Box Score Sioux Falls 76 Wayne State 75

            Despite a career-high 31 points from senior guard Kylie Hammer, Sioux Falls outlasted Wayne State College 76-75 in Northern Sun Conference women's basketball played at the Stewart Center in Sioux Falls, South Dakota Saturday evening.  WSC is now 5-2 and 2-1 in the NSIC South while USF is 5-3 and 2-1 in league play.
            The game featured 52 fouls and a combined 60 free throws shot by the two teams.
            WSC used strong field goal shooting in the first quarter, making 7 of 11 shots including 4 for 4 behind the arc, to take a 22-17 lead over the Cougars after one quarter.
            The shooting trends switched sides of the court in the second quarter as USF went 7-14 for 50 percent while WSC made just 3 of 7 shots and the Cougars outscored the Wildcats 20-13 to take a 37-35 lead at halftime.
            The two teams traded several leads early in the third quarter, but USF gained the lead for the rest of the third quarter with a 7-0 scoring run.
            Wayne State's last lead of the quarter was 44-43 after a Kassidy Pingel basket at the 7:13 mark.  The Cougars then scored seven straight points over the next 3:44 to grab a 50-44 lead.
            The 'Cats got as close as one in the quarter following a Logan Hughes three point play at 53-52, but Sioux Falls closed the quarter with a 59-56 lead.
            USF opened the fourth quarter strong and took their biggest lead of the game at 66-59 with 7:05 to play.
            WSC then got a basket by Lauren Zacharias, a 3-pointer from Logan Hughes and two free throws by Kylie Hammer followed by one free throw from Maya Fitzpatrick to score eight straight points and take a 67-66 lead with 4:54 to play.
            After trading several leads and ties, WSC knotted the score for the final time at 70-70 on a Hughes basket with 2:49 to play.
            USF took a 74-70 lead, but a three point play from Hammer with 40 seconds left got WSC within one at 74-73.
            The Cougars next possession resulted in two free throws, giving USF a 76-73 lead.
            Hammer made a lay in with 3.8 seconds to play making the score 76-75. 
            Sioux Falls was able to inbound the ball and run off the final 2.6 seconds to clinch the win.
            Wayne State was 22 of 45 from the field for 48.9 percent, including 8 of 17 (47%) from the 3-point line.  The 'Cats were 23 of 31 (74%) at the free throw line.
            Hammer led WSC with her career-high 31 points, making 10 of 13 field goals and 8 for 10 at the stripe.  Other Wildcats reaching double figures were Logan Hughes with 16 and Kassidy Pingel 12.
            Sioux Falls made 22 of 59 shots for 37 percent.  The Cougars were 8 for 26 behind the arc and 24 of 29 (82%) at the free throw stripe.
            Megan Fanin scored 20 points to lead Sioux Falls.  Krystal Carlson and Dallie Hoskinson each scored 12 points and Danielle Schaub scored 11.
            The Cougars won the rebounding battle over WSC 36-27.  Hughes and Hammer each had five boards for WSC.
            Abby Kopecky had three steals for the 'Cats while Hammer and Zacharias each had two assists.
            The Wildcats return home next weekend for NSIC South Division games hosting Concordia-St. Paul Friday evening at 7:30 p.m. and Minnesota State Saturday in a 5:30 p.m. contest.