By: Clint Neumann
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – The University of Sioux Falls women's basketball team returns to the friendly confines of the Stewart Center this weekend, and not a moment too soon. After a brutal stretch on the road, the Cougars welcome the University of Mary on Friday, January 16 at 7:30 p.m., followed by Minot State on Saturday, January 17 at 5:00 p.m.
USF (8–8, 5–5 NSIC) is reeling from a five-game losing streak and desperately needs the comfort of home court. The good news? The Stewart Center has been a fortress this season—the Cougars are 6–2 at home. This weekend presents two dramatically different challenges: Mary arrives as one of the conference's elite programs with championship dreams and suffocating efficiency, while Minot State brings one of the most aggressive perimeter attacks in all of Division II. With the NSIC standings compressed tighter than a playoff race, this weekend is important for USF's postseason hopes.
Scouting University of Mary (14–5 Overall, 7–3 NSIC)
The Marauders roll into Sioux Falls sitting pretty at 14–5 overall and 7–3 in NSIC play—second in the North Division and fourth overall in the conference. They've been nearly unbeatable at home (7–1) but more vulnerable on the road (3–3). Under longtime head coach Rick Neumann, Mary has built a program that consistently produces.
Mary is one of the most efficient offensive teams in the NSIC, averaging 76.5 ppg while surrendering just 67.5 for a commanding +9.0 scoring margin. The Marauders shoot a scorching 44.7 percent from the field and lead the entire conference in three-point percentage at 39.9 percent. Defensively, they're just as stingy, holding opponents to 40.3 percent from the floor and a meager 28.4 percent from beyond the arc. They attack the basket relentlessly, leading the league in free-throw attempts while converting at 77.7 percent. Add in a +3.1 rebounding margin and a second-place ranking in blocked shots, and you've got a complete, balanced team built for a run.
Bergan Kinnebrew is an absolute force of nature. She leads the NSIC at 23.2 ppg—third nationally—while shooting 49 percent from the field, grabbing 5.8 rebounds, and pacing her team in assists and steals. But here's what makes her truly terrifying: she's the most prolific free-throw shooter in all of NCAA Division II, converting 132 of 152 attempts, while still remaining a 40 percent threat from three. She's been unstoppable.
Allison Undlin provides the perfect complement inside, averaging 13.4 points and 7.9 rebounds while shooting a league-best 60 percent from the field and an absurd 50 percent from three. She ranks second in the NSIC with 1.9 blocks per game, protecting the rim and altering everything near the basket. Mary's depth is equally impressive: Chloe Pfau adds 9.3 ppg, Anna Lenzen chips in 8.5 points and 4.4 rebounds, and Emily Jaenke is a sharpshooter extraordinaire, leading the entire nation in three-point percentage among high-volume shooters at 49.4 percent. Good luck finding a weakness.
Scouting Minot State (7–10 Overall, 4–6 NSIC)
Minot State limps into the Stewart Center at 7–10 overall and 4–6 in conference play, riding a three-game losing streak after getting swept by St. Cloud State and No. 2 Minnesota State. The Beavers sit outside the top half of the standings, but dismissing them would be a mistake. Under second-year head coach Ryan Clark, Minot has embraced a perimeter-oriented identity that can erupt at any moment.
The Beavers average 70.4 ppg while allowing 71.7, playing in tight, competitive games. They shoot 44.1 percent from the field (fourth in the NSIC), but here's the kicker: Minot attempts more three-pointers than any team in the conference by a wide margin. They connect on 34.2 percent of their attempts and average 9.6 made threes per game—third in the entire nation. When they get hot from deep, they're nearly impossible to stop.
Defensively, Minot holds opponents to 29.6 percent from three, but the cracks show elsewhere. They rank 15th in the NSIC in total rebounds, average just 5.8 offensive boards per game, and own a brutal -5.4 rebounding margin. Turnovers are also an issue, with a -2.12 turnover margin and a 0.75 assist-to-turnover ratio. If USF can dominate the glass and protect the ball, they can exploit these weaknesses.
Taryn Hamling is the three-point assassin, leading the Beavers at 16.2 ppg and knocking down 51 triples while attempting nearly two-thirds of her shots from beyond the arc. She's one of the most prolific deep shooters in the country. Maya Aguilar adds 11.3 points and a team-high 6.3 rebounds while shooting 38 percent from three. Jessica Mogen orchestrates the offense with 10.1 points and a team-high 3.0 assists, attacking the rim and drawing fouls. Tiyahna Trottier rounds out the group at 9.7 ppg, shooting 48.1 percent from the field and 40.4 percent from three while leading the team with one block per game.
Cougar Spotlight
The Cougars are at a crossroads. Five straight losses. An 8–8 record. A 5–5 conference mark that's dangerously close to slipping out of contention. But here's the silver lining: they're coming home, where they've been dominant (6–2), and they have a chance to reset, regroup, and reclaim their season.
Injuries have tested this roster all season. The year-long absence of All-Conference forward Kami Wadsworth and the recent loss of Dani Minsaas have forced constant adjustments. But this team has fought through adversity before, and they'll need to do it again.
USF averages 72.3 ppg while allowing 72.2, reflecting a team that plays in nail-biting, tightly contested games. Offensively, the Cougars remain one of the NSIC's most efficient shooting teams, ranking second at 44.8 percent from the field and sixth at 33.4 percent from three. The struggle? Rebounding. USF owns a -2.2 margin and ranks near the bottom of the conference in offensive rebounding, an area that will be critical this weekend against two teams with very different glass identities.
Anna Vaaler continues to be the heartbeat of this team, averaging 20.3 points and 7.7 rebounds per game (fourth and fifth in the NSIC, respectively). She shoots 38.4 percent from three with 38 made triples and has recorded five double-doubles this season.
Freshman post Krista Langager has been a revelation, averaging 15.8 ppg on 57.1 percent shooting while leading the entire NSIC in offensive rebounds at 3.5 per game. She's a beast on the glass and a matchup nightmare inside. Alexis Rose adds 11.0 ppg and has grown into a reliable perimeter threat. Ayla Brown remains the offensive maestro, ranking second in the NSIC in total assists and assists per game while recently surpassing Taylor Varsho for fifth all-time in program history with 286 career assists. She's the engine that makes everything go.
Numbers Game
- Home Court: USF is 6–2 at the Stewart Center this season.
- Elite Shooting: Mary leads the NSIC in three-point percentage at 39.9 percent and holds opponents to 28.4 percent from deep.
- Star Power: Bergan Kinnebrew leads the NSIC at 23.2 points per game and ranks third nationally.
- Volume Shooting: Minot State averages 9.6 made three-pointers per game, third-most in NCAA Division II.
- Interior Impact: Krista Langager leads the NSIC with 3.5 offensive rebounds per game.
- Playmaking: Ayla Brown ranks second in the NSIC with 5.1 assists per game.
Coach's Corner
"We're looking forward to getting back in the Stewart Center this weekend. We play two very good teams and need to have a great week of practice to prepare for them. All things weren't bad last weekend. We just need to take little steps day by day to make sure we're winning those close games instead of losing them."
- Head Coach Travis Traphagen
Inside the Gym
Friday, Jan. 16 vs University of Mary
Saturday, Jan. 17 vs Minot State
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