MARSHALL, Minn.— The No. 18 University of Sioux Falls Women's Basketball team took to the road on Saturday, finishing the 2019 portion of their schedule at the R/A Facility in Marshall, Minn. The Cougars (11-2, 4-2 NSIC), led by 20 points from senior guard Kaely Hummel, led by 17 before recording a 74-71 victory over SMSU.
With the win, the Cougars stayed in tie in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference South Division with four other teams at 4-2. USF is tied with Winona State (8-2, 4-2), Wayne State (9-3, 4-2), and Minnesota State (7-3, 4-2).
Hummel who scored a team-high 20 points, hit an early jumper that moved her into fifth all-time in scoring in USF program history, surpassing Laura Johnson's total of 1,402 (115 games, 2010-14) and now has 1,421 in her career. On the week, Hummel averaged 24 points per game, including 53.3 percent for three. She also surpassed double-digits in points for the 76th time in her career. Also for the Cherokee, Iowa native, she had her fifth 20-point game of the season - second in a row - and now has 22 in her career. Hummel has seven threes in her past two games and moved her career total to 230, which ranks third all-time at USF.
Also with a day to remember was graduate student Jacey Huinker who recorded a double double with 12 rebounds and 11 points. For Huinker, she had her third double-double of the season and sixthgun of her career. WIth 12 rebounds, she now has double digit boards in four of the past five games and the 23rd time in her career.
Senior Mariah Szymanski rounded out the double digit scorers for USF, compiling 13 points and seven rebounds. Szymanski reached double-digit points for the 11th straight game and the 45th time in her career. Her rebound total was a high for the season while recording a season-high four steals and four assists. She has had at least four assists six times in the 2019-20 campaign.
USF, which led 20-11 after the first quarter and 43-29 at halftime, was outscored 42-31 in the final two quarters. Part of USF's problems in the second half was shooting in which they hit just 11-of-36 shots for 30.6 percent. They made just 2-of-12 shots from 3-point range. Overall, USF, which matched SMSU with 44 rebounds, made 29-of-78 field goals for 37.2 percent. They were just 6-of-25 from three-point range for 24 percent. Additionally, USF hit just 58.8 percent at the fol line on 10-of-17 shooting. Key to the win was USF's low turnover rate (five) and the fact they had nine steals.
SMSU, which was led by Meleah Reinhart with 25 points and Abuk Akoi with 22 points and 13 rebounds, hit 25-of-59 field goals for 42.4 percent. They were 6-of-16 from three and 15-of-17 at the foul line. However, USF's pressure hurt the Mustangs as they had 12 turnovers.
Game Breakdown
The Cougars got off to a quick start in the first quarter, with Huinker, who scored seven of USF's first nine points, capitalizing on an and-one opportunity that capped off the 7-0 run to open the game. USF started another run in the first quarter, scoring 11 straight against the Mustangs to take an 18-5 lead.
After taking a 20-11 advantage into the second quarter, the Cougars pushed the lead to 17 on four different occasions, with the final one coming at the 2:19 mark when sophomore Krystal Carlson hit a jumper to put the Cougars ahead 41-24. SMSU made up some ground before halftime, outscoring the Cougars 5-2 to a 43-29 USF lead into intermission.
With 6:14 left in the third quarter, senior Augusta Thramer scored a lay-up in the paint to put the Cougars ahead 51-37, but the Mustangs would not falter, starting a 22-7 run that spanned nine minutes, and gave the Mustangs their first lead of the game at 59-58 with 7:19 to play. The lead stood for only 46 seconds, as Hummel scored on a fast-break, followed by a pair of free throws from Szymanski for a 62-59 advantage with 5:43 on the clock. The Mustangs would put pressure on the Cougars, but would not be able to regain the lead again for more than a minute.
With a lay-up from Jenna Borchers, SMSU led 63-62 with 4:42 to play. USF answered with a three from Szymanski and then had a lay-up by Huinker for a 67-63 advantage (3:34). USF pushed the lead to 70-65 with 2:21 to play after Hannah Jones converted inside.
Down 73-68, Meleah Reinhart, who had a game-high 25 points, hit a three to draw SMSU within 73-71 with 14 seconds left. After Szymanski made 1-of-2 foul shots, SMSU was unable to convert as the Cougars earned a sweep of the season series.
