ST. PAUL, Minn. – Led by 13 points from Mariah Szymanski and 12 from Jacey Huinker, the No. 11 University of Sioux Falls Women's Basketball Team (8-0, 2-0 NSIC) held off Concordia-St. Paul, 62-57, in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference action at the Gangelhoff Center on the CSP campus.

With the victory, the Cougars recorded their eighth straight win to open the season, which tied the USF 2015-16 team for the best start in the NCAA DII era. USF also improved to 2-0 and sit at the top of the NSIC South Division.

Szymanski, who now has 891 career points, hit 4-of-8 field goals from the floor with 4-of-5 from three-point range. She also had four rebounds, three assists, a block and a steal. As for Huinker, she had 12 points on 5-of-9 field goals and both of her free throws. She also had an assist, block and a steal. USF also had eight points and 10 rebounds from Anna Goodhope while Jasmine Harris added seven points by hitting all three of her field goal attempts. Kaely Hummel had six points, four rebounds and an assist as she moved into ninth place all-time with 1,324 career points.

"We didn't finish as strong as I would have liked," said USF Head Women's Basketball Coach Travis Traphagen, who recorded win number 225 in his career. "We simply didn't play the kind of offense we are capable of and then we had a number of lapses on the defensive end. But we had a win on the road in the NSIC and that is of significant value. We will get back at it tomorrow and try to get another," he said.

USF struggled from the field in their first road NSIC game of the season. The Cougars hit just 21-of-66 from the floor for 31.8 percent. USF's best quarter was the second period when they hit 40 percent (6-of-15) but hit just 9-of-32 shots from the field in the second half after building a 35-24 halftime lead. In the second half, CSP outscored USF, 33-27, but USF fought off several charges from the home-standing Golden Bears.

The Cougars, which had a 51-to-35 advantage on the boards, had 12 assists on their 21 baskets. USF was 7-of-24 for 29.2 percent from three-point range and 13-of-18 for 72.2 percent from the foul line.  CSP was 20-of-58 from the floor for 34.5 percent and made 5-of-20 from three-point range for 25 percent. Sydney Schultz had a double with 16 points and 11 rebounds while Riley Wheatcraft had 18 points and made 3-of-6 from three-point range. Sidney Wentland added 12 points with six rebounds and four blocks.

Scoring Recap –
With Szymanski scoring 12 points on 3-of-3 from three-point range, the Cougars took a 35-24 lead over CSP after two quarters. The Cougars hit 35.3 percent from the field and was 5-of-13 from three-point range. USF also had eight points from Huinker who added two rebounds. In the first half, USF was 12-of-34 for 35.3 percent while holding CSP to 8-of-28 on 29.6 percent shooting. The Golden Bears made just 1-of-9 shots from three-point range.  USF also had a 23-19 edge in rebounds in a game with four lead changes. Schultz led CSP with nine points and four rebounds.

USF opened up an 18-14 lead after one quarter of play as they made 6-of-19 for 31.6 percent from floor, The Cougars had a 9-6 lead before extending the lead to four (18-14) at the break. The Cougars made 2-of-6 from three and 4-of-6 at the foul line. CSP hit 4-of-12 from the field and just 1-of-5 from three-point range in the opening quarter.

In the second quarter, USF opened up a 26-19 (4:27, 1st) advantage after a pair of baskets from Harris. Later Lauren Sanders knocked in a three and Szymanski hit another one with 55 seconds to play in the quarter for a 35-24 halftime lead. USF was 6-of-15 from the floor for 40 percent and 42.9 percent from three on 3-of-7 shooting.

With USF on a 6:04 scoring drought to opening the second half, CSP had a 10-0 run to draw within 35-34 with 6:04 to play as Wentland and Schultz had points inside.  Senior guard Augusta Thramer ended the USF scoring drought with a pair of free throws for a 37-34 with 5:59 to play.

Shortly thereafter, Hummel made 1-of-2 free throw for a 38-34 advantage which was followed by a basket from sophomore Krystal Carlson with 4:30 to play as USF took a 40-34 lead. After Wheatcraft's three drew CSP within 44-39, the Cougars had a three-pointer from Harris for a 47-39 lead with 1:19 to play in the third quarter. USF held a 49-41 lead after three quarters.

With 9:06 to play, Szymanski knocked in her fourth three of the game as USF had a seemingly comfortable 52-43 lead. However, CSP answered with a three from Wentland and added a Wheatcraft basket to draw within 52-48 with 8:13 to play.

USF responded with a basket from Huinker as the Cougars took a 58-50 lead with five minutes to play. Down nine (59-50), CSP had a 7-0 run as Wheatcraft's three with 2:38 left reduced USF's lead to 59-57. 

The Cougars ended a four-plus minute scoring drought when Hummel made a lay-up with 44 seconds to go for a 61-57 advantage. She added a free throw to close out the scoring as the Cougars earned their third win in eight games at the Gangelhoff Center.