MARSHALL, MINN. – Megan Fannin scored 19 points and Krystal Carlson added 14 to lead the University of Sioux Falls Women's Basketball Team (9-5, 5-3 NSIC) to a 69-61 road win over Southwest Minnesota State (7-5, 4-4 NSIC) in NSIC South Division play on Sunday afternoon (Jan. 2).

The Cougars ended a two-game road losing streak in NSIC play and moved into third place in the NSIC South with the win as they sit 5-3 and 9-5 overall. With the win, USF avenged an earlier loss to SMSU, 75-67, at the Stewart Center on Nov. 23. With the victory, USF is now 20-19 all-time vs SMSU including 9-0 at Marshall, Minn., since joining the league. Overall, USF improved to 16-4 against the Mustangs in NSIC play.

"This was a good win on the road over a good team," said USF Head Coach Travis Traphagen, who earned his 260^th career win, including his 100 career road victory. "I think – honestly - coming off the Christmas break, we set the tone early, especially on the defensive end. And, Krystal got us going with plays at both ends. I believe that our defense enabled us to be good on the offensive end," said Traphagen.

"I also think that SMSU was a bit out of sync early. You take away the first quarter and it is an even game. We made some mistakes late and played for a time not to lose. But we held off their run. I couldn't be more proud of the way we hung on to win," added Traphagen, whose team will host U-Mary on Jan. 7 and Minot State on Jan. 8 at the Stewart Center.

USF, which led from start to finish, was on fire early as the Cougars hit 9-of-15 shots in the opening quarter and opened up a 24-4 lead. By halftime, USF held a 40-23 lead, despite SMSU owning a 19-16 margin in the second quarter. SMSU also won the final two quarters – 18-15 in the third; and 20-14 in the fourth. The Cougars built as much as a 24-point lead (49-25 with 6:02 to play in the third quarter). Then, SMSU closed on a 36-20 run but USF made baskets as needed and held off the Mustangs.

Fannin led USF with 19 points as she made 7-of-14 from the field and connected on 2-of-5 from three-point range. A freshman from Watertown, S.D., Fannin had her 11^th career double-digit scoring game, including a team-best 10 this season. She also had a pair of rebounds with an assist and a steal.

Carlson, a senior forward from Hastings, Minn., totaled 14 points, seven rebounds, three steals, two blocks and two assists in a solid all-around game. Carlson, who hit 5-of-14 shots, including 4-of-4 from the foul line, recorded her 20^th career double-digit scoring game. She also surpassed 500 career points (512).

Also for USF, junior guard Dallie Hoskinson had nine points, seven rebounds, three assists and two steals. Freshman guard Olivia Gamoke added seven points, five rebounds, four assists and three steals while graduate student Danielle Schaub also had seven points. In her first appearance at USF, sophomore forward Madison Birnbaum had six points, including two triples in four attempts, with three rebounds and two assists in eight minutes.

Overall, the Cougars hit 27-of-60 field goals for 45 percent but made 6-of-14 for 42.9 percent from three-point range and 9-of-12 at the foul line. Both teams had 37 rebounds with USF garnering nine off the offensive glass which turned into a 12-to-9 advantage in second chance points. With 11 steals, USF has 148 this year and nine games of at least 10 or more. By forcing SMSU into 21 turnovers, USF had an 18-to-17 margin in points off turnovers and finished even with SMSU with points in the paint at 28.

The Mustangs had 15 points from Sadie Stelter, who also had a game-high nine rebounds and dished five assists. Abuk Akoi added 14 points and five rebounds. As a team, SMSU was 22-of-57 for 38.6 percent from the field and made 8-of-28 from three-point range for 28.6 percent. They were 9-of-16 at the foul line for 56.3 percent.

Scoring Summary --
In the opening quarter, USF raced to a 24-4 lead as Carlson had eight points and Gamoke added seven. The Cougars, which hit 9-of-15 shots for 60 percent, forced 12 SMSU turnovers with eight steals. USF led 14-2 and closed on a 10-2 run in the quarter for its biggest first quarter margin 20 points this season. SMSU hit just 1-of-8 field goals for 12.5 percent.

At 9:25 of the quarter, Gamoke hit a lay-up which was followed by a pair of lay-ups from Carlson as USF took a 6-0 lead with 7:50 to play in the first quarter. Then, Hoskinson had a pair of steals as Fannin's lay-up off one of the turnovers resulted in a 14-2 lead at the 5:39 mark. Fannin's triple with 3:43 left gave USF a 17-4 lead. After Gamoke hit a three with 57 seconds left, USF had a 24-4 lead at the quarter break.

At the halftime break, USF had a 40-23 lead. In the second quarter, SMSU had a 19-16 edge as the Cougars hit 7-of-16 field goals for 43.8 percent. They made 2-of-3 from deep. SMSU was 8-of-19 from the field and 2-of-7 from three points.

SMSU scored early to cut the lead to 24-8 at the 6:17 mark after a basket by Bri Stoltzman but Madison Wuebben answered with a three as USF led, 27-8. Wuebben followed a three by SMSU with another basket as the Cougars led, 29-11 with five minutes to play.

With 4:50 on the clock, Sam Wall made a three and Akoi scored inside to cut USF's lead to 29-16. But Birnbaum hit her first shot at USF – a three - for a 32-16 lead at the 3:15 mark. When Fannin scored a lay-up with 26 seconds left, USF had taken a 17-point lead (40-23) to halftime.

At halftime USF was 16-of-31 for 51.6 percent while hitting 4-of-7 from three-point range and all four of its free throws. Both teams had 18 rebounds but USF owned a 15-to-6 margin in points off turnovers while SMSU trailed 18-to-14 in points in the paint. SMSU was 9-of-27 for 33.3 percent in the half and hit just 2-of-12 from three-point range and 3-of-9 at the foul stripe.

Like they did in the opening quarter, USF came out on fire in the third quarter. The Cougars had a 9-2 run, keyed by a triple from Fannin, as the Cougars took a 49-25 lead for its largest advantage of the game with 6:02 to play. However, SMSU answered USF with a run of their own. With a 13-4 run, SMSU cut the deficit to 53-38 at the 1:39 mark following Akoi's three-point play.

At the break, USF had a 55-41 edge. In the quarter, SMSU was 6-of-16 from the field for 37.5 percent but hit 2-of-8 from three-point range and 2-of-2 at the foul line. USF was a solid 7-of-14 from the field but hit just one triple in three attempts.

In the fourth quarter the Mustangs, which continued on a 22-6 run, scored six straight to cut the deficit to 55-47 with 8:30 to play before Carlson's jumper gave USF a 57-47 lead. Then Fannin converted on a layup as USF took a 59-47 advantage. SMSU, which made 7-of-14 field goals, including 4-of-8 from three-point range in the final quarter, closed within 63-58 after Stelter knocked down a three with 2:07 to play.

USF answered with a lay-up from Hoskinson to lead 65-58. After Gamoke made 1-of-2 foul shots, USF had a 66-58 lead with 53 seconds left. Jenna Borcher's three cut the margin to 66-61 at 43 seconds mark but USF converted 3-of-4 free throws to maintain an eight-point lead and earn its third road win in six games this year.