SIOUX FALLS— The No. 18 University of Sioux Falls Women's Basketball team, under the direction of 12th year head coach Travis Traphagen, will continue with Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) action at the turn of the decade when they travel to Wayne, Neb., on Friday to face Wayne State, then come back to Sioux Falls to face in-city rival Augustana at the Sanford Pentagon on Saturday.

The Rundown (2019-20 Record)-
Fri., Jan. 3, 5:30 p.m. at Wayne State Wildcats (9-3, 4-2 NSIC)
Sat., Jan. 4, 3:30 p.m. at Augustana Vikings (6-4, 2-4 NSIC)

Keep Connected with the Cougars-
To follow all University of Sioux Falls Women's Basketball action this weekend, make sure to follow the Sioux Falls Athletics' Twitter account (@USF_Athletics). To watch both games live, go to this link. To view live stats against Wayne State, go here. For live stats against Augustana, click this link. Unable to watch live or follow stats, but still want to listen to the game? No worries, as KWSN will have a radio broadcast of all USF conference basketball games on their website.

Wayne State Wildcats (9-3, 4-2 NSIC)-
Under the direction of second-year head coach Brent Pollari, the Wildcats have sketched a 9-3 overall record, including going 4-2 in conference play. In their first five games, the Wildcats went a respectable 4-1, with their only loss coming in a nail-biter in Kearney, Neb., against a 12-1 Nebraska-Kearney team lead by fifth-year head coach Carrie (Hoffstetter) Eighmey.

Since their 4-1 start, WSC has went 5-2, 4-2 NSIC, with six of those games coming in narrow fashion. Starting their conference action at home against Augustana proved to be their first battle of many, beating the Vikings by four in a mid-week duel. That weekend, the Wildcats got the home-split, handling Upper Iowa 86-59 at the Rice Auditorium before falling to Winona State the following day 76-73 in wild finish. WSC got a layup with four seconds remaining to get within three, and got a turnover, but all for naught as time expired with a WSC turnover.

In their final four games of 2019, WSC took a five-point victory over Bemidji State in Bemidji, Minn. Much like their previous weekend, the Wildcats followed a Friday win with a Saturday loss, succumbing to a 4-0 run in the final 1:10 of their contest against Minnesota Crookston to give the Golden Eagles their second win of the season (first in conference).

The Wildcats are currently on a two-game winning streak, defeating the Mount Marty Lancers of Yankton (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics - Great Plains Athletic Conference) at home 84-73 before finishing the calendar year with a road win over Augustana by the score of 77-67.

Leading WSC through 2019 is Erin Norling who is averaging 20.3 points per game on a 46.8 shooting percentage from the field (94-for-201). Norling has proved to be a dual-threat on the court along with her hot-shooting, leading all four rebounding categories (21O-51D-72REB (7.7 rebounds per game)). Alongside Norling are three other Wildcats with double-digit scoring averages in Hailey Busse (12.9), Hailey Bongartz (12.3), and Kylie Hammer (10.6).

Augustana Vikings (6-4, 2-4 NSIC)-
The Vikings, under the helm of 31st-year head coach Dave Krauth, have had a slow start to the season with an overall record of 6-4, and 2-4 in NSIC games. Augie started the season with a convincing 21-point victory over Truman State in Missouri, then faced three straight NAIA teams at the Elmen Center. The Vikings started with a close, eight-point victory over Midland University (NAIA-GPAC), followed by blowouts of Mount Marty and Bellevue (NAIA-North Star Athletic Association (NSAA)).

Since the 4-0 non-conference start, Augie has had a rough go of things in conference action, including the pair of aforementioned losses to Wayne State, as well as an overtime loss at home to Winona State.

Augustana has two conference wins thus far, with one being a 26-point victory over Upper Iowa at the Pentagon, then a nine-point road win over Minnesota Crookston. Before the Cougars make the 15-minute drive up to the Pentagon, the Southwest Minnesota State Mustangs will make their way from Marshall, Minn., for a Friday evening contest.

