SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – The University of Sioux Falls women's basketball team secured its second straight victory Wednesday night with a convincing 64–51 win over Wayne State inside the Stewart Center. The Cougars set the tone early with a dominant first quarter and never looked back, leaning on scorching perimeter shooting and disciplined defense to control the game from start to finish.

USF jumped out to a commanding 24–8 lead after one quarter and never trailed, maintaining at least a 13-point cushion throughout the final period while improving their confidence and rhythm as the regular season winds down. This was complete basketball—offense, defense, and control.

Game Summary

The Cougars were locked in on both ends of the floor from the opening tip, finishing the night 9-of-23 from three-point range (39.1 percent) while holding Wayne State to a frigid 4-of-24 (16.7 percent) from deep. That suffocating defensive effort on the perimeter proved pivotal, completely limiting the Wildcats' ability to mount any sustained comeback and forcing them into uncomfortable offensive possessions all night long.

The perimeter gap told the story: 27 points from three for USF compared to just 12 for Wayne State—a 15-point swing that accounted for the majority of the final margin.

USF also controlled the glass, outrebounding Wayne State 39–30 and generating 10 second-chance points while limiting the Wildcats to minimal extra possessions. The Cougars never trailed and owned the lead for 38:28 of game time, dictating tempo, controlling pace, and playing with poise throughout.

Alexis Rose and Krista Langager led the charge, each finishing with 20 points in a perfectly balanced offensive attack. Rose was on fire early, while Langager provided steady interior production throughout. Anna Vaaler anchored the glass with 10 rebounds, and Ayla Brown orchestrated everything with seven assists.

How It Happened

1st Quarter

USF couldn't have scripted a better opening quarter. The Cougars shot 8-of-16 from the field, 4-of-8 from three, and a perfect 4-of-4 from the free-throw line to pour in 24 first-quarter points. Everything was clicking. Every shot seemed to fall. The offense flowed beautifully.

Defensively, they were just as sharp—limiting Wayne State to only 10 field-goal attempts while forcing eight turnovers that disrupted any offensive rhythm. The Wildcats went 0-of-5 from three and never reached the free-throw line in the period, completely unable to generate any scoring opportunities.

Alexis Rose sparked the early surge, starting a perfect 3-of-3 from the floor (2-of-2 from three) and 2-of-2 from the stripe for 10 quick points as USF built a commanding 24–8 lead.

2nd Quarter

Wayne State continued to struggle offensively in the second quarter, shooting just 5-of-17 (29.4 percent) and 1-of-7 (14.3 percent) from three. The Wildcats couldn't buy a bucket, couldn't find any offensive rhythm, and couldn't slow down the Cougars' attack.

USF shot a solid 5-of-12 (41.7 percent) and added two more threes, maintaining their offensive efficiency. Four turnovers and three Wayne State offensive rebounds prevented the Cougars from stretching the lead further, but the damage was already done. The teams matched each other with 13 points in the period, sending the Cougars into halftime comfortably ahead, 37–21, and firmly in control.

3rd Quarter

Alexis Rose stayed hot after the break, adding seven more points in the third quarter and continuing her dominant performance. Both teams recorded four made field goals, but Wayne State edged the quarter 14–13 by capitalizing at the free-throw line, going a perfect 6-of-6 and keeping themselves within striking distance.

Still, USF's perimeter defense remained rock-solid, holding the Wildcats to 0-of-7 from beyond the arc in the quarter. Wayne State couldn't find any three-point success all night, and that inability to stretch the floor kept them from making any real run. The Cougars maintained control and entered the fourth quarter up 50–35.

4th Quarter

Wayne State attempted to chip away late, but USF never allowed the deficit to dip below 13 points. Krista Langager delivered six fourth-quarter points on efficient shooting to help seal the game, while Ayla Brown added timely buckets to halt any momentum shifts.

Some late turnovers—seven in the final period—allowed Wayne State to trim what had been an 18-point advantage down to 13 by the final horn, but the outcome was never in doubt. The Cougars closed it out for a 64–51 victory, securing their second straight win and building momentum heading into Saturday's regular season finale.

Key Team Stats

• Perimeter Defense: USF held Wayne State to just 4-of-24 (16.7 percent) from three-point range. The Wildcats couldn't buy a three all night.
• Outside Shooting: The Cougars connected on 9-of-23 threes (39.1 percent), creating a 15-point scoring advantage from beyond the arc that accounted for most of the final margin.
• Rebounding Edge: USF won the battle on the boards 39–30 and scored 10 second-chance points while limiting Wayne State's extra possessions.
• Game Control: The Cougars never trailed and led for 38:28 of the contest, dictating pace and tempo from start to finish.

Key Cougars

• Alexis Rose finished with 20 points and eight rebounds, shooting 6-of-10 from the field, 4-of-7 from three, and a perfect 4-of-4 from the free-throw line.
• Krista Langager added 20 points and five rebounds, continuing her strong interior presence.
• Anna Vaaler recorded eight points and 10 rebounds, anchoring the glass.
• Ayla Brown contributed seven assists, five points, and three steals while directing the offense.

Coach's Corner

"Got our second win in a row. Really liked us defensively. Had a goal to keep them under 50 when we were at halftime and didn't achieve that goal. Didn't love the way we finished the last five minutes of the game, but beggars can't be choosers. A win is a win and we're playing with more confidence than we had earlier in the season."
– Head Coach Travis Traphagen

Up Next

The regular season wraps up on Saturday as the Cougars face cross-town rival Augustana, Saturday, February 21st at 1:30 p.m. inside the Elmen Center.

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