A late 6-0 run from Wayne State would cut the Cougars lead to one with 16 seconds left to play, but a turnover into two sets of free throws would give the Cougars the four-point win over the Wildcats 70-66 in the home finale inside Rice Auditorium Thursday evening. Wayne State falls to 11-14 on the season with a 7-14 record in the NSIC. The Cougars would move to 8-19 with a 5-16 record in the NSIC.

    The Cougars would jump out to a quick eight-point lead to open the game, increasing the lead to as many as 11 before the Wildcats cut to seven heading into the first media timeout of the game with 5:03 left in the first quarter at 11-4 in favor of USF. USF would increase the lead to 13 and maintain it throughout the rest of the quarter taking a 12-point lead into the second quarter at 22-10.
 
    The Cougars would use 58.3 percent shooting in the first quarter to build their lead while the wildcats would shoot 28.6 percent from the field in the quarter. Annie Gentzel would lead the 'Cats in the first with four points.
 
    USF would jump out to a 15-point lead to begin the quarter before the Wildcats would use a 5-0 run to get the Cougars lead down to eight at 27-19 with 7:04 remaining in the quarter. USF would increase their lead back to 12 at 33-21 with 3:29 left to play in the half and take that 12-point lead into half time at 37-25.
 
    Guentzel would lead the Wildcats in scoring with seven points. She was followed Logan Hughes with five points. Lauren Zacharias would lead the 'Cats in rebounding with three. Wayne State would shoot 31.3 percent in the first half (10-32) to the Cougars 44 percent (11-25). WSC would also out rebound USF in the half at 21-19.

    Wayne State would continue to battle to open the third quarter cutting into the Sioux Falls lead at 44-35 in favor of the Cougars with 6:22 remaining in the third quarter. The lead would get cut to seven after a Rachel Dahlen layup with 4:18 left to play in the quarter with the score 44-37 in favor of the Cougars. Sioux Falls would then maintain a 10–12-point lead for the rest of the third quarter taking the 53-41 lead into the final quarter of play.
 
    The Cougars would lead by as many as 14 early in the fourth quarter, before the Wildcats would begin their comeback into the game. Wayne State would cut it to seven with 1:59 remaining in the fourth quarter at 62-53. A 5-0 run for the 'Cats would cut it to six with 54 seconds remaining at 66-60. Back-to-back three pointers from Maya Fitzpatrick and Zacharias would cut the Cougar lead down to one at 67-66 with just 16 seconds left to play before a costly Wildcat turnover led to three made free throws from the Cougars to give them the 70-66 win. The Wildcats would shoot 55 percent to get back into the game in the fourth quarter.
 
    Zacharias would lead all scorers for the 'Cats in the loss with 16 points. She would also add six rebounds, six assists, and six steals. Fitzpatrick would add 15 points and five rebounds for WSC while Guentzel added ten points for WSC.
 
    Wayne State would shoot 39.7 percent in the game (27-68) while the Cougars shot 38.3 percent (18-47). Both teams would grab 38 rebounds, while the Wildcats forced 26 turnovers to the Cougars 21 forced turnovers.
          
    WSC will be back in action in the regular season finale as they travel to Marshall, Minnesota to take on Southwest Minnesota State Saturday February 18^th at 5:30 p.m.