FAYETTE, IOWA – Megan Fannin scored 14 points and Sydney White added 11 off the bench but the University of Sioux Falls Women's Basketball Team (14-11, 9-9 NSIC) dropped a 76-67 road decision to Upper Iowa in NSIC South Division play on Saturday afternoon at Dorman Gym.

With two games to play, the Cougars sit 9-9 in league play but despite the loss, hold onto third place in the South Division after Augustana suffered an 80-72 setback to Minnesota State. USF, which holds a half-game lead over Augustana (8-9) in the standings, had a 16-game winning streak against Upper Iowa end. USF's last loss to the Peacocks was a 78-75 loss on Dec. 14, 2013. The Cougars will return home for a city rivalry match up with Augustana on Thursday at 5:30 pm at the Stewart Center. Then, USF closes the regular season on the road at Wayne State before the NSIC Tourney opens on Feb. 23.

USF led 19-18 after the first quarter, but Upper Iowa, which has won two straight games, outscored USF, 14-12, in the second quarter to take a 32-31 lead at halftime. In the third quarter, UIU had a 22-16 advantage and a 22-20 margin in the fourth quarter to earn the win.

USF was led in scoring by freshman Megan Fannin with 14 points. The Watertown native also grabbed four rebounds with an assist and a steal. She now has 17 career double-digit scoring games with 16 this season. Sophomore guard Sydney White added 11 points off the bench as she was 3-of-6 from the floor and 4-of-4 at the foul line. She now has five double-digit scoring games at USF. Krystal Carlson, who had 12 points this weekend to move past 600 for her career (609), had eight points and 11 rebounds. She now has four double-digit rebound games in her career. Also for the Cougars, Olivia Gamoke supplied nine points, two assists and two steals.  

For the game, USF was 25-of-66 for 37.9 percent and just 2-of-16 from three-point range for 12.5 percent. The Cougars, which were outrebounded, 42-35, made 15-of-16 foul shots. However, due to 19 fouls, USF was outscored by UIU at the charity stripe, 23-to-15. The Peacocks, which had 16 points from Shannon Domeyer and 14 by Lydia Haack, was 23-of-59 from the field for 39 percent but did make 7-of-22 from three-point range. UIU plus differential of 7-to-2 in made threes was a 15-point difference and a key to the game. In the paint, USF had a 34-to-26 advantage but UIU had a 13-to-8 margin in second chance points.

Scoring Summary –
By scoring six straight to close the quarter, USF took a 19-18 lead at the break. USF hit on 9-of-20 field goals for 45 percent and made its only free throw. UIU was 6-of-14 for 42.9 percent and made 2-of-5 from three-point range.

With two lay-ups from Schaub and one by Brecli Honner, USF took a 6-4 lead with 5:44 to play in the first quarter. USF led at 11-8 on a jumper by Fannin but UIU responded with a 10-2 run including two threes from Katie Tornstrom for an 18-13 advantage with 2:23 to play. Then, USF, utilizing a pair of baskets from Fannin, finished the quarter on a 6-0 run for the lead.

The Cougars hit 3-of-14 for 21.4 percent from the field but two were made threes and with four free throws were only outscored, 14-12 as UIU closed on a 6-0 run to take the 32-31 lead at halftime. In the second quarter, the Peacocks took a 20-19 lead on their first possession. But USF responded with a 9-2 run for a 28-22 lead with 5:49 to play in the second quarter. However, USF was unable to sustain offense and UIU began to turn things in its favor. The Peacocks closed on a 6-0 run with a three from Mia Huberty providing a 32-31 lead at the break.

In the third quarter, UIU outscored USF, 22-16 to lead by 54-47 at the break. The Cougars hit on 6-of-13 field goals for 46.2 percent but failed to make a three point shot in three attempts. UIU was 8-of-18 for 44.4 percent and made 2-of-7 from three-point range.

UIU took a 36-33 lead after a lay-up by Lexie Lodermeier before she fouled Carlson, who knocked in a pair to draw USF within, 36-35.  With  13-4 run, the Peacocks took a 45-35 lead. Later, UIU extended their lead to 54-41 before USF had a 6-0 run to close the quarter and draw within 54-47.

In the fourth quarter, Cougars struggled on three-pointers as they tried to rally. While shooting 7-of-19 for 36.8 percent from the field, the Cougars missed on all seven of its three-point shots. As a result, UIU, which was just 3-of-11 from the field but 15-of-16 from the foul line, maintained the lead and with a 22-to-20 advantage in the quarter held off the Cougars.

USF did make it close for a stretch. With a pair of foul shots from White, USF cut the deficit to 54-51.  But, USF couldn't draw any closer. UIU had a 6-2 run to lead 62-55 with 6:32 left. Later, they pushed the lead to 13 points at 76-63 with a minute to play and they ended the long losing streak against USF.