SIOUX FALLS, S.D. — A hot-shooting University of Sioux Falls women’s basketball team lit up the Sanford Pentagon Saturday afternoon, shooting close to 60 percent during the first three quarters as they eliminated Wayne State 103-76 in the quarterfinals of the Northern Sun Conference Tournament.
The Wildcats started the game on the right foot, taking their only lead of the contest on the first possession of the game with Erin Norling’s layup. She later tied the game at 6-6 three minutes into the contest, and that would be the last time Sioux Falls would allow the Wildcats to hang with them.
Sioux Falls went on a 7-0 run to break the 6-6 tie. Wayne State would get within two on a three-point play by Brittany Bongartz with 2:51 to go in the opening period, but the Cougars capped the period with a 10-0 run to take a 29-17 advantage.
Wayne State went silent for almost 5 1/2 minutes, which allowed the Cougars to build a 17-point lead before Bongartz scored with 7:31 left in the first half to break the drought.
Sioux Falls’ hot shooting continued throughout the first half, allowing them to build a 54-33 halftime advantage. Any thoughts of a second-half comeback were quickly shot down as the Cougars came out on fire, using a 14-4 run to start the second half and go 13-of-22 from the field in the third period, putting up 36 third-quarter points to make it 90-51 going to the fourth quarter.
Norling led the way with a career-high 29 points, while Bongartz and Halley Busse each had 10 points. Lauren Sanders led five Cougars in double figures with 21 points.
Norling, busse and Bongartz each had six rebounds to lead Wayne State. Kylie Hammer had five assists and two steals, while Bongartz had two blocks.
The Wildcats ended the season 15-15, and the game marked final contest for three Wildcat seniors: Andrea Larson, Maggie Lowe and Taylor Reiner.
