ST. PAUL -- Led by four players in double digits, including 20 points from junior guard Anna Brecht, (RV) University of Sioux Falls Women's Basketball Team (5-0, 5-0 NSIC) won its fifth straight to open the season by defeating Concordia St. Paul (5-2, 3-2 NSIC), 83-65, at the Gangelhoff Center on Friday, Jan. 22. 
 
With the win, USF has opened 5-0 in a season for the second straight year, and for the third time in five seasons. The Cougars, which will face Concordia-St. Paul at 2 pm on Saturday afternoon, remain at the top of the NSIC South leaderboard at 5-0. 
 
USF Head Women's Basketball Coach Travis Traphagen, was pleased with his team's effort in their victory. 
 
"I was really happy with the victory. For us to score 80-plus on the road, it was a good effort but one that we have to keep building on," said Traphagen, who has 248 career victories at USF.
 
In their fifth straight win on the season, the Cougars took control of the game from the start. Brecht, who scored 20 points for the third time in five games at USF, started out on fire, hitting her first two three-pointers of the game. She led an offensive surge in which USF outscored Concordia St. Paul, 30-15, by hitting 10-of-17 field goals for 58.8 percent. Of those field goals, 6-of-9 came from three-point range. USF continued to build over a 20-point lead and by halftime led 52-37. The 52 points was the most scored by USF in a first half since scoring 54 against Wayne State on March 2, 2019 in the NSIC Tournament.
 
Despite a cold shooting third quarter, USF took control by outscoring CSP, 16-5. USF hit 5-of-18 from the field but made 6-of-7 from the foul line to build the lead to 68-42, a margin of 26 points. While USF just 2-of-14 for 14.3 percent in the final quarter, they hit 10-of-10 free throws to hold off CSP. The Bears had a 23-15 advantage but it was not enough as the Cougars improved to 3-0 on the season.
 
In fact, with USF's 83 points, it is the first time in school history that the Cougars have secure 83 points or more in three straight road wins. 
 
Overall, USF was 24-of-67 for 35.8 percent but hit 17-of-35 in the first two quarters when they took control. In that opening half, USF made 9-of-14 from three, including a season-high three triples from senior guard Emily Petersen, who had nine points. For the game, USF made 10-of-24 from three and a sizzling 25-of-26 from the foul line for 96.2 percent. At the foul line, USF is 47-of-51 for 92.1 percent over the past two games.
 
While USF's offense slowed down in the final two quarters, the defense held up, allowing just eight second half field goals and just two three-points. CSP finished 21-of-55 for 38.2 percent for the game and was 4-of-13 for 30.6 percent for the game. For the fourth time in five games, USF won the rebounding battle with a 45-to-34 edge, including a 20-to-10 margin in offensive boards.
 
Even after a big victory, Traphagen noted that his team can continue to improve. 
 
"All in all, I like where we are at as a team, but we can be better," said Traphagen. "Concordia's a really good team, so, from this win, we can take a lot of good, but I would like to finish better. Still, it was a good effort in a very tough place to play and win." 
 
Brecht led the Cougars once again on Friday, scoring 20 points for the third time this season. Brecht has scored at least 17 points in all five games this season, and knocked down a season high three three-pointers. She now has 10 three's on the season and 37 in her career. Brecht also had a season-high nine rebounds as she added an assist, two steals and two blocks to a solid all-around game.
 
Junior guard Dallie Hoskinson had her first double-double at USF, scoring 12 points and grabbing 12 rebounds while also dishing five assists. Hoskinson, who leads the NSIC in rebounding, has reached double digits in points for the second time and posted double-digit rebounds for the fourth time in five games. 
 
Junior guard Hannah Jones had her second straight double-digit effort for USF. In her second game of the season, she supplied 13 points, three steals and six rebounds. Jones now has eight double-digit scoring games in her career. The fourth USF player in double-digits was senior Anna Goodhope, who had 10 points, and three rebounds. She has reached double digits four straight games. Senior Lauren Sanders also came up big for USF in 12 minutes on the floor. She had nine points, including a trio of three-pointers which gives her 99 for her career.
 
USF vs CSP Breakdown 
 
Hot shooting helped USF open the game and rush to a double-digit lead by the first quarter break at 30-15. USF hit 6-of-9 from beyond the arc for 66.7 percent, as well as going 10-of-17 from the floor. Meanwhile, CSP only hit 6-of-15 shots from the floor, including just 1-of-2 from the three-point line. 
 
USF scored first, with a three from Brecht just 30 seconds into the first quarter. CSP had two lay-ups from Sidney Wentland soon after, but every time the Bears scored once, the Cougars seemingly put two baskets up. At the halfway point of the quarter (5:13), Petersen knocked down a three to push USF's lead to 18-13. Less than a minute later, Petersen hit another three to extend the lead to 21-13. Sanders ended the first quarter strong for the Cougars, knocking down a three to beat the buzzer and extend the Cougar's lead to 30-15 as the quarter closed. 
 
While both teams scored 22 points in the second quarter, USF was able to maintain their double-figure lead by matching baskets.  Hoskinson hit a jumper (9:25) and the Bears didn't respond with a basket until over a minute later  as USF remained on top 32-18. Brecht hit her second three pointer of the night at the 7:42 mark in the second quarter off an assist from Jones, to extend the Cougar lead to 19. After CSP cut USF's lead to 13, Sanders hit another three-pointer with 38 seconds to go in the second quarter, to build the lead to 15 (50-35). Becher answered with two free-throws for the Bears, but Goodhope put in a last second lay-up as USF led, 52-37, at the break.
 
After the halftime break, USF outscored CSP 16-5 in the third quarter, extending their overall lead to 68-42. After CSP cut the lead under 20 points, Traphagen called a quick 30 second timeout at the 9:03 mark which steadied USF. 
 
Hoskinson put in a lay-up just 10 seconds after the timeout, putting USF up 57-37 with 8:50 to go in the third quarter. Halfway through the quarter, Hoskinson hit another jumper, claiming her 10th point and also putting the Cougars up, 63-40. Jones converted in the final minute to help USF take a 68-42 lead through three quarters.
 
While the Bears outscored the Cougars, 23-15, in the fourth quarter, the deficit was too great. The Bears made 6-of-14 from the floor, while the Cougars went just 2-of-14 for 14.3 percent. CSP also hit 2-of-4 three's for 50 percent, while USF only hit 1-of-4 for 25 percent. However, USF's success at the foul line – 10-of-10 – held CSP at bay. 
 
At the 1:35 mark, USF's Ashley Wells scored followed by freshman Sydney White's first career points with 30-seconds left  for an 83-62 lead as the issue was decided.