ABERDEEN, S.D. – Mariah Szymanski scored a team-season-high 33 points as the University of Sioux Falls Women's Basketball Team (16-7, 11-6 NSIC) recorded a third straight victory in a 73-66 come-from-behind win over Northern State (8-14, 5-11 NSIC) on Friday night at the Barnett Center.

USF trailed by 10 points early in the second quarter before closing the quarter on a 23-10 run for a 34-31 lead and trailed just once the rest of the way. The Cougars had an 11-4 run in the fourth quarter, keyed by three, three-pointers from Anna Goodhope, to take a 69-59 lead and closed with the 73-66 decision.

With the road win, USF, which improved to 6-4 in road games, moved into second place in the NSIC South at 11-6. The Cougars hold the edge over Augustana, which lost 69-45 at home to Minnesota Duluth, and is also 11-6, due to an earlier win at the Stewart Center. USF, which faces NSIC North leader MSU-Moorhead on Saturday afternoon at 4 p.m. in Moorhead, Minn., is one game behind Concordia St. Paul at 12-5 in the South Division.

"I am very happy with the way we battled tonight and hung together as a unit," said USF Head Women's Basketball Coach Travis Traphagen. "Mariah (Szymanski) was amazing and Anna (Goodhope) had a trio of threes late that proved big. It was another big win in the road," he said. "I feel like our defense was solid as we forced 14 turnovers, converted on offense after the first quarter, hung in there on the boards."

After USF struggled through a tough first quarter shooting (17.6 percent), Szymanski came to the rescue by scoring 16 points and helping USF to a 23-13 margin in the second quarter. Szymanski, who scored the second most points in her career (43, Concordia St. Paul, Jan. 20, 2018), hit 11-of-16 field goals and a season high five triples on seven attempts. A junior guard from Pulaski, Wisc., Szymanski also had six free throws, three steals and three rebounds in 30 minutes on the floor. She now has registered three games of 30 points or more in her career and has nine 20-point games with 29 in double-digits.

Goodhope, who was 3-of-7 from three-point range and had 12 points with four rebounds, was part of an effort by USF in knocking down 9-of-20 three-pointers for 45 percent. USF was 24-of-54 from the floor for 44.4 percent. However after the first quarter, USF was a sizzling 21-of-37 for 57 percent in the final three quarters. In both the second and third quarters, USF was 6-of-11 for 54.5 percent before knocking in 9-of-15 shots for 60 percent in the fourth quarter. In the final three quarters, USF hit 8-of-15 from three-point range.

In addition, USF hit 16-of-20 free throws and while losing the rebound battle, 33-to-29, forced 14 turnovers by NSU while committing just nine. The Wolves, which had 12 points from Alayna Johnson, made 47.2 percent from the floor on 25-of-53 shooting. They were also 12-of-16 from the foul line but hit just 4-of-11 from three-point range. A significant difference in the game was Szymanski coming off the bench to lead USF to a 55-27 edge in bench points.

Game Breakdown
In the opening half, USF started fast and finished strong in building a 34-31 halftime lead. USF trailed by as many as 10 before a second quarter 23-to-10 surge gave the Cougars a small cushion at the break.

In the opening quarter, Hummel opened the scoring with a three-pointer as the Cougars took a 3-0 lead at the 9:55 mark. However NSU had four straight points from Johnson for a 4-3 lead. Another Hummel jumper gave USF a 5-4 lead at the 7:01 mark. Over the final seven minutes, the Cougars were outscored, 14-6 and trailed at the break, 18-11. NSU, which shot 50 percent on 7-of-14 shooting, closed the quarter on a 7-1 run. USF, which was outrebounded 15-to-9, struggled from the field and made just 3-of-17 field goals for 17.6 percent. 

Immediately in the second quarter, Brianna Kusler hit a three to give the Wolves a 21-11 advantage. However, the Cougars answered with a 9-0 run as Szymanski's three-point play at the 7:33 mark drew USF within 21-20. Then, NSU's Kori Mekash responded with consecutive threes as the Wolves extended the lead to 27-20.  

But Szymanski wasn't done and would enjoy the best quarter of the season. She started a 10-2 run by the Cougars who took a 30-29 lead at the 2:17 mark after Hummel hit two foul shots. Szymanski, who scored 16 points in the second quarter, helped USF overcome a 10-point deficit to take a 32-31 lead at the 1:44 mark. With 52 seconds left, sophomore Abby Slater hit her second basket of the game as USF, who hit 6-of-11 shots for 54.5 percent in the quarter, took a 34-31 lead.  

Through two quarters, USF hit 32.1 percent on 9-of-28 shooting. USF was 3-of-8 from three-point range but had a 13 (16 att.)-to-four advantage at the foul stripe. NSU, which had a 21-17 advantage on the boards, hit 42.9 percent on 12-of-28 shooting but committed nine turnovers while USF had just three. Aside from Szymanski, Hummel had seven points and Jessie Geer had four rebounds.

With 5:54 to play in third quarter, Szymanski hit her third three of the game as the Cougars took a 42-37 lead. After trailing by seven at 44-37, NSU responded with seven straight points before Szymanski's basket provided USF with a 46-44 lead at the 2:42 mark. Lexi Wadsworth hit 3-of-4 free throws and the Wolves gained a 47-46 lead with a minute to play. However, USF closed the quarter on a 4-0 run as Goodhope's jumper and two foul shots from Augusta Thramer with two seconds left gave the Cougars a 50-47 advantage.   

Right away in the fourth quarter, Thramer scored again with her jumper giving USF a 52-47 lead. After NSU drew within three at 52-49, Szymanski hit back-to-back triples as the Cougars opened up a 58-49 lead with 7:48 to play in the game. However, NSU scored six points over the next 1:10 to draw within, 58-55 (6:38). Then, Goodhope stepped up in a big way. She knocked in a trio of three-pointers to help USF take a 69-59 lead with 3:41 to play and, in effect, put the game away. USF, which closed NSU's series lead to 5-4 all-time at the DII level, took its biggest lead of the game when Szymanski had a lay-up for the 71-60 advantage at the 3:18 mark.