SIOUX FALLS – With five players in double figures, including two over 20 points, the University of Sioux Falls Women's Basketball Team (4-0, 1-0) opened the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference season with a 100-77 win over Southwest Minnesota State (3-1, 0-1 NSIC).
Leading the way for USF was NSIC South Preseason Player of the Year Kaely Hummel who had 23 points as she hit 8-of-14 from the floor with 4-of-7 from three-point range. For Hummel, she reached 20 points in a game for the 18th time of her career as she now has 1,261 points and is 11th all-time (Sam Knecht, 2015-18, 1,316) at USF. In addition, junior forward Anna Goodhope had 22 points, six rebounds and two blocks while freshman guard Hannah Jones tied her career-high with 15 points while added seven rebounds, three assists and three steals in 32 minutes of work. USF also had 16 points from Mariah Szymanski, who added four rebounds and a game-high seven assists. Jacey Huinker had 10 points, eight rebounds and four assists.
USF trailed after one quarter but used a 25-17 run in the second quarter for a 49-42 halftime advantage. Once again, USF turned on their play in the second half as they scored 51 points while SMSU had 35. USF owned the third quarter to a 30-17 margin and took a 79-59 lead. In the fourth quarter, USF had a 21-18 advantage to record 100 points in a game for the first time since a 103-76 win over Wayne State on March 2 at the NSIC Sanford Health Tournament last spring, which advanced USF to the tourney semifinals.
"If you liked offense, it was good. I think SMSU was one of the most improved teams and they were hard to guard," said USF Head Coach Travis Traphagen, who earned his 221st win of his career – all at USF. "We did a much better job in the second half and defended much better. We only turned the ball over four times. Our kids just played and we looked good offensively. Anytime you get a win in the Northern Sun you have to be happy about that," he said.
For the second straight night, the Cougars shot over 50 percent from the floor. USF was 38-of-74 for 51.4 percent and made 11-of-20 shot from three-point range. It is the second time this year (Chadron State, 15-of-39) that USF reached double digits in made threes. Also USF was 13-of-16 from the foul line and committed just four turnovers. In forcing 14 turnovers by SMSU, USF had a 16-0 points off turnovers edge and also had a 28-11 margin in fast break points.
SMSU was led by Meleah Rinehart with 26 points as she made 9-of-15 from the floor and 5-of-7 from three-point range. The Mustangs knocked in 28-of-69 shots from the floor for 40.6 percent. They were 6-of-19 from three-point range and made 15-of-18 foul shots. Both teams had 39 rebounds.
Match Notes-
The Cougars and Mustangs had a hard fought beginning of the first half, with Goodhope starting the scoring with a three-pointer. Huinker would again put the Cougars ahead three points (8-5) with a layup at the 6:03 mark in the quarter.
Reinhart got a crucial trey to give SMSU their 14-12 lead that the Mustangs held onto for nearly the rest of the quarter. It was not until the :38 mark of the quarter that Hummel got a deep three to go to put the Cougars ahead 24-23. Reinhart got a quick shot off to make it 25-24 SMSU lead that stood for the final 20 seconds.
Seconds into the second quarter, Szymanski got a layup that put the Cougars ahead 26-25, and USF never looked back after that with an 8-0 run to take a 32-25 advantage. The front end of a pair of free throws by SMSU made it a four-point, 32-28 Cougar lead with 6:42 left in the half, but the Cougars kept the pressure on the Mustangs but jumping ahead 49-37 with just under two minutes left.
When the dust settled from the final 1:39 of the half, SMSU would get to within seven of the Cougars (49-42).
The Mustangs got it to within four just two and a half minutes into the third quarter. Goodhope again would get another shot from downtown to go, putting the Cougars ahead 11, and the Cougars would never relinquish their double-digit lead afterwards.
In the closing seconds of the third quarter, Jones hit a layup that gave the Cougars a 20-point, 79-59 lead heading into the final 10 minutes.
SMSU got to within 14 twice in the fourth quarter, but all for naught as the Cougars finished out the game on a 19-10 run after SMSU got it to within 14 the second time (81-67, 6:24).
What's Next-
The Cougars will be off to Hawaii for a three-game series in the Malika Sports Oahu Thanksgiving Classic, where they will face the Hawai'i Hilo Vulcans on Tuesday, host Hawai'i Pacific Sharks on Wednesday, then finish their trip to Hawaii with a Thursday afternoon match with the Chaminade Silverswords.
