SIOUX FALLS – Fueled by senior Kaely Hummel with 23 points and junior Anna Goodhope with 21 points and seven rebounds, the University of Sioux Falls Women's Basketball Team (1-0) successfully opened the 2019-20 season with a come-from-behind 77-62 victory over William Jewell (1-2) at the USF Basketball Classic which opened Friday at the Stewart Center.

In the home opener, the Cougars, which won 23 games a year ago and has received votes in the preseason WBCA Coaches Top-25 Poll, battled from a 33-30 halftime deficit by outscoring William Jewell, 47-to-29, in the second half to win the win the nonconference contest.

 USF, which had a 29-15 edge in the fourth quarter, will play Chadron State at 5 p.m., on Saturday in the second round of the USF Classic. Also today Bemidji State defeated Chadron State, 58-42, in the opener of the Classic. Bemidji State and William Jewell will play in the first game on Saturday at 3 pm.

"This was a nice win for us. I thought they were a really good team who like to push the pace just like us. We didn't play particularly well offensively. But we had a span in the fourth quarter where we were really good. I think we will really grow from it," said Traphagen, who team has won 10 straight season openers. "Hats off to William Jewell, they came in and played well. Still, I am glad we are 1-0 and that we found a way to win," he said.

Hummel accounted for 23 points by making 7-of-13 field goals, including 3-of-5 from three-point range, and knocking in 6-of-6 free throws. She caught fire in the fourth quarter with 13 points. Hummel, who was named the NSIC South Division Preseason Player of the Year, surpassed 1,200 (1,211) points in her career and moved ahead of USF Athletics Hall of Famer Lindsey Schneiderman for 14^th on USF's all-time chart. She also reached 20 points for the 17^th time in her career and now has 195 career three-pointers (fourth all-time at USF).

On her birthday, junior Anna Goodhope, had a big game as she hit 9-of-14 field goals with 2-of-3 made threes and added seven rebounds. She surpassed double digits for the 11^th time at USF with her fourth game of 20 points or more.  Also for USF, senior guard Augusta Thramer had seven points as did sophomore forward Krystal Carlson, who added three rebounds. Freshman Hannah Jones had four points, six rebounds and two assists while senior Jacey Huinker provided six points, five rebounds and a block.

After a slow start offensively, the Cougars finished with 22-of-59 shooting from the field for 37.3 percent. To get to that total, USF had to hit 15-of-26 shots for 57.7 percent in the second half. USF was 6-of-18 from three-point range for 33.3 percent but made a sizzling 27-of-32 from the foul line for 84.4 percent. The Cougars also had a 41-36 advantage on the boards and forced 19 turnovers.  WJU, which was led by Kiara Bradley with 16 points and five rebounds and Rachel Schon with 13 points and nine rebounds, hit 19-of-55 field goals for 34.5 percent. They were 6-of-19 from three-point range and 18-of-25 on foul shots. Also for WJU, Ainsley Tolson had 11 points.

Game Recap
In a game with 11 lead changes and four time scores, USF took the lead early in the first quarter as Hummel (8:01) hit a jumper and the Cougars grabbed a 2-0 lead. After a three from WJU's Macyn Wilbers, Jones scored four straight points for a 6-3 lead (5:26).  Later, Jacey Huinker had two free throws for a 12-8 advantage with 3:14 to play. However, WJU closed the period on a 7-2 run to take an 18-14 lead at the first quarter break. During that opening quarter, WJU hit 6-of-16 field goals for 37.5 percent while the Cougars struggled by making only 3-of-16 for 18.5 percent.

USF's cold shooting continued into the second quarter as WJU pushed their lead to 25-16 with another basket from Wilburs at the 8:02 mark. Later they extended the lead to 29-19 when Tolson connected on two foul shots. Over the final 5:25 of the second quarter, USF outscored WJU, 11-4, and pulled within 33-30 at halftime.  In the second quarter, WSU hit 4-of-12 for 33 percent as USF's clamped down on defense. However, they made 7-of-9 foul shots to stay ahead of the Cougars. While USF improved their shooting, it was slightly as they were 4-of-17 for 23.5 percent. The Cougars made a pair of threes and knocked down all six of their free throws to stay close.

In the opening half, USF hit just 7-of-33 field goals for 21.2 while WJU made 10-of-28 shots for 35.7 percent including 3-of-11 from three-point range. The Cougars made just 2-of-9 from three-point range for 22.2 percent but knocked in 14-of-16 foul shots. USF was led in scoring by Goodhope with seven points while Hummel added six. In addition, the Cougars had a 23-22 rebound edge and forced WJU into 10 turnovers for a 9-2 points off turnover advantage.

In the third quarter, the visitors started fast and moved the lead back to 37-31 after a basket from Bradley at the 7:53 mark. Then, USF, led by Goodhope and Hummel, made their move. Goodhope hit a jumper at the 4:49 mark to cut the lead to two points at 39-37 and another basket at the 3:09 mark drew USF into a tie. Goodhope's basket with 55 seconds provided USF with its first lead since the first quarter but a three from Bradley helped WJU take a 47-46 lead with 35 seconds on the clock. However, Hummel began a run of nine straight points as she was fouled in a drive to the basket and with two charity tosses, gave the Cougars a 48-47 lead at the quarter break.

In the third quarter, USF, which had an 18-14 advantage, hit 5-of-14 field goals for 35.7 percent and 8-of-10 foul shots to take the lead. WJU was just 3-of-11 from the floor for 27.27 percent but made a pair of threes and six foul shots to keep the game tight.

In the fourth quarter, USF hit 10-of-12 field goals for 83.3 percent and made 4-of-5 from three-point range with 5-of-6 free throws to exact a 29-15 margin and cruise to the 15-point win. Leading the way was Hummel and Goodhope. During a stretch from last in the third quarter to late in the fourth quarter, Hummel and Goodhope accounted for 18 consecutive points for USF.

After WJU's Schon made a field goal for a 49-48 lead, Hummel and Goodhope went to work. Seven straight points by Hummel to open the fourth quarter helped USF to a 55-51 lead at the 7:35 mark. Then Goodhope and Krystal Carlson had baskets for a 59-53 lead at the 6:09 mark. But WJU fought back with a three from Tolson and a Wilbers driving basket to cut the deficit to one. 

Hummel answered that charge with a pair of three-pointers including a three that was three feet beyond the stripe. Those shots by Hummel helped the Cougars took a 65-58 lead with 3:46 on the clock.  Later, a Goodhope basket and Jacey Huinker's fast break lay-up produced a 72-60 advantage for the home-standing Cougars. Then, USF extended the lead to 17 with 35 seconds to go when Thramer knocked in a pair of foul shots.