Sioux Falls makes 15 three-pointers to beat UMC Women’s Basketball

The University of Sioux Falls Cougars made 15 three-pointers in the game and cruised to a 100-64 victory over the University of Minnesota Crookston Golden Eagles Women’s Basketball team in a Northern Sun Conference game at Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

FIRST QUARTER –
The game started off as a back-and-forth battle with the teams exchanging three-pointers. USF made another three before UMC’s Emma Miller (Sr. Albertville) made a jump shot. After a Sioux Falls basket, UMC’s Miller followed with a free throw and the Golden Eagles trailed 8-6 two minutes into the game.  Sioux Falls caught fire over the next three minutes as they went on a 14-0 run after they made a layup before hitting four straight three-pointers for a 22-6 lead with 4:51 left in the quarter. UMC stopped the run with a Miller free throw and a Hope Dudycha three-pointer to get within a 24-13 deficit.  Sioux Falls finished the quarter on a 7-2 run to take a 33-15 lead at the end of the first quarter.
Sioux Falls made 13 of 18 shots for 72 percent in the quarter and a blistering 7 of 10 on three-pointers.

SECOND QUARTER –
UMC started the second quarter on a 5-3 run with a basket from Rayna Klejeski (Jr. Barnum) and a Dudycha three-point play. The teams exchanged baskets, and Sioux Falls led 38-22 with 7:44 left in the half when they went on a 19-2 run for a 57-26 lead with 1>47 to go in the half.  UMC’s Miller made another jump shot to stop the USF run before the Cougars answered with five points. UMC scored the final basket of the half with a Natalie Mikrot (Sr. Willow River) three-pointer, and Sioux Falls took a 62-29 lead into halftime. 

THIRD QUARTER –
Sioux Falls started the third quarter with the first four points, including another Alexis Rose three-pointer for her 26th point of the game. UMC’s Riley Jenkins (Jr. Galesburg, IL) responded with a three-pointer. After a Sioux Falls basket, UMC’s Miller added another basket.  UMC trailed 70-34 when Klejeski made back-to-back baskets to get within a 70-38 deficit halfway through the quarter. The teams exchanged baskets and free throws the rest of the quarter, and Sioux Falls took a 79-45 lead into the fourth quarter.

FOURTH QUARTER –
UMC had a nice play to start the fourth quarter as Halle Winjum (Fresh. Crookston) found Klejeski slicing through the lane for a layup. Sioux Falls answered with a pair of Anna Vaaler three-pointers for an 85-47 lead. UMC’s Klejeski answered with a three-point play, but Sioux Falls continued to answer each Golden Eagle basket and led 95-65 halfway through the quarter.  Both teams went to the bench the rest of the game, and UMC’s Tayden Hanks (Jr., Las Cruces, NM) had a basket on a nice move in the paint. A minute later, Emma Piersen (Fresh. Cherry Valley, IL) answered with a steal and a layup to get within a 97-60 deficit. Nobody scored in the final 1:45 of the game, and Sioux Falls won 100-64. 

UMC drops to 5-14 overall and 4-9 in NSIC play and will play Southwest Minnesota State in Marshall, Minnesota on Saturday at 5:00 p.m. You can hear the game on KROX Radio. Sioux Falls improves to 9-10 overall and 6-7 in the NSIC.

Brynlea Mahlen

Tayden Hanks

Emma Pierson

Taylor Dirkes

Brynlea Mahlen

Tayden Hanks

Emma Pierson

Taylor Dirkes

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