Box Score
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. — The University of Sioux Falls cashed in on 6 of 10 3-pointers in the first half to defeat Southwest Minnesota State, 74-42 in the Stewart Center on Tuesday night. It was the conference opener for both teams.
Taylor Varsho started out hot for Sioux Falls scoring the Cougars first nine points and finished the first quarter with 12 to help USF lead 22-13 after the first quarter.
The Mustangs cut the deficit down to six 49 seconds into the second quarter after
Annessa Rosch cashed in a 3-pointer to make the score 24-18, but that would not last. The Cougars went 11-0 run over nearly the next four minutes down the stretch to push their lead to the largest of the half at 39-20 with 3:59 left in the quarter. SMSU struggled to find the hoop as they were held to three points the rest of the way. USF led 43-23 at the break while shooting 51.6 percent on 16 of 31 from the floor and 60 percent from down town on 6 of 10. SMSU finished the half shooting 27.3 percent on 9 of 33 in field goal range and 25 percent from behind the arc.
Rosch led the Mustangs the first half with eight points, with six of them coming from 3-pointers.
Taylor Holicky led all rebounders with six boards.
After the break, the Cougars kept control as they held the Mustangs scoreless for the first four minutes and pushed their lead to 25 after a pair of free throws with 2:17 left in the quarter.
The Cougars maintained their lead in the fourth as they pushed it to the largest of the game at 74-42 with 1:50 left after a 3-pointer.
Hope Bonlander led the Mustangs with 13 points on 6 of 11 shooting, while Rosch added 10 points on 4 of 11 from the floor and 2 of 5 from 3-point range. Holicky finished tying her career high with nine boards while Bonlander pulled down seven.
USF finished shooting 41.2 percent from the floor and 30 percent from behind the arc, while SMSU finished shooting 29.8 percent from field goal range and 15.4 percent from down town. The Cougars capitalized on 25 Mustang turnovers as they scored 24 points off of takeaways.
Southwest Minnesota State will travel to Denver, Colo., for a pair of non-conference games against Colorado State-Pueblo on Friday starting at 4 p.m., before playing Metro State on Saturday at 6 p.m.
