ST. JOSEPH, Mo. – The USF women's basketball team opened their season with a competitive clash against Missouri Western, ultimately falling 79-68 at St. Joseph Civic Arena. The Cougars rallied through significant scoring bursts and key defensive stops that kept them close, but ultimately, Missouri Western's strength in the paint and timely shooting proved to be the difference. 

GAME RECAP:
First Half 

The game tipped off with a quick tempo as both teams looked to set an early tone. Missouri Western came out aggressive, grabbing an early 10-2 lead, taking advantage of Cougar turnovers. But USF was not going to let them run away with it. Danielle Minsaas hit a three-pointer to bring the Cougars back into it, followed by a layup from Alexis Rose that cut the deficit to just 10-7. 

With Missouri Western responding on the fast break, USF continued to battle with scoring from Anna Vaaler, who connected on two key three-pointers. Vaaler's outside shooting helped the Cougars keep pace, and Megan Fannin added her first points of the night with a three of her own. However, Missouri Western used their size to maintain control in the paint, pushing the lead to 20-17 by the end of the first quarter. 

In the second quarter, the Cougars struggled to counter Missouri Western's interior play. Missouri Western put together a 10-2 run midway through the quarter, leveraging both their rebounding edge and sharp free-throw shooting. The Griffons managed to close the half with a 25-point quarter, sending the Cougars into halftime down 45-31. 

Second Half 

The Cougars came out of the locker room determined to swing the momentum. From the start, USF tightened up defensively and began chipping away at the lead. Fannin opened the scoring with a three-pointer, followed by another from Wadsworth as the Cougars went on an 8-0 run to bring the score to 47-39. Sioux Falls' defense was pivotal in this stretch, with Wadsworth making a key steal that led to a fast-break layup by Ayla Brown, closing the gap to single digits. 

Missouri Western attempted to respond, but USF had found its rhythm, fueled by the rebounding of Gracie Traphagen and a block from Vaaler. This defensive intensity sparked another offensive push, with Wadsworth hitting a mid-range jumper and later connecting from the free-throw line. USF outscored Missouri Western 21-12 in the third quarter, heading into the fourth within striking distance at 57-52. 

In the final quarter, Sioux Falls continued their aggressiveness. Fannin and Wadsworth each scored early to keep the Griffons' lead to just five. However, Missouri Western adjusted, capitalizing on second-chance points and responding with a 10-4 run to push their lead back to double digits. Despite a late three from Vaaler and back-to-back free throws by Wadsworth, the Griffons sealed the game with a final push in the last two minutes. 

TEAM HIGHLIGHTS:

• Three-Point Shooting: Sioux Falls shot 40.9% from beyond the arc, making 9 of 22 attempts. 

• Points in the Paint: Missouri Western controlled the paint, outscoring USF 44-16. 

• Turnovers: USF committed 17 turnovers, which led to 15 points for Missouri Western. 

• Rebounding: Sioux Falls totaled 40 rebounds (16 offensive), while Missouri Western grabbed 39 boards. 

• Bench Points: The Cougars' bench contributed 31 points.  

KEY COO: 

• Megan Fannin: 13 points, 4-9 FG, 3-5 3PT, 1 rebound. 

• Kami Wadsworth: 13 points, 4-4 FT, 2 assists, 2 steals. 

• Anna Vaaler: 11 points, 3-9 FG, 2-4 3PT, 4 rebounds, 1 block. 

• Danielle Minsaas: 9 points, 2-3 3PT, 5 rebounds. 

• Ayla Brown: 5 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists. 

UP NEXT:

The Cougars remain in St. Joseph for their second matchup of the MIAA/NSIC Challenge, where they take on Emporia State tomorrow night at 5:15pm in the Civic Arena. 

For all things USF Women's Basketball, be sure to download the USF Cougars app as well as follow along on Instagram and Twitter!