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University of Sioux Falls Athletics

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Scoreboard

Rease Murtaugh takes a 3
Jurgens Photography
77
Winner Sioux Falls USF 5-2,2-0 NSIC
54
Wayne St. (NE) WSC 6-2,1-1 NSIC
Winner
Sioux Falls USF
5-2,2-0 NSIC
77
Final
54
Wayne St. (NE) WSC
6-2,1-1 NSIC
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Sioux Falls USF 17 22 21 17 77
Wayne St. (NE) WSC 5 11 24 14 54

Game Recap: Women's Basketball | | Clint Neumann

Relentless Start Propels USF Past Wayne State for Fifth Consecutive Victory

WAYNE, Neb. – The University of Sioux Falls Women's Basketball team extended its winning streak to five games with a convincing 77–54 road victory over Wayne State on Wednesday night inside Rice Auditorium. The Cougars controlled the game from the opening tip, outscoring the Wildcats 39–16 in the first half and never allowing WSC to recover, moving to 5–2 on the season and 2–0 in NSIC play.

USF's defensive effort fueled the night, holding Wayne State to just 5 first-quarter points and 16 total in the first half. The Cougars forced 21 Wildcat turnovers, scored 20 points off those giveaways, and received a major scoring lift from their bench with 31 points.

USF balanced its offense with five players scoring 8 or more, highlighted by strong scoring nights from sophomore guards Anna Vaaler and Alexis Rose.

Game Summary

USF's defensive pressure dictated the game immediately, causing eight first-quarter turnovers and holding Wayne State without a made field goal until the 0:12 mark of the opening frame. The Cougars' offense steadily built momentum, using pace, ball movement, and threes to stretch the lead.

By halftime, USF led 39–16 after shooting 13-for-30 from the floor and 5-for-12 from three while limiting Wayne State to 5-for-20 shooting. The Wildcats made a push in the third quarter with 24 points, but USF countered with timely baskets from Vaaler, Rose, and Murtaugh to maintain control. The Cougars then closed strong in the fourth quarter to secure their fifth straight win.

Quarter-by-Quarter Breakdown

1st Quarter – USF 17, WSC 5

USF held Wayne State to 1-for-9 shooting with eight turnovers while scoring 17 points on 6-of-14 shooting, including three made threes. Vaaler scored the teams' first 9 points before Murtaugh chipped in 5, and the Cougar defense completely controlled the quarter.

2nd Quarter – USF 39, WSC 16

The Cougars outscored WSC 22–11 by shooting 7-for-16 from the floor and 6-for-7 from the foul line. Minsaas and Traphagen provided a major lift off the bench, combining for 13 second-quarter points. USF forced seven more turnovers and held WSC to 4-for-11 shooting.

3rd Quarter – USF 60, WSC 40

Wayne State found life offensively with 24 points on 8-of-13 shooting, but USF answered with 21 points of its own. Rose scored 8 in the quarter, while Vaaler and Wilson added key baskets. The Cougars hit two threes and went 3-for-3 at the line to keep their lead comfortable.

4th Quarter – USF 77, WSC 54

USF closed the game with 17 more points on 6-for-18 shooting while holding WSC to 4-for-12 from the floor. The Cougars grabbed 12 rebounds in the quarter and assisted on five of their six field goals. A late three from Rose and finishing plays inside sealed the 23-point win.

Key Coo Performers

  • Anna Vaaler – 22 points, 7 rebounds, 3 steals
  • Alexis Rose – 18 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, 3-for-6 from three
  • Rease Murtaugh – 12 points, 2 steals, 4-for-4 FT
  • Gracie Traphagen – 9 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist
  • Danielle Minsaas – 8 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists

Key Team Stats

  • Paint Production – USF scored 28 points in the paint compared to Wayne State's 20.
  • Turnover Impact – The Cougars forced 21 turnovers and scored 20 points off them.
  • Bench Strength – USF's bench contributed a major 31 points.
  • Rebounding – USF won the glass 35–32 and grabbed 10 offensive boards.
  • Three-Point Shooting – The Cougars hit 9 threes, including three from Rose and two each from Minsaas and Vaaler.
  • Defensive Start – USF held WSC to just 5 first-quarter points, with the first field goal allowed with 0:12 left in the quarter and 16 in the entire first half.

Coach's Corner

"I thought tonight was a great win against a good Wayne State team. They've been holding people down all season, and I thought we did a nice job getting to 77 points. As a coach, I'm very proud of the effort. I wish we could've done a little bit better in the fourth quarter to prevent them from making a run at us. I thought Lexi Rose played a fantastic game for us today, and Anna Vaaler did what Anna always does. All in all, a great game, and I'm excited about the direction the program is going."
- Head Coach Travis Traphagen

Up Next

USF returns home to the Stewart Center on Saturday, December 6, for a rivalry matchup against Augustana at 5:00 p.m.

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