SIOUX FALLS – Freshman guard Megan Fannin scored a game-high 22 points but the University of Sioux Falls Women's Basketball Team (2-3, 0-1 NSIC) dropped a 75-67 decision to Southwest Minnesota State (4-1, 1-0 NSIC) on Tuesday night at the Stewart Center.

In the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference opener for both teams, USF led, 16-12, after one quarter and 33-29 at the break. However, SMSU, which was picked to finish second in the NSIC South, rallied in the third quarter with a 19-10 margin for a 48-43 lead. Then, SMSU, which was led by 18 points from Jenna Borchers, outscored USF, 27-24, in the fourth quarter to earn the win. With the victory, the all-time series between the schools is deadlocked at 38 although USF has a 16-4 margin in NSIC games.

"In the first half, we guarded well and I thought we had a great game plan," said USF Head Coach Travis Traphagen. "We held them down offensively for the most part. They were able to get to the line and convert shots but we were solid. In the second half, they are a senior-laden team who executed plays down the stretch. The difference was the third quarter when they took advantage of some opportunities. I am not disappointed as we gave ourselves a chance to win.," said Traphagen. "We have had a tough schedule and tonight we played a really good team. We just need to grow and continue to develop as a squad," he said.
 

Fannin recorded her fourth straight game with double-digit points and her second 20-point effort in five games this season. She also topped 20 points for the third time in her career. In 34 minutes, Fannin hit 8-of-11 field goals and 1-3 from three-point range as well as 5-of-5 from the foul line while registering two assists and a steal. 

USF also had a double-digit point effort from forward Kiara James who had 11 points and five rebounds. She hit 5-of-9 shots from the field. Forward Krystal Carlson supplied eight points with a rebound and three steals while freshman guard Olivia Gamoke had seven points, four assists, three rebounds and two steals. Also for USF, Dallie Hoskinson added six points, three steals and seven rebounds. She has had three or more steals in three straight games.

In a game with nine tied scores and five lead changes, the Cougars hit 26-of-68 shots from the field for 38.2 percent although they made just 1-of-9 from three-point range. The Cougars, which was outrebounded, 42-29, made 14-of-19 foul shots for 73.7 percent.  USF had just 12 turnovers and forced 23 as they had a 12-to-8 margin in points off turnovers and a 19-to-10 advantage on fast-break points. SMSU, which was 23-of-53 from the field for 43.4 percent, including 3-of-15 from three-point range, owned a 40-36 margin in the paint and a 12-7 advantage on second chance points.

Scoring Summary -
With eight points from Fannin, the Cougars jumped to a 16-12 lead at the quarter break. USF hit 8-of-24 (33.3 percent) from the field and held SMSU to 2-of-9 (22.2 percent) shooting. A big difference for the visitors was that SMSU made 8-of-8 from the foul line. Gamoke hit a jumper to open the game from the left corner for a 2-0 lead. After four straight from SMSU, Fannin's jumper tied the game.  Later, USF had a pair of driving lay-ups from Fannin for a 14-8 lead with 2:36 to play.

Both teams scored 17 points in the second quarter as USF finished with a 33-29 lead at the break. During the second quarter, USF was 8-of-16 for 50 percent and improved to 40 percent for the game (16-of-40). Neither team (USF, 0-5; SMSU, 0-7) converted from three-point range, which would be a problem for both teams all night. SMSU which hit 35 percent on 7-of-20 in the second quarter, had three more free throws and was 11-of-11 for the half from the foul line while USF tried and made just one foul shot. Key to USF's first-half lead was forcing SMSU into 13 turnovers while committing just three.

In the second quarter, SMSU had an 8-4 run to tie the game at 20-20. With 7:15 to play. USF freshman guard Brecli Honner, who had six points, two rebounds and an assist, drove for a score and with the "and 1" gave USF a 23-20 lead. Two baskets from James and a jumper from the left side of the court by Hoskinson gave USF a 33-25 lead with 2:22 to play in the second quarter. SMSU closed on a 4-0 run to cut the lead to four at the break.

SMSU outscored USF, 19-10, In the third quarter to take the 48-43 lead, which they did not relinquish. USF hit just 2-of-11 from the field but made 6-of-9 free throws in the quarter.
SMSU, which was 7-of-14 for 50 percent in the third quarter, opened on a 6-0 run before a basket from Fannin ended the run and tied the game at 35. At the 6:14 mark, Fannin hit a driving lay-up and with "and 1", USF had a 39-35 lead.

SMSU responded by scoring six straight points with a three from Borchers providing SMSU with a 41-39 lead with 4:40 on the clock. Borchers then converted a three-point play for a 44-39 lead at the 3:54 mark. USF's Jemae Nichols converted 1-of-2 free throws to cut the lead to 44-40. The Mustangs extended their run to 10-1 with two more driving baskets for a 48-40 advantage (2:17) before taking a five-point lead to the break (48-43).

In the fourth quarter, the momentum stayed with SMSU as they took a 55-45 lead at the 8:47 mark. USF, which was 8-of-17 for 47.1 percent from the field in the final quarter, had baskets from James and Schaub to draw within 55-49 with 7:55 to play. Down by 10 (55-45), USF turned the momentum in its favor with a 6-0 run, including a three-point play from Honnor, which brought USF within 60-56 with 3:53 to play.

The margin stayed between 4-6 points until USF was able to draw within 66-63 with 45 seconds left when Gamoke had a fast-break basket following a turnover in the paint. However, USF fouled on the next possession and SMSU made a pair for a 68-63 advantage. From that point, SMSU converted 7-of-8 foul shots to hold off USF.