SIOUX FALLS -- The University of Sioux Falls Women's Basketball Team (8-4, 3-3 NSIC), which has won seven-of-10 games, will host Wayne State (8-4, 3-3 NSIC) at 5:30 p.m., and No. 13 Augustana (14-1, 6-0 NSIC) at 4 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 5 at the Stewart Center in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference play.   

USF will look to rebound from a 77-61 loss at home to SMSU on Dec. 30. Kaely Hummel had 17 points and Jessie Geer provided a career-high 15 in the setback, which ended USF's 11-game series winning streak against the Mustangs. USF is ranked in the league's top-four in 10 statistical categories and lead in turnover margin at 8.17. USF is second in turnover average at 11.9, third in assist turnover margin at 1.16, fourth in scoring at 72.5 points per game while allowing 57.1 per game for fourth. In addition, USF is third in the league in three-pointers per game at 8.3 and second in scoring margin at 15.4 ppg.

WSC leads all-time series, 10-4
Wayne State owns a 10-4 record against Sioux Falls and have never lost two in a row against the Cougars. Sioux Falls, which is 0-6 against the Wildcats at Wayne State, have dropped two straight to the Wildcats. The Cougars own a 4-3 home record and 1-1 mark on a neutral floor against WSC. In their last meeting, the Wildcats captured a 65-51 decision on Feb. 10, 2018, despite 13 points and five rebounds from Augusta Thramer and 10 points by Kaely Hummel. On Dec. 30, 2017, the Cougars fell at home to WSC, 74-65, despsite 22 points by Hummel. In 2016-17, the Cougars spoiled the Wildcats' postseason with a 75-69 overtime victory in the quarterfinals of the NSIC Tournament which dashed WSC's hopes of a conference tournament title. The Cougars rolled past Wayne State in 2015-16 with an 84-46 win at the Stewart Center. USF would go on to win their first-ever NSIC Tournament title later that season. Despite losing both regular season games in 2016-17, the Cougars earned a 58-49 victory over WSC in the NSIC Tournament semifinals. Earlier in that 2016-17 season, Wayne State defeated USF, 58-50, in Wayne, Neb., despite 14 points and 10 rebounds from Sam Knecht. Later in the season on Feb. 11, 2017, Knecht had 22 points and 12 rebounds but USF fell to WSC, 67-57, at the Stewart Center. 

Augustana holds an 8-7 series lead over USF in last 15 matchups
Since USF gained full NCAA Division II membership and joined the NSIC in 2012, the Cougars have played their city rival Augustana to a near draw in the series with the Vikings owning an 8-7 series edge since 2011-12 (last 15 matchups). In the NSIC Tournament semifinals in 2017-18, Augie took a 63-43 decision. The Cougars and Vikings split the regular season series as Augustana won the first meeting, 76-75, on Dec. 31, 2017. The Cougars responded with a 64-59 overtime victory on Feb. 9, 2018, taking down the Vikings when they were ranked No. 5 in the WBCA Coaches' Poll. Mariah Syzmanski scored 23 points and Kaely Hummel had 13 in the upset win at the Sioux Falls Arena. In 2016, the two Sioux Falls programs met in the NSIC Tournament title game, and USF earned a 75-57 victory on March, 1, 2016 to advance to the NCAA DII playoffs for the first time. Over the last 11 games, USF is 6-5 against the Vikings and have split the last six games.

USF's Hummel ranks sixth in the NSIC in scoring

Hummel ranks sixth in the league with 15.8 points per game and is fourth in the NSIC  in free throw shooting at 87.5 percent with 28 made foul shots on 32 attempted. In USF's DII era, she ranks second with 152 made three-pointers and third in points with 892 points. USF's all-time three-point shot leader is Laura Johnson with 259 from 2010-14 when she scored 1,402 points, which ranks fifth all-time. Taylor Varsho is USF's DII leader in points and three-pointers with 1,379 points (7th, all-time at USF), including 245 treys, from 2014-16. USF's career points leader is Courtney Farrell with 2,433 points from 2002-05. She is the only USF player with 2000 points. USF's all-time three-point shot leader is Laura Johnson with 259 from 2010-14 when she scored 1,402 points, which ranks fifth all-time. Taylor Varsho is USF's DII leader in points and three-pointers with 1,379 points (7th, all-time at USF), including 245 treys, from 2014-16.  USF's all-time points leader was Courtney Farrell with 2,433 points from 2002-05. She is the only USF player with 2000 points in her career.

Syzmanski ranks second on USF in scoring
Mariah Szymanski, who was named second team All-NSIC a year ago, is second on the team in scoring at 8.5 points per game while shooting at a 38.0 percent clip. She has totaled 22 career double-digit scoring games with 11 of 15 points or more and eight over 20 points. She set a school record with 43 points in a win over Concordia-St. Paul on Jan. 20, 2018. In that game she set a school record with nine made three-pointers in 10 attempts. In addition, she had a third record in the game with 14 made field goals in 20 attempts. 

USF Individual Notes
Freshman Krystal Carlson, who has three double digit games with a career-best 20 points against SMSU on Dec. 1, 2018, is fourth on the team in scoring, averaging 5.7 points. She has totaled 40 rebounds (3.3 per game), as well as four blocks this season. Junior forward Gloria Mulumba, who is averaging 5.6 points per game, is fourth on the team in rebounding with 3.3 per game. Sophomore forward Anna Goodhope is supplying 5.3 points and 3.5 rebounds per game for USF. Goodhope, who prepped at Sioux Falls Washington, has one double-digit scoring game with 11 points against South Dakota Mines on Nov. 16. 

Opponent Notes - Wayne State is averaging 72.5 ppg
Wayne State, which is directed by first-year head coach Brent Pollari, has opened 8-4 and 3-3 in league play.  The Wildcats averaged 71.5 points per game for eighth in the NSIC. The Wildcats, which are led in scoring by Erin Norling at 14.7 points per game, are 12th in defensive scoring by allowing 66.8 points per game.

Opponent Notes - Augustana has won nine straight games
Augustana, which is directed by long-time head coach Dave Krauth, has won all six of its league games this season and nine straight, which has moved them to No. 13 in the national rankings (D2SIDA poll). Led by senior Shelby Selland with 16.6 points (5th, NSIC) and 9.6 rebounds (5th, NSIC), the Vikings average 84.0 points per game, which leads the NSIC. Last Sunday, the Vikings turned back Wayne State, 88-74, in Wayne, Neb. Augie, which allows 60.7 ppg., rank second in the NSIC in field goal shooting at 45.5 percent.