 2016. In addition, USF's 47-point margin of victory is the largest since a 92-45 victory over Midland University on Dec. 4, 2010.

After the first quarter, USF took control. They had a 19-7 edge in the second quarter, 24-9 margin in the third quarter and a 27-10 advantage in the final quarter. The Cougars, which have received votes in both the WBCA and D2SIDA national preseason polls, were led by returning All-NSIC junior guard Kaely Hummel with 17 points, four rebounds and three assists.

Redshirt freshman guard Jasmine Harris had 13 points and did not miss a shot. She was 5-of-5 from the floor and made all three of her three-point shots. Jessie Geer had 11 points with two assists and two steals in her first game with the USF program since transferring from Utah State. Geer was 4-of-7 from the field and 3-of-4 from three point range.

The Cougars made 15-of-42 shots from three-point range for 35.3 percent and hit 43.2 percent overall (32-of-74). However, USF's dominance in rebounding was big difference in the game. USF had a 56-to-29 margin in rebounds with 23-to-8 advantage on the offensive glass. USF actually had more offensive rebounds (23) than OBU had defensive boards (21). Junior Gloria Mulumbo led the Cougars with seven rebounds and also had seven points.

"I was really proud of our effort today," said USF Head Coach Travis Traphagen, who picked up his 195th career win. "After we went back and forth a bit in the first quarter, I thought we were able to assert control and then it escalated quickly. I believe we had nine of our 15 three pointers off our transition game. And, undoubtedly our dominance on the glass was important," he said.

"Certainly, we have things to work on and face a big challenge against Henderson State on Saturday. But I was pleased with how hard we worked and got after it today," added Traphagen, who USF squad will face Henderson State at noon on Saturday.

After USF opened up a 7-2 lead early, Harris made a three- pointer and Kaely Hummel converted a lay-to push the advantage to 17-13 with 3:22 left in the first quarter. OBU stayed close and trailed just 21-18 after the first quarter.  

With an 11-4 run to open the second quarter, USF built a 32-22 lead after a basket from Harris. At the 3:01 mark, Hummel and Augusta Thramer scored inside to give USF a 36-24 lead at the two-minute mark. In the final minute, Geer hit a three-point shot and Mulumbo, who had six rebounds in the first half, made a free throw as the Cougars took a 40-25 halftime lead.

In the opening half, USF built the 15-point first half lead by outshooting OBU from the field, 42.1-to-34.8, and dominating on the glass. USF had a 27-to-14 margin in rebounds, including 13-to-4 off the offensive glass.  Harris, Mariah Szymanski and Hummel all scored eight points to lead the way. 

USF used an 18-9 run in the opening five minutes of the third quarter to build a 58-34 advantage at the 4:46 mark. Then sophomore Lauren Sanders, who finished with nine points, hit her second three pointer and Harris made her third (2:08) as the Cougars pushed the lead to 64-34 at the third quarter break.

In the opening four minutes of the fourth quarter, USF put the game away with an 11-0 run for a 75-34 advantage. From there, USF built on their advantage and finished with their highest scoring quarter of the game (27 points).