Statistically, Vishe' Rabb has led the team in points per game, averaging 14.2 points per game, but has not played since the Winona State loss. Paving the way in Rabb's absence, and prior to, are Lauren Sees and Abby Hora who are averaging 12.8 and 12.7 points per game, respectively, in 10 starts.

No. 18 Sioux Falls Cougars (11-2, 4-2 NSIC)-
*All rankings are as of the Women's Basketball Coaches Association Dec. 17 Top 25 Poll
The Cougars have had a great start to the season, going 11-2 overall, and 4-2 in conference play. After an exhibition game against Waldorf (NAIA-NSAA), the Cougars opened the season with the USF Classic, defeating the William Jewell Cardinals 77-62 on Nov. 15, then handling business against Chadron State 81-45 on Nov. 16.

Sioux Falls had two more home games afterwards, battling No. 20 Emporia State to a 77-68 victory. The next day, the Cougars started conference play with a mid-week game against travel-partner SMSU. That Wednesday night game resulted in the Cougars' 100-77 thrashing of the Mustangs.

After their game against SMSU, the Cougars said Aloha to Hawai'i to participate in the Malika Sports Oahu Thanksgiving Classic where they faced three Hawai'i-based teams in Hawai'i Hilo, Hawai'i Pacific, and Chaminade in consecutive days. Against UH-Hilo, the Cougars did not have the cleanest game, as noted by Coach Traphagen, but got the result they wanted in a 70-60 victory over the Vulcans.

The next day, the Cougars had a tall task in facing No. 14 Hawai'i Pacific in what turned into an instant classic. In a game of ebbs-and-flows, the Cougars could not gain any advantage over the Sharks, in what came down to the final ticks of the clock. The Sharks' Starr Rivera hit a trey to tie the game up 77-77 with six seconds left in the contest. The Cougars took a timeout too advance the ball up the court and draw out a game plan. Out of the timeout, the ball was inbounded to senior Mariah Szymanski at the wing, who drove the ball almost completely uncontested to bank a layup and put the Cougars ahead by the eventual winning score of 79-77.

USF finished their trip to Hawai'i with a dominating win over Chaminade, beating the Silverswords 75-41, which included holding Chaminade to four points in the first quarter.

After returning to the contiguous United States, the Cougars started up more conference action with a trip to Minnesota to face Concordia-St. Paul and Minnesota State, with both resulting in five-point victories for the Cougars.

Now back at the Stewart Center, holding onto a perfect 9-0 record, the Cougars faced Minnesota Duluth and St. Cloud State. The Cougars found themselves battling back from a deficit against the Bulldogs, but unable to reverse it in a 84-74 defeat. Against a team very familiar to assistant coach Carley Jeffery (2015 graduate of SCSU), the Cougars were again deadlocked into a battle that took two overtimes to determine, and ended in a 80-76 victory for the Huskies.

In their final two games of the 2019 calendar year, Sioux Falls faced a tough Truman State Bulldogs team. In that game, senior Kaely Hummel tied a career-high in points, scoring 29 points to lead the Cougars to their 79-62 victory. USF then traveled to Marshall to take on SMSU in their final matchup of the 2019-20 regular season, which was much closer than the previous meeting almost exactly a month prior. In that contest, the Cougars were able to stave off the Mustangs to sweep the season series against the Mustangs with a 74-71 victory at the R/A Facility.

Stop! Hummel Time!
Leading the Cougars on the court has been Kaely Hummel, who has averaged 17.9 points per game, which also encompasses averaging 16.2 points per game in conference action. Hummel has made movement in the record book of Sioux Falls Women's Basketball program history, having passed Laura Johnson (1,402 points, 2010-14) for fifth in all-time scoring as a Cougar with 1,421 points in her four-year career in purple and white.

