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Women's basketball fights for fourth straight win
SCSU beat its second-ranked opponent in two weeks, with a 95-80 win over USD
By Derek Sullivan
Last weekend, SCSU proved it could play with the conference elite at home. This weekend, SCSU proved its mettle on the road.
The Huskies won at Nebraska-Omaha 95-80 and at the No. 10 ranked University of South Dakota 66-61.
SCSU ran right past Nebraska-Omaha Friday night. The Huskies scored a season-high 95 points on 57 percent shooting from the field.
The Huskies, ranked sixth nationally in free throw shooting, shot 20-24 from the charity stripe.
"We are confident at the line," said SCSU junior point guard Sascha Hansen. "We know when someone is on the line they are gonna knock them down."
SCSU led by 10 at the half (46-36) and extended the lead to as much as 18 in the second half, before coasting to a nine-point win, 95-86.
Hansen, who came into the game averaging 15 points in North Central Conference games, led SCSU with 19 points. The Marshall native also contributed four rebounds and three assists.
First-year standouts Erica Quigley and Shannon Francis contributed 17 and 16 points for the Huskies. Quigley, in foul trouble throughout the game, managed six rebounds and two blocks before fouling out.
Francis, struggling lately with her shot, broke out with 16 points and a team-high six assists. The off-guard from Mahnomen is averaging team-high 4.2 assists per game in conference play.
Hansen has noticed Francis getting comfortable with the rough play of the North Central Conference.
"She has been sticking with it," Hansen said. "She is gaining confidence one game at a time."
Junior Katie Huschle continues to bring offensive punch off the bench. Huschle scored 15 points and pulled down a team-high nine rebounds. Huschle, only 5-foot-7, is averaging five rebounds a game in conference play.
"She is the best sixth man in the league," Hansen said. "When she goes in, she is an offensive threat. She plays a lot of quality minutes for us."
SCSU played their second- ranked team in as many weeks Saturday. Last weekend the Huskies defeated No. 6 ranked South Dakota State 77-67. This week SCSU took on the No. 10 ranked University of South Dakota Coyotes.
Earlier this week, Quigley was honored as the NCC player of the week. Saturday night she tried hanging onto the award for another week. Throughout the game, the 6-foot-2 post player screamed for the ball. She showed the aggressiveness SCSU head coach Lori Ulferts has been looking for.
"She gave us an instant presence both on offense and defense," Ulferts said. "She is getting more and more aggressive under the basket."
Quigley finished the game with 27 points, 14 rebounds, three blocks, shot 68 percent from the field (13-19) and played a team-high 31 minutes.
One night after putting 95 points on the conference cellar-dwelling UNO Mavericks, the Huskies found scoring points more difficult against a USD team that was one of the NCC preseason favorites.
The two teams were tied at the half, 27-27. Ulferts, disappointed in the Huskies first half rebounding, challenged her team to hit the boards.
"We did not rebound well in the first half," Ulferts said. "We stressed rebounds at halftime and ended up out rebounding (the Coyotes 42-32)."
By hitting the boards and getting the ball to Quigley, SCSU broke open the game. The Huskies started the second half with a 17-4 run. The run turned a halftime tie into a 44-31 SCSU lead.
However, USD would not fold on their home court. Led by All-American Mandy Koupal, USD fought back to take a 53-52 lead with 7:19 remaining.
SCSU was not getting points from one of their major strengths-free throw shooting. SCSU, who leads the conference in free throw shooting, attempted only nine free throws, making seven. For the season, SCSU averages 21 free throw attempts per game.
"There was not a whole lot of calls on Saturday," Ulferts said. "We know officials don't make or break the game, we felt we had to adjust."
There might not have been many free throws attempted, but the free throws taken were crucial. Moments after giving the Huskies a three-point lead, 64-61, with a short jumper, Huschle went to the line for a one-in-one. Huschle missed the free throw and the Coyotes had a chance to tie the game with 38 seconds remaining.
USD got two open looks from first-year guard Jennie Lynn and senior Erin Bourne, but both shots misfired.
With only 2.7 seconds remaining, Huschle hit both free throws finishing off the scoring in SCSU's 66-61 win.
The victory gave the Huskies a four-game conference-winning streak. It is the first weekend road sweep over conference foes since the 2001-2002 season. SCSU's victory Saturday at the Dakota Dome was the first since the 1999-2000 season.
Aside from Quigley, Huschle was the only other SCSU player in double figures. The junior finished with 12 points and three assists.
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