RAPID CITY, S.D. – Freshmen Olivia Gamoke (13 points) and Brecli Honner (10 points, 8 rebounds) recorded career-highs to lead the University of Sioux Falls Women's Basketball Team (3-3) to a 70-57 road win at South Dakota Mines (0-6) on Saturday (Nov.  27).

Gamoke and Honner were among the four USF players to score in double-digits in taking the fifth straight win over SD Mines. Gamoke hit 6-of-7 shots, including her only three-point shot, and had two assists, a block and a rebound in the win. Honner had 10 points on 4-of-10 shooting while also setting a career-best with eight rebounds. Honner also had two assists, a block and a steal.
USF's leading scorer, Megan Fannin, had 13 points, including a pair of triples, and added four rebounds and an assist. She reached double-digits for the fifth straight game and sixth in her career.

Junior center Krystal Carlson also surpassed double-digits with 12 points while hauling down seven rebounds, two assists, and three steals in 30 minutes on the floor. Carlson now has four double-digit games this season and 17 in her career. In addition, junior Dallie Hoskinson had seven points, four assists, five rebounds, and four steals while both Kiara James and Jemae Nichols added six points each.
 
USF jumped to an 18-9 lead after the first quarter and then led, 42-25 at halftime. SD Mines outscored, USF in the third quarter, 15-11, to draw within, 53-40. However, they could draw no closer than 10 points, and with both teams scoring 17 points in the fourth quarter, USF came home with a 70-57 victory.

USF Head Coach Travis Traphagen, who picked up his 254^th win at USF, was pleased with the first half but knows his team has work to do.

"Overall we got off to a great start in the first half and led by 20," said Traphagen, whose team will travel to face Augustana on Thursday at 7:30 pm at the Sanford Pentagon. "I feel like we controlled the tempo and pace and had good looks while playing solid defense in the opening half," he said. "But in the second half, we made too many mistakes with turnovers. We also didn't rebound as good as we need to. However, it is always good to earn a win on the road. I thought both Olivia and Brecli made some big-time plays and are coming into their own. We just have to get back to work with more NSIC play coming up later this week," added Traphagen. 

USF, which had its biggest lead of the game at 22 with 7:21 to play in the third quarter, finished at 46.3 percent from the field on 25-of-54 shooting. The Cougars hit 5-of-14 from three-point range and 15-of-18 for 83.3 percent at the foul line. They forced 17 turnovers although they committed 19. For the fourth time in six games, USF had double-digits in steals with 10 and, as a result, had a 20-to-13 margin in points off turnovers. USF also had a commanding 36-to-26 margin in points in the paint.

SD Mines was 20-of-68 from the field for 29.4 percent. They hit 7-of-29 from three-point range for 24.1 percent and added 10-of-17 from the foul line for 58.8 percent. SD Mines was led by Ryan Weiss with 19 points and seven rebounds.

Scoring Summary

USF took an 18-9 lead in the first quarter by hitting 9-of-16 shots for 56.3 percent and forcing seven turnovers. USF was led by Gamoke with six points while both Carlson and Honnor had four each. Baskets from Honner and Gamoke gave USF a 4-0 lead with 7:52 to play. USF had a 12-7 lead after a Nichols basket at the 4:54 mark. Later, Kiara James had a jumper for a 16-9 advantage with 2:26 to play.

In the second quarter, Cougars opened on a 7-2 run to take a 25-11 lead over SD Mines at the 7:52 mark. By halftime, USF had a 17-point lead at 42-17.

In the third quarter, USF hit 5-of-12 from the field for 41.7 percent and was 1-of-3 from three-point range but unable to get to the foul line. SD Mines hit 5-of-19 field goals for 26.3 percent and was 2-of-6 from three-point range while making 3-of-3 at the line.  

At the 7:52 mark of the third quarter, Honner scored to stake USF to a 44-25 lead and, then, just 30 seconds later, USF extended the lead to 22 at 47-25 when Fannin made a three-point shot (7:21). 

Gradually, SD Mines worked the lead down, drawing to within, 51-37, at the 2:13 mark after a basket by Makenna Bodette. With 56 seconds left Weiss rained in a three as USF's lead dropped to 53-40.

In the fourth quarter, SD Mines was able to draw within 10 points but no closer. USF hit 3-of-9 field goals for 33.3 percent, including a three, but maintained the double-digit advantage by making 10-of-11 foul shots.

At the 8:51 mark, Danielle Schaub hit a triple as USF took a 56-40 lead. Then, Carlson converted inside and with the "and 1" gave USF a 61-44 advantage. SD Mines responded with a 9-2 run as Anna Combalia's three cut the deficit to 63-53 with 4:23 to play. USF had free throws from Carlson and Honner and then a steal and score by Carlson with 1:14 to play for a 69-57 lead and the issue was decided.