SIOUX FALLS – The University of Sioux Falls Women's Basketball Team (2-0) placed 14 players in the scoring column in rolling to an 81-45 victory over Chadron State (0-2) at the USF Classic on Saturday at the Stewart Center.

In winning the USF Classic, the Cougars defeated their second straight opponent by double digit margins. USF, which received votes in the WBCA Preseason Poll, defeated William Jewell, 77-62, on Friday and then had the win over Chadron State for a 158-to-107 scoring margin in the two wins.

"I am pleased that we are 2-0," said USF Women's Basketball Head Coach Travis Traphagen. "I am happy with the win but we have a way to go and improve our game. All weekend, I didn't feel like our offensive game flow was very good. We have to improve in that area and play and with more poise. I feel like we defended just fine but we need to keep working especially with a pair of games coming next week," said Traphagen, whose team faces Emporia State on Tuesday at 7 pm before opening NSIC play against Southwest Minnesota State on Wednesday also at 7 pm.

USF was led in scoring by Anna Goodhope, who hit 5-of-12 field goals and 2-of-4 from three-point range for 15 points while grabbing four rebounds. She also hit all three of her field goals. USF had nine points from Mariah Szymanski on 3-of-5 from three-point range and nine from both Jasmine Harris and Andie Mataloni, who was 2-of-4 from deep. Also for USF Kaely Hummel had eight points while Hannah Jones supplied six points and five rebounds.

After a slow start on offense, USF finished the game by hitting 41.5 percent from the floor on 27-of-65 shooting. USF knocked in 15-of-39 three-pointers for 38.5 percent and again was solid at the foul line by making 12-of-12 from the floor. As for Chadron State, they were led in scoring by Bailey Brooks and Jordan Morris who had 10 each. Morris had a game-high nine rebounds as CSC owned a 36-31 rebound advantage.

USF led 19-14 after a quarter and extended their margin to 33-22 by outscoring CSC, 14-8 in the second quarter.  With a 20-11 margin in the third quarter, the Cougars led 53-33, and had a 28-12 margin in the fourth quarter for the difference. In the two games this season, USF has outscored opponents, 57-27, in the fourth quarter.

The Cougars showed solid work on the defensive end as they owned a 22-4 edge in points off turnovers. Plus, they were able to get out on the break and outscored CSC, 19-7, in fast break points.

Game Breakdown -
Despite shooting just 32.4 percent (11-of-34) from the field in the opening half, the Cougars were able to build a 33-22 halftime advantage. Goodhope had a solid first half with 10 points as she made 4-of-8 from the field and both of her three points. Szymanski had six points and also hit two three-pointers. Of USF's 11 field goals, seven came on three-pointers on 21 attempts for 33.3 percent. The Cougars were outrebounded, 21-18. As for CSC they hit 9-of-26 shots in the opening half for 34.6 percent.

The Cougars opened up a 6-0 lead and led 11-2 at the 6:42 mark after Hummel knocked in a three-pointer. Gradually CSC worked back into the game as a basket by Taryn Foxen cut USF's lead to 11-8 at the 4:14 mark. USF responded with an 8-4 run for a 19-12 lead after a Goodhope conversion from three-point range. At the end of the quarter, USF led, 19-14.

In the opening quarter, USF hit 6-of-17 field goals for 35.3 percent and made 3-of-11 three pointers for 27.3 percent.  CSC hit 7-of-16 field goals for 43.8 percent but didn't make a three pointer.

With a three-pointer from Goodhope the Cougars grabbed a 27-20 lead with 6:42 to play. Later, Szymanski's three increased the lead to 30-20 at the 4:37 mark. After CSC cut the lead to eight (30-22, 4:06), the Cougars had a three from Jasmine Harris for a 33-22 lead (2:28) which they took to the halftime break.  In that second quarter, the Cougars made 5-of-17 field goals for 29.4 percent but were 4-of-10 from three-point range. CSC hit 2-of-10 field for 20 percent but both made field goals were from three-point range.

USF took control in the third quarter by outscoring the visitors, 20-11. With a three-point from Harris, USF took a 39-25 lead with 7:07 to play. After CSC cut the margin to 10 (39-29), USF scored five straight including a three from Augusta Thramer for a 44-29 lead with 3:49 to play in the quarter. Senior Jacey Huinker made a lay-up and Szymanski him a three on the break for a 51-31 advantage with 1:34 to play. Krystal Carlson's basket with three seconds left helped USF maintain a 53-33 lead at the third quarter break.

USF was able to build the 20-point margin in the third as they clamped down on defense and held CSC to 22.2 percent shooting (2-of-9) and 1-of-3 from three-point range. Meanwhile, USF hit 7-of-17 field goals for 41.2 percent.

Just like against William Jewell, the Cougars found their zone in the fourth quarter by hitting 9-of-14 field goals (64.3 percent) with 5-of-8 from three-point range. In the past two games, USF is 19-of-26 for 73 percent in the final quarter.

Hummel opened the fourth quarter with a three as the Cougars pushed the lead to 56-33 (9:49). Late in the quarter USF built on their lead in large part to their three-point shooting. Mataloni's second three of the quarter gave USF a 68-41 advantage at the 3:53 mark. Moments later she made another and when junior Lauren Sanders hit a three at the 2:34 mark, USF's lead had ballooned to 74-43. USF finished the scoring with a basket from Amanda Dagostino (1:22) and two foul shots from Abi Stevens (:55), who scored her first career points and ended the scoring at 81-45.