ST JOSEPH, MO. – In a game that came down to the final moments, the USF women's basketball team faced off against Emporia State, ultimately falling 64-62. The Cougars had several attempts in the final possession but could not capitalize against the Hornets. 

MATCH RECAP
First Half

The Cougars set the tone with a hot start, building an 18-10 lead by the end of the first quarter. Kami Wadsworth kicked off the scoring with a layup on their first offensive possession, scoring 6 total in the first quarter. Sioux Falls got 3-point contributions from Gracie Traphagen, and Anna Vaaler, and several points from Ayla Brown's free throws. Sioux Falls dominated the boards early, holding a 13-10 edge in rebounds. USF forced five turnovers in the quarter, translating to easy points and giving the Cougars early momentum. 

Sioux Falls continued upon their success, mounting a 14-point lead with 6:47 to go. Emporia State battled back, cutting into the Cougars' lead thanks to an 8-0 run. The Hornets' defensive adjustments created 8 USF turnovers, and they scored 10 points in the paint to close the gap. Sioux Falls found scoring from Aby Phipps and managed to knock in 4 at the free-throw line. Emporia State outscored the Cougars 17-14, as Sioux Falls headed to halftime with a narrow 32-27 lead. 

Second Half

The third quarter provided many scoring runs from each team. Rose led the way for the Cougars in scoring, putting up 6 points in the quarter, but USF was outpaced again this quarter, finishing it with a 49-46 advantage.  

The fourth quarter was a nail-biter, with both teams trading baskets and defensive stops. The free throw line proved key in this quarter. The Cougars went 6-8 and the Hornets sunk 8-11 in the final period. With less than thirty seconds remaining, Sioux Falls had several chances to tie or win, but all attempts missed the mark, allowing Emporia to hold on for a 62-64 victory.  

TEAM HIGHLIGHTS

• Points in the Paint: USF tallied 18 points in the paint compared to 30 from the Hornets. 

• Rebounding Edge: The Cougars controlled the boards, finishing with a 46-41 rebounding advantage, including 13 offensive rebounds. 

• Free Throw Efficiency: USF made the most of their opportunities at the line, converting 17 of 22 attempts (77%). 

• Turnovers into Points: USF forced 14 Emporia State turnovers, scoring 20 points from these opportunities. 

• Balanced Scoring: Four Cougars scored 8 or more points, showing a well-rounded offensive effort. 

KEY COO

• Anna Vaaler: 13 points, 4-12 FG, 4-4 FT, 12 rebounds (8 defensive), 2 blocks 

• Kami Wadsworth: 12 points, 4-11 FG, 4-4 FT, 3 assists 

• Dani Minsaas: 9 points, 2-6 3PT, 6 rebounds 

• Alexis Rose: 8 points, 1-3 3PT, 4 rebounds, 2 assists 

• Ayla Brown: 7 points, 4-4 FT, 5 rebounds, 4 assists 

UP NEXT 

The Cougars will play their first home game of the season on Tuesday, Nov 12th at 7pm in the Stewart Center. 
 

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