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University of Sioux Falls Athletics

Scoreboard

Scoreboard

Ayla Brown shoots a layup
Kory Burdick
72
Sioux Falls USF 16-12,12-9 NSIC
75
Winner Northern St. NSU 17-10,14-7 NSIC
Sioux Falls USF
16-12,12-9 NSIC
72
Final
75
Northern St. NSU
17-10,14-7 NSIC
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Sioux Falls USF 22 15 21 14 72
Northern St. NSU 20 19 16 20 75

Game Recap: Women's Basketball | | Clint Neumann

Cougars Battle to the Wire but Fall Short at Northern State

ABERDEEN, S.D. – The University of Sioux Falls women's basketball team dropped a thrilling 75-72 contest to Northern State on Friday night at Wachs Arena, with major NSIC Tournament implications on the line. The victory secured Northern State (17-10, 14-7 NSIC) a first-round bye, while Sioux Falls (16-12, 12-9 NSIC) clinched home-court advantage for their upcoming playoff matchup against an opponent to be determined. 

First Quarter 

The Cougars and Wolves treated fans to an electrifying start, with both offenses clicking early. USF's sharp-shooting from beyond the arc, including three triples, kept the pressure on Northern State. The dynamic duo of Alexis Rose and Kami Wadsworth spearheaded the Cougars' attack, powering them to a narrow 22-20 advantage after one. 

Second Quarter 

Northern State leveraged their height advantage in the second frame, establishing dominance in the paint while drawing fouls consistently. Despite floor general Ayla Brown orchestrating USF's offense, the Wolves outpaced the Cougars 19-15 in the quarter to take a slim 39-37 lead into halftime. 

Third Quarter 

Wadsworth caught fire after the break, getting 9 points and collecting 3 rebounds in a 21-point quarter for the Cougars. USF's defensive intensity increased and forced Northern State into contested shots. The Cougars went into the final period with a 58-55 lead. 

Fourth Quarter 

The tension peaked in a back-and-forth final frame that saw multiple lead changes. Northern State's clutch free-throw shooting and timely defensive stops ultimately proved decisive, as they held off a fierce USF rally to secure the 75-72 win. 

Key Team Stats 

  • Shooting Efficiency: The Cougars connected on 41.9% from the field (26-62) and 33.3% from three-point range (7-21), displaying consistent offensive execution throughout. 

  • Battle of the Boards: Northern State held a slight rebounding advantage (38-32) but the Cougars held the Wolves to 0 second chance points. 

  • Ball Security: Ten USF turnovers resulted in 11 points for the Wolves, highlighting the impact of each possession in a tight contest. 

  • Free Throw Impact: While USF shot a respectable 72.2% (13-18) from the charity stripe, Northern State's 18 makes from the line ultimately helped seal their victory. 

Key Coo 

  • Kami Wadsworth: Dominated with 24 points on efficient 10-of-19 shooting, consistently finding ways to score against Northern State's interior defense. 

  • Alexis Rose: Delivered a complete performance with 22 points, 6 rebounds, and four three-pointers to go along with 3 steals. 

  • Ayla Brown: Orchestrated the offense masterfully with 9 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists while maintaining offensive flow. 

Up Next 

The Cougars continue north for the final matchup of the regular season the University of Mary Marauders Saturday, Feb 22nd at 5:30pm.

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

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