SIOUX FALLS – The University of Sioux Falls Women's Basketball Team had a late rally fall short and dropped a 68-63 decision to University of Mary (10-4, 8-3 NSIC) in cross-division Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Basketball at the Stewart Center on Friday night.

USF was led by Kaely Hummel, who had 19 points and reached double digits in her career for the 54^th time. Hummel, who scored 11 points in the fourth quarter, made 8-of-13 field goals and both of her three pointers. She increased her career total to 962 career points.

Despite the loss, USF, which fell to 6-2 at home, remained in a third place tied with Wayne State in the NSIC at 6-5.

Aside from Hummel, Cougars also received 10 points from junior guard Mariah Szymanski, who added four assists and three rebounds. Also for USF, Anna Goodhope provided nine points and six rebounds while junior guard Augusta Thramer supplied eight points with five rebounds and two steals.

After shooting just 26.7 percent in the opening two quarters, USF made 18-of-30 shots for 60 percent in the second half and improved to 44.6 percent for the game on 25-of-56 shooting. USF made 3-of-9 from three-point range and converted 10-of-13 at the foul line.

U-Mar, which had a 35-25 rebound edge, was led by All-NSIC center Gabbie Bohl with 22 points and 14 rebounds. Coral Gillette added 16 points and made four three-pointers. The Marauders converted 23-of-46 from the field for 50 percent. But they doubled USF in made three-pointers by hitting 7-of-15 for 46.7 percent. At the foul line, U-Mary was 17-of-24 for 70.8 percent.

GAME BREAKDOWN --

After USF led 2-0 early, U-Mary took an 18-11 first quarter lead. With a 10-8 edge in the second quarter, the Marauders took a 28-19 lead to halftime. U-Mary, which led by as many as 16 points (1:12, 3^rd quarter) built the lead to 49-37 with a 21-18 advantage in the third quarter. USF made their run in the fourth quarter, drawing as close as five (64-59,:28, 4^th quarter). But despite shooting 61.1 percent (11-of-18) in the fourth quarter and outscoring U-Mary, 26-21, the deficit was too large to overcome.

U-Mary, which made five of opening seven shots, had a trio of three pointers from Coral Gillette and took a 14-5 lead over USF with 5:05 to play in the first quarter. With a drive and score from Goodhope, and a quarter-closing steal and basket by Augusta Thramer, USF cut the Marauders lead to 18-11 after the first quarter.

However, USF was outscored, 10-8 in the second quarter as U-Mary increased their lead to nine points (28-19). Hummel hit a mid-range jumper as the Cougars closed to 18-13 with 8:15 to play. U-Mary utilized Bohl's inside play to take a 28-19 lead in the final minute and led by the margin at the break.

 Bohl had 11 points and eight rebounds to lead U-Mary, which held a 22-10 edge in rebounds at the half. However, USF stayed close by forcing 10 turnovers and committing just four. The Cougars also had the edge at the foul line by making 5-of-6 free throws while U-Mary was 4-of-7 in the first half.

After a three-point play by Hummel, USF cut the lead to 28-22 with nine minutes to play in the third quarter.  But U-Mary scored seven straight for a 35-22 advantage at the 8:02 mark. Hummel answered with a three and Szymanski made a lay-up to cut the lead to 35-27.  Then, U-Mary had four straight points for a 39-27 lead.  Szymanski scored on a driving lay-up with less than a second left in the quarter as USF trailed, 49-37, at the break.

In the fourth quarter, the Cougars made several runs at U-Mary and cut the lead to five points in the final minute. With a foul shot from Gloria Mulumba, USF pulled within 62-55 with 42.1 seconds left and then recorded after a steal to cut the lead to 64-59 with 28.1 seconds left. However, USF, which had a 21-4 advantage with points in the paint in the fourth quarter, couldn't draw any closer than five points.

Next for USF will be an NSIC matchup with Minot State at 4 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 19 at the Stewart Center.