Hummel is now on track to reach 1,700, if she keeps pace with her current scoring average. If that happens it would put Hummel ahead of fourth on the prestigious list in Shelley Fauth (1,475 points, 1982-86), and nearing Patti Ibis (1,735 points, 1986-90) for third. To pass Fauth, Hummel needs to score 74 more points through the season. 

Hummel has 76 double digit scoring games in her career with 10 in 12 games in 2019-20.  She has a season-high of 29 points (Truman State, 12-18-19), which matched her career-high (Minnesota Crookston, 1-23-18). She tied a career-high against Hawai'i Pacific when she made six threes. Hummel has six games over 20 points (21, 23, 23, 27, 29, 20) this season and 22 in her career. In addition, she now has 230 career threes which is third all-time at USF. She only trails Taylor Varsho (2014-16) with 245 and all-time leader Laura Johnson (2010-14) with 259.

Huinker reaches 633 rebounds - 2nd in USF 's D2 era
Along with Hummel, graduate student Jacey Huinker has had a season to remember so far, recording her sixth double-double of her career against SMSU (12 rebounds, 11 points) and third of the season. So far, Huinker has collected 112 rebounds, including five of her 23 career double-digit rebounding games. In her career the 5-9 forward has 633 rebounds which ranks second in USF's D2 era.

In their road weekend series against CSP and Minnesota State, Huinker was lights out, averaging a double-double on the weekend, including a career high 16 rebounds against MSU and shooting 54 percent from the field. All of this equaled NSIC South Player of the Week honors.

Sizzling Szymanski-
The owner of 11 consecutive double-digit scores to this point, Szymanski has been a catalyst in the offense, averaging 12.2 points per game, as well as recording a team-high 43 assists. Szymanski also proves pesky on defense with a team-high 20 steals. She has 954 points in her career and ranks eighth on USF's 3-point career chart with 144. Szymanski has 10 20-point games and four games of 30 or more (career-best 43 vs. Concordia St. Paul in 2017-18).
 
All is Good(hope) in the Stewart Center-
Redshirt junior and North Dakota State transfer Anna Goodhope has made a serious impact in Coach Traphagen's offensive schemes, averaging 11.1 points per game as well as making shooting hard for the opposing teams with a team-leading 12 blocks in 13 games. Goodhope has been a huge benefit in the paint with her blocking ability, but also with her ability to get up and get the rebound, something she has done 69 times this season (5.3 rebounds per game). She has 20 career double-digit scoring games with a career-high of 30 points against Winona State on 2-15-19. Goodhope has totaled 423 points at USF with 528 in her career when including the 105 she scored in 2016-17 while with D1 Noryh Dakota State.

The History -Series notes
WSC leads all-time series, 14-7 (10-7 in the NSIC)  
Dating to 1985, Wayne State leads the all-time series with USF, 14-7. In the NSIC, WSC has a 10-7 advantage. During regular season matchup, the Wildcats lead 10-4, although the Cougars have two straight regular season wins. In an anomaly of sorts, USF has a 3-0 lead in games played in the NSIC Tournament.
Series breakdown
2018-19 –
3-2-2019 – USF 103 WSC 76, Sanford Pentagon (NSIC Tourney)
2-23-2019 – USF 77 WSC 72, @ Rice Auditorium, Wayne, Neb.  
1-14-2019 – USF 81 WSC 59, @ Stewart Center, Sioux Falls, S.D.
2017-18
2-10-2018 – WSC 64 USF 51, @ Rice Auditorium, Wayne, Neb.  
12-30-2017 – WSC 74 USF 65, @ Stewart Center, Sioux Falls, S.D.
2016-17
2-27-2017 – USF 58 Wayne State 49, Sanford Pentagon (NSIC Tourney)
2-11-2017 – WSC 67 USF 57, @ Stewart Center, Sioux Falls, S.D.
12-30-2016 – WSC 58 USF 50, @ Rice Auditorium, Wayne, Neb.  
2015-16
2-12-2016 – USF 84 WSC 46 @ Stewart Center, Sioux Falls, S.D.
1-3-2016 – WSC 83 USF 73 @ Rice Auditorium, Wayne, Neb.  
2014-15
2-13-2015 – WSC 76 USF 74 @ Rice Auditorium, Wayne, Neb.
1-3-2015 – WSC 72 USF 51 @ Stewart Center, Sioux Falls, S.D.
2013-14
3-1-2014 – USF 75 WSC 69, @ Sanford Pentagon (NSIC Tourney)
1-25-2014 – WSC 71 USF 61 @ Rice Auditorium, Wayne, Neb.  
12-6-2013 – WSC 79 USF 71 @ Stewart Center, Sioux Falls, S.D.
2012-13
2-16-2013 – USF 81 WSC 63 @ Stewart Center, Sioux Falls, S.D.
12-7-2012 – WSC 61 USF 48 @ Rice Auditorium, Wayne, Neb.   

Since joining NSIC, USF and Augustana stand 8-8 in series
Against Augustana all-time USF trails, 32-11 in a series dating to 1972-73. However the Cougars have a 9-8 record against their city rivals since 2011 and stand 9-10 with Head Coach Travis Traphagen at the controls. In the NSIC, USF is 8-8 against AU and the regular season matchups show a 7-7 mark.  USF has won 3-of-4 including both matchups a year ago as the Cougars took a 76-62 decision at the Sioux Falls Arena on Feb. 22, 2019 as Kaely Hummel scored 28 points. Hummel had 18 points as USF took a 65-60 win at the Stewart Center on Jan. 15, 2019. These teams have met twice in the NSIC Tourney. In the 2015-16 season, the Cougars prevailed 75-57 in the finals of the NSIC Tournament, which helped USF earn the program's first-ever NCAA DII playoff berth. In 2017-18, AU took a 64-43 decision in the semifinals of the NSIC Tourney.

2018-19
2-22-2019 – USF 76 Augustana 62, Sioux Falls Arena, 2,527 att.
1-15-2019 – USF 65 Augustana 60, Stewart Center, 1,048 att.
2017-18
2-26-18, Augustana 63 USF 43, Sanford Pentagon, NSIC Tourney, 1,024 att.
2-9-18 – USF 64 Augustana 59 OT, Sioux Falls Arena, 3,187 att.
12-31-17 – Augustana 76 USF 65, Stewart Center, 1,209 att.
2016-17
2-10-17 – Augustana 74 USF 72 OT, Stewart Center, att, 1,654
12-31-16 – Sioux Falls 71 Augustana 66, Sioux Falls Arena, 2,081 att.
2015-16
3-1-16 – Sioux Falls 75 Augustana 57, Sanford Pentagon, NSIC Tourney finals, 2,987 att.
2-13-16 – Augustana 64 USF 54, Stewart Center, 1,545 att. 
1-2-2016 – USF 67 Augustana 59, Sioux Falls Arena, 2,251 att.
2014-15
2-14-15 – Augustana 80 USF 69, Sioux Falls Arena, 2,849 att.
1-2-15 – USF 77 Augustana, 72, Stewart Center, 1,320 att.
2013-14
1-24-14 – USF 84 Augustana 72, Sioux Falls Arena, 3,104 att.
12-7-13 – Augustana 76 USF 70, Stewart Center, 1,251 att.
2012-13
2-15-13 – Augustana 83 USF 58, Stewart Center1,753 att.
12-8-12 –  Augustana 92 USF 64, Elmen Center, 3,013 att.
2011-12
11-15-11 -- USF 65 Augustana 59, SF Arena, 2,003 att.
2009-10
11-18-09 – Augustana 85 USF 55, SF Arena, att. 2,202 (3rd annual Prairie Spirit Charitable Challenge)
2008-09
11-19-08 -- Augustana 68 USF 53,  SF Arena, (second annual Prairie Spirit Charitable Challenge)