Huskies' Season Comes to End With 65-51 Loss at Sioux Falls

Wednesday, February 22

Sioux Falls, SD

7 p.m.

St. Cloud State

11-16

University of Sioux Falls (S.D.)

20-7

St. Cloud State

Sioux Falls

Andrea Thomas

Photo by: Bella Rose Photography

Huskies' Season Comes to End With 65-51 Loss at Sioux Falls

2/22/2017 8:38:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score

Sioux Falls, S.D.- The St. Cloud State women's basketball team had their season ended on Feb. 22, when they fell 65-51 to the Cougars of the University of Sioux Falls in the first round of the NSIC/Sanford Health Tournament.

The Huskies (11-16, 9-14 NSIC) allowed the Cougars (20-7, 16-7 NSIC) to get out to a quick 9-0 lead before getting on the board with a jumper from senior Betsy MacDonald. The Cougars would extend their lead out to 15-6 before the Huskies would find their groove, going on an 8-2 tear to end the first quarter down only one point at 14-15.

The Huskies carried their momentum over to the second quarter, getting up 22-17 over the Cougars after just two and half minutes elapsed in the frame. The Cougars would mount a comeback however, pulling back ahead of the visitors 24-23. The Cougars would add eight points to their lead before the Huskies would find their footing again at 25-29. That's where the score would remain heading into halftime.

The two teams would pick up where the left off in the third quarter with the Huskies hustling to retake the lead from the Cougars getting within one point twice before being able to tie the game 32-32 with a little over five left to play in the third quarter. The Cougars would break the tie and then go on a small run, getting up on the Huskies 40-34, but the Huskies weren't done quite yet. The visitors would again close the gap down, pulling back within three points at 40-43 to head into the final frame.

The fourth quarter would prove to be the decisive turning point for the two teams as the Cougars would again pull away, and thwart any of the Huskies efforts to catch back up. Sioux Falls quickly went up by six points, 48-44, before going on a 7-0 run to extend their lead to 11 points. The Huskies would pick up seven more points of their own but would be forced to foul to slow the Cougars' momentum, and would find themselves down 65-51 at the final buzzer.

The Huskies were led in the game by senior Chelsea Nooker who scored 17 points in her final game in a Huskies jersey. Fellow senior Betsy MacDonald would add eight points, and lead the team in assists with four. Amanda Christianson and Brianna Johnson would each put up nine points, with Johnson also leading the team with eight rebounds.

Sioux Falls will continue on to the Sanford Health Tournament in their hometown Feb. 25 to face MSU Moorhead who defeated Southwest Minnesota State 71-